Major Research MethodsMajor Research Methods

SourcesSources

PrimaryPrimary

• Participant ObservationParticipant Observation• Direct ObservationDirect Observation• ExperimentsExperiments• InterviewsInterviews• Questionnaires (Open, closed and coded)Questionnaires (Open, closed and coded)• Surveys (Comparative and longitudinal)Surveys (Comparative and longitudinal)• Sampling (Representative and random)Sampling (Representative and random)• Case StudiesCase Studies• Hypothesis testingHypothesis testing

SecondarySecondary

• Official Statistics (eg. social trends ONS)Official Statistics (eg. social trends ONS)

• Published studiesPublished studies

• Other people’s diaries or personal documentsOther people’s diaries or personal documents

• Public records (e.g. birth, death certificates)Public records (e.g. birth, death certificates)

• Mass media reportsMass media reports

• Books (fictional and non-fiction, biographies Books (fictional and non-fiction, biographies and auto-biographies)and auto-biographies)

• Electronic media (Govt dept websites)Electronic media (Govt dept websites)

• Pick two primary and two secondaryPick two primary and two secondary

• Write five advantages and Write five advantages and disadvantages of using each method disadvantages of using each method for researchfor research

Example 1: Direct Example 1: Direct ObservationObservationIn direct observation a researcher does not In direct observation a researcher does not

seek to become a member of the group to seek to become a member of the group to be studied and such observation is usually be studied and such observation is usually linked to other methods such as studies or linked to other methods such as studies or questionnairesquestionnaires

e.g. study of the behaviour of a small group e.g. study of the behaviour of a small group of prisoners in Cortonvale Women’s Prisonof prisoners in Cortonvale Women’s Prison

Interviews might also be used but might not Interviews might also be used but might not be as useful as studying behaviourbe as useful as studying behaviour

Advantages…Advantages…

• Non-verbal communication can be Non-verbal communication can be notednoted

• Unexpected events might be Unexpected events might be witnessedwitnessed

• Interaction between group members Interaction between group members classifiedclassified

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Personal bias may influence Personal bias may influence observationsobservations

• Presence of observer may influence Presence of observer may influence behaviour of those being studied behaviour of those being studied (depending on how behaviour (depending on how behaviour measured – taped, recorded etc.)measured – taped, recorded etc.)

• Time-consuming method of studyTime-consuming method of study

Example 2: StatisticsExample 2: Statistics

Official agencies need facts in order to Official agencies need facts in order to make decisions. These facts are make decisions. These facts are expressed in the figures we call official expressed in the figures we call official statistics.statistics.

Without evidence in the form of statistics Without evidence in the form of statistics it would be difficult for governments it would be difficult for governments and agencies to make decisions.and agencies to make decisions.

Statistics are often presented as tables, Statistics are often presented as tables, graphs, pie charts, histograms etc.graphs, pie charts, histograms etc.

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Can help you to establish your Can help you to establish your hypothesishypothesis

• Can link together variables in your Can link together variables in your researchresearch

• Allow you to compare countries or Allow you to compare countries or present with the pastpresent with the past

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• They may be incomplete or They may be incomplete or inaccurateinaccurate

• The may be biasedThe may be biased

• They can go out of date quicklyThey can go out of date quickly

Specific problems with crime Specific problems with crime statisticsstatistics• Some communities report crime less than othersSome communities report crime less than others• Some crimes reported less than othersSome crimes reported less than others• Police activity varies from force to forcePolice activity varies from force to force• Size and nature of the police force may influence Size and nature of the police force may influence

crime figurescrime figures• Police more trained and highly equipped increases Police more trained and highly equipped increases

detection not incidence of crimedetection not incidence of crime• Some crimes more likely to be discovered than othersSome crimes more likely to be discovered than others• The media can create crimeThe media can create crime• More laws create more crime (mobile phones/ cars)More laws create more crime (mobile phones/ cars)• Public attitudes change and increase apparent crimePublic attitudes change and increase apparent crime• Clear up figures for crime might be similarly Clear up figures for crime might be similarly

misleadingmisleading