Transcript File - Mrs Sudds` classroom

Do now!
Complete the keywords test on the sheet.
Remember that you are not writing 4 mark answers – just concise
definitions (like in the book).
You need 9/15 to pass (C)
15 minutes
End
Date: Monday, 11 April 2016
Research continued – planning your project
Lesson Outcomes:
• Recall the stages of a
sociological research
project
• Describe the difference
between open, closed &
graded response questions
(& analyse the importance)
• Create a questionnaire
including open, closed &
graded response questions
• Evaluate the advantages
& disadvantages of postal
questionnaires
Project
You are going to carry out a
sociological research project over
October half term. We have two
weeks to prepare and plan!
Starter: What are the 6 stages of
a sociological research project?
Aims/Hypothesis
Pilot studies
Selecting
samples
Collecting data
Analysing data
Evaluating the
project
Step 1: Your aim/hypothesis
1) You have 1 minute to think of a possible research
project & write it on a post it.
2) You have 2 minutes to discuss with your partner &
decide which of your ideas is better.
3) Your pair must find another pair and discuss your
ideas. You have 4 minutes to decide which of your
ideas is the best.
1 minute
2 minutes
4 minutes
1) Step 1: Your aim/hypothesis
You must now turn your project title into a
question or theory that you will try to
prove/disprove
e.g. “Older people need less sleep than
younger people.”
Or “Do older people need less sleep than
younger people?”
Step 2: Planning the pilot study
Designing a questionnaire
What is a questionnaire?
A list of pre-set questions to which the respondent supplies the answers.
What are the three types of questionnaires?
Postal, Hand-delivered and Formal or structured interviews
What is a closed question?
Respondents choose between a number of given answers, often by just ticking
a box.
What is an open question?
Respondents can put forward their own answers to the set questions, rather
than choose a response from several pre-set answers
What is a graded response question?
Respondents are asked how much they agree with questions and can record
their responses on a scale e.g. 1-6
Step 2: Planning the pilot study
Designing a questionnaire
Task
Draft a questionnaire for your sociological
research project.
You must have a mix of open, closed &
graded response questions.
Step 2: Carrying out the pilot study
It is important to test your questionnaire on
a small group of people to check that your
questions are:
• clear
• mean the same to everyone
• give you the kind of responses you were
expecting
Evaluating Questionnaires
Advantages
Disadvatages
Evaluating Questionnaires
Advantages
Disadvanatges
Cheap, quick & efficient way of
obtaining large amounts of information
from large numbers of people
Difficult & time consuming to design
Respondents may be more willing to
answer personal questions as the
interviewer is not present
Respondents may misunderstood the
questions being asked – cannot
answer the interviewer.
Closed questions provide quantitative
data. This data can be compared
easily.
Respondent may not fully complete
the question.
If respondents answer the questions
differently then it shows real
differences of opinion.
You can’t be sure the correct person
has completed it.
Can be replicated easily.
Unsuitable for some populations such
as homeless.
Do not allow respondents to develop
their answers if closed questions.
Date: Monday, 11 April 2016
Planning your project continued - Interviews
Lesson Outcomes:
•Describe what is meant by
longitudinal & crosssectional studies & be able
to explain when each would
be appropriate
•Describe the difference
between structured,
unstructured and semistructured interviews
Starter: Why is triangulation of
data important?
Step 2: Planning the pilot study
Social surveys aim to collect information from a large number of people
through questionnaires and structured interviews.
There are two main types of social surveys: • Longitudinal surveys
• Cross sectional surveys
A longitudinal study aims to gather information from the same group over time,
at regular intervals or stages. Examples included:The 7Up programme, which first aired on ITV in 1964, followed a group of
children every seven years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w09D-aosxTQ
A cross-sectional survey is done only once. It takes a cross section of the
population and asks them about a particular issue only once.
Example: The National Foundation for Educational Research carried out a
survey into teachers perceptions of the new 14-19 diploma.
Types of interview
Structured/formal: Similar to a questionnaire where
the questions are asked by the interviewer
Unstructured/informal: the interviewer has a topic
but does not pre-set the questions and is guided
by the answers given
Semi-structured: the interviewer has some pre-set
questions but allows flexibility to ask additional
questions depending on the answers given.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFEYBkuuhJQ
Step 2: Planning the pilot study
1) You have 2 minutes to write down questions that you would like
to ask for your interview.
2) With your partner, you have 2 minutes each to carry out a
formal (structured)) interview (role playing the character).
3) Now you have 2 minutes each to carry out a semi-structured
interview.
2 minutes
2 minutes
2 minutes
Date: Monday, 11 April 2016
Finalising the pilot study
Lesson Outcomes:
• Evaluate the advantages
and disadvantages of using
structured, semistructured & unstructured
interviews.
• Conclude which methods
would be most appropriate
for own sociological
research
Starter: Explain what sociologists
mean by “interviews”. (4 marks)
Homework:
Carry out one structured interview and one unstructured
interview (two different people) on any topic of your
choice (not your research topic).
You must take notes of your interview.
Write a paragraph comparing the responses from the two
different types of interviews.
TIF: Were there any other factors affecting your responses
e.g. age, sex, location?
Structured or formal interviews
Advantages
Disadvantages
Structured or formal interviews
Advantages
Disadvantages
Can see differences between answers
easily
Interviewer bias - Respondent may lie
to impress or shock the interviewer
Provides statistical data which can be
compared easily
Interviewer bias - Respondent may not
tell the truth as the information is too
personal
Can be repeated easily to check
reliability
Interviewer bias – interviewer may
influence the answers
Interviewer can clarify meaning of
questions
Age, gender, bias, ethnicity, etc of
interviewer may influence the
respondent’s response
Unstructured interviews
Advantages
Disadvantages
Unstructured interviews
Advantages
Disadvantages
More flexible
Time consuming
Can clarify misunderstandings
Expensive
Answers can be developed fully
Need a skilled interviewer
Provide more in depth information
Interviewer bias
Interviewer can ask leading questions
Difficult to repeat
Can do fewer interviewers therefore
sample is smaller – difficult to say
findings apply to general population
By the end of this lesson you must have in
your book:
1) Your finalised questionnaire including
open, closed & graded response
questions.
2) A paragraph explaining whether your
interviews will be structured, unstructured
or semi-structured and why. (and a list of
questions if necessary)