HOMEWORK DUE TODAYExperiments MiC question

RESEARCH METHODSQuestionnaires –

Objectives

Know and be able to evaluate the practical, ethical and theoretical strengths and limitations of questionnaires

Know the main types of sampling procedures used in surveys

Understand the usefulness of questionnaires

Be able to apply your understanding of questionnaires to the study of crime & deviance

Practical issues in using questionnaires

An easy tasks to get you started!

In pairs organise your cards intostrengths & weaknesses

Copy onto your table

THEY ARE A QUICK AND CHEAP WAY TO GATHER LARGE AMOUNTS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA FROM LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE

THERE IS NO NEED TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN INTERVIEWERS

DATA IS USUALLY EASY TO QUANTIFY AND CAN BE COMPUTER PROCESSED

DATA IS LIMITED AND SUPERFICIAL

IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO OFFER INCENTIVES – WHICH ADD COST

WITH POSTAL QUESTIONNAIRES WE CANNOT BE SURE THE INTENDED RESPONDENT COMPLETED THE QUESTIONNAIRE OR THAT THEY RECEIVED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE

VERY LOW RESPONSE RATES

QUESTIONNAIRES ARE IN FLEXIBLE, ONCE THE QUESTIONS ARE DECIDED THE RESEARCHER CANNOT EXPLORE NEW AREAS

THE RESEARCHER MUST ALREADY HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT WHICH MAKES QUESTIONNAIRES LESS SUITABLE FOR INVESTIGATING UNFAMILIAR TOPICS

QUESTIONNAIRES ARE ONLY SNAPSHOTS – QUESTIONNAIRES DO NOT CAPTURE THE WAY PEOPLES ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Theoretical issues

What theoretical issues must we consider when evaluating the use of questionnaires?

Positivist Vs Interpretivist Reliability Validity Representativeness

Theoretical issues in using questionnaires

Bruce – Positivist

Penelope – Interpretivist

Note down 3 key beliefs they have Which would favour the use of questionnaires?Why?

Sampling

Read through box 3.3 you sampling grid

Sampling blockbusters – in teams

Advantages & Disadvantages Complete your for table using pages 175-176

Theoretical & ethical issues

Note – this is a useful way to revise for any of the research methods and plan your answer for an essay

THIS COULD BE THE TOPIC FOR YOUR 33 MARK QUESTION

Advantages & Disadvantages Note – this is a useful way to revise

for any of the research methods and plan your answer for an essay

THIS COULD BE THE TOPIC FOR YOUR 33 MARK QUESTION

‘Evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of using questionnaires in sociological research’

Using questionnaire to research crime & deviance

In groups think of why questionnaires would be a good/ bad method to use when researching crime & deviance

Methods in Context

Read through the question & the examiners advice

HOMEWORKRead through your handout and

prepare to answer this question next Monday without notes under timed

conditions – You will Have 20 minutes

Splat

Key terminology from this lesson