Lecture on Research Issues

Introduction

• Last subtopic from Chapter 2: Methods of Research
• Previous topics covered: types of data, methods and research design, approaches to sociological research
• Focus on theoretical, practical, and ethical considerations in research, research findings bias, and validity, reliability, and objectivity

Choice of Research Topic

Theoretical Considerations

• Goal of research: Narrow scope if testing a hypothesis; broader if explaining behavior
• Worthiness: Influenced by what has been studied and current interests (universities, governments)

Practical Considerations

• Funding: Easier for topics aligned with government interests or university specializations
• Researcher's interest: Influences topic choice
• Availability of participants: Essential for practical research execution

Ethical Considerations

• Ethical implications of studying topics like criminal behavior

Research Methods

Theoretical Considerations

• Interactionists prefer qualitative methods for descriptive accounts
• Positivists prefer quantitative methods for establishing causality and reliability

Practical Issues

• Researcher skills and comfort with methods
• Time consumption varying between methods (e.g., interviews vs. questionnaires)
• Topics suitability to methods
• Funding availability impacting method choice

Ethical Issues

• Ethical concerns with methods like covert participant observation, lab and field experiments

Ethical Issues in Research

Legal Considerations

• Informed consent, awareness of participation consequences
• Anonymity and safety requirements

General Ethical Practice

• No manipulation or falsification of results, no plagiarism
• Moral justification for research topics

Exam Questions

• Describe how practical, theoretical, or ethical considerations affect topic/method choice
• Evaluate the most important influence on research method choice

Bias in Research

Bias in Topic

• Influenced by personal values, danger perceptions, and funding body interests

Bias in Method

• Similar influences as topic bias

Bias in Results

• Values affecting data interpretation and publication

Example Exam Questions

• Explain how researchers might be biased in topic/method choice
• Analyze how sociologist values can lead to bias in findings

Importance of Examples

• Use real-life examples in essays (e.g., Milgram's experiment, Venkatesh's gang study)
• Examples illustrate ethical, practical considerations and method effectiveness

Conclusion

• No definitive method fits all; choice depends on topic and participant suitability
• Upcoming videos may cover exam techniques and examples for better understanding

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement to like and subscribe
• Potential for future videos on exam techniques and scheduling