Ruth’s Sociology Resources Blog

This page is useful for anyone planning a piece of research but also specifically for students taking the OCR AS methods exam.

When planning research you need to think about the following aspects:

What am I trying to find out?

In the exam you will be asked to fulfil certain criteria in your research design – make sure you have carefully read the item which gives you all the necessary data
Are there any issues with operationalisation of concepts? (eg – how will you measure “effectiveness”?)

What kind of data do I need to collect?

• Qualitative/quantitative
• Primary/secondary

Who do I need to gather data from?

• How will I operationalise this group? (eg if you are asked to gather data on “young people”)
• How will I gain access? – is there a “gatekeeper” I need to apply to?

How will I draw my sample?

• Representative/non-representative
• Sample size
• Random/non-random
• How easy will it be to draw my sample? (can I find the relevant people?)

Which method will I use?

• Does it produce the data required?

Which method would you choose?

Evaluating Research

When evaluating research ideas you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• How well does the method fit the question?
• Are there any other methods you could have used to address the question?
• Having read through the method do you have any questions about:
  

• Sampling
• Operationalisation of concepts – are there any concepts which need clarifying? How will concepts be measured?
• Process – how exactly will it all be carried out? – could you carry out the research with just this information? – what would you need to clarify?

• Are there any extra problems that you can foresee?

• Practical

• Actually carrying out the research – time, money, access, resources, finding your sample …

• Ethical
• Theoretical?
  

• Operationalising concepts, coming from a particular standpoint