Module: Ways of Learning About the Social World

Week 2
Presenter:
Week 2 - Sociological Language, definitions and
theories in social sciences

▪Aims:
▪ To enable students to understand a range of terms from primary and
secondary data and qualitative and quantitative data and their use in
sociology and wider research in this field.
▪ Also, to understand the use of the word ‘paradigm’ “which can be
used to mean either approach or design”.
 Learning Outcomes

▪Understanding what research is, and the

difference between primary and secondary
research

▪Understand how to manage data

▪To Introduce qualitative and quantitative

methods
Re-cap from last week

Last week, we looked at sociological imagination -

how human behaviour can impact the world around
us.

The theoretical perspective of C . Wright & Newman

gave us a better understanding of how the world
functions, gaining an understanding of the
relationship between Micro and Macro sectors.
The Foundation of Social Science research

Epistemology – ‘theory of knowledge’ What can we know about the social

world and what is the best way to study social life?
Understanding the social world helps to stabilise and improve on it, and

Social science knowledge comes from social research.

What is research?

• According to (Elias, 1986, p. 20) Research is ‘to

make known something previously unknown to
human beings…
The aim is…discovery’
• The ‘process of collecting, analysing, and interpreting
information’ (Leedy and Ormrod, 2005, p. 2) in
relation to a ‘useful’ topic or question
• Research is the process of confirming or challenging
the existing status quo.
Research cont’d

The systematic process (nature of research) of coming to

an understanding (aim of research) about something we
need to know (rationale for research)
Research is to:
• Explore something- Covid’19 pandemic
• Explain something
• Evaluate something
• Change something
What is research in social sciences?
Social scientists ask questions and undertaken investigations to find
out about the world
Why are things they way they are? Could they be different?
Social science research can try to influence, evaluate or comment
on government policy
Use of theory to define a topic to research or to interpret the
information collected
Collection of information or data about social science phenomena,
processes or institutions
Based on systematic research design; data collection; data analysis
Bound by ethical considerations
Types of research: Primary & Secondary

•Primary research (field research) involves gathering new data that has not
been collected before. For example, surveys using questionnaires or
interviews with groups of people in a focus group.
•Secondary research (desk research) involves gathering existing data that
has already been produced.
Primary research (empirical) studies

Primary (empirical) research – i.e. find out about the world

through experiment and observation, not just through
logic or theory
Collection and analysis of own data using social science
methods

▪Original research that collects new data or performs a new

analysis on existing data
▪(interviews, expériments, questionnaires, Survey, data sets
analysis)
Examples of Primary Research
Secondary (pre-existing information) research
studies

Secondary research is the collation and analysis of pre-existing

research data such as government surveys, literature based
research to find out about what other researchers says?

▪Secondary research: The use of original research studies or

statistical analyses that are combined to form a new study. It is
usually some form of literature review
▪A literature review is a research study in its own right, but it is
secondary research
Examples of secondary Research

Existing information
Why use research in social sciences
• To develop new knowledge
• We use research all the time in our everyday
lives. Trying to find things out/understand
things better
• Evaluating information and making
assessments of situations/problems
• Important professional skill – part of all
professional jobs
How to manage research data

▪Every research conducted must be managed and data protected.

▪Data management in research includes all aspects of looking
after, handling, organising and enhancing research data.
▪Managing data well enhances the scientific process, ensures
high quality data and also increases the longevity of data and
opportunities for data to be shared and re-used.
 Why manage data?

▪Data management planning in research design

▪Ethics, consent and confidentiality data copyright and
rights management
▪Contextualizing, describing and documenting data
▪Data storage, back-up and security
▪Roles and responsibilities of data management
Social Sciences data Information
https://www.cessda.eu/Training/Training-Resources/Library/Data-Management-Expert-Guide/1.-Plan/Data-i
n-the-social-sciences
Personal data management (Sensitive
data)

▪Certain personal data are considered particularly sensitive and require

specific protection when they reveal information that may create important
risks for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the involved individual.

▪Examples of sensitive personal data include data revealing religion

association, sexual orientation, or racial or ethnic origin.
Within the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR Act 2018), the
following categories are referred to as ‘special categories of personal data’:
Examples of sensitive personal data

▪Racial or ethnic origin

▪Political opinions
▪Religious or philosophical beliefs
▪Trade union membership
▪Genetic data
▪Biometric data: passport
▪Data concerning health
▪Data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual
orientation.
 Advantages of data management

• Allows you to plan -begins with your initial considerations

regarding what will be necessary for using or collecting your
particular type of data;

• Maintain the integrity of the data, making sure that they are not
lost due to technical mishaps, and that the right people can access
the data at the appropriate time;

• Allows for data to be shared with other colleagues and prepare

them for long-term availability.
Research Methods

• Qualitative and
Quantitative
What is Qualitative research

Qualitative research methods involves collecting non-

numerical data. It is use in the social sciences to enable
researchers to study social and cultural phenomena.
Examples of qualitative methods include semi-structured and
unstructured interviews; focus groups; participant observation;
action research; case study research; and others.
Advantages of qualitative research

▪Subject materials can be evaluated with greater detail

▪It is based on human experiences and observations
▪Predictive quality of research
▪Creative approach
▪Smaller sample sizes needed
Disadvantages of qualitative research

▪Highly subjective
▪High volume of data
▪Writing up the data gathered can be time consuming
▪Researcher influence can have a negative effect on
collected data
Quantitative research
Hohmann (2005) explains that
quantitative methods were originally
developed in the natural sciences for example
biology and chemistry to study natural
phenomena.
Quantitative research is the process of
collecting and analysing numerical data,
primarily conducted using
structured questionnaires, statistical data and
analysis.
Quantitative research cont’d
Quantitative research can also be defined as a systematic investigation of
phenomena by gathering quantifiable data and performing statistical,
mathematical or computational techniques
▪The goal of quantitative research is often to test ideas stated at the start of
the research, to formulate facts and uncover patterns.
▪
Examples of Quantitative research
• What is the demographic makeup of UK in 2020?
• How has the average temperature changed globally
over the last century?
• Does environmental pollution affect the prevalence of honey
bees?
• Does working from home increase productivity for
people with long commutes? (Bhandari, 2020)
Advantages of quantitative research

▪Conduct in-depth research: Since quantitative data can be

statistically analysed, it is highly likely that the research will be
detailed.
▪Minimum bias: There are instances in research, where personal bias
is involved which leads to incorrect results. Due to the numerical
nature of quantitative data, the personal bias is reduced to a great
extent.
▪Accurate results: As the results obtained are objective in nature, they
are extremely accurate.
Disadvantages of quantitative research

▪Restricted information: Because quantitative data is not

descriptive, it becomes difficult for researchers to make
decisions based solely on the collected information.
▪Depends on question types: Bias in results is dependent on
the question types included to collect quantitative data. The
researcher’s knowledge of questions and the objective of
research are exceedingly important while collecting
quantitative data.
Let’s do some Quiz

1. One of the following is a type of research you can conduct

yourself:

A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Qualitative
D. Quantitative
2. Name the type of research someone else will
conduct

A. Primary
B. secondary
C. Qualitative
D. Quantitative
 3. One of the following relies more on numerical
data

A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Qualitative
D. Quantitative
4. Which of these methods of research is the most time
consuming to conduct

A. Surveys
B. Interviews
C. Direct observation
D. Book research
5. Which of these is best for primary research

A. Surveys
B. Interviews
C. Book research
D. Focus groups
Summary

The purpose of social science research is to make sense of

society by using various research methods; to help us
understand better the world around us, to develop NEW
KNOWLEDGE about how the world functions.
As research is evidence based, Understanding the social world
through research by using either primary or secondary
methods, knowledge is gained, and this can help us work out
on how to improve our social lives
References
Bryman, Alan (2012) Social Research Methods 4th edition Oxford: Oxford University Press

Dale, A and Mason, J (2011) Understanding Social Research: thinking creatively about method
de Vaus, DA (2013) Surveys in Social Research, London: Routledge

Gilbert N. (2008) (ed) Researching Social Life 3rd edition London: Sage
Hoyle, RH; Harris,MJ & Judd, CM, (2002) Research Methods in Social Relations (7th edn )

Mason, Jennifer (2002) Qualitative Researching London: Sage

Any Question?
Thank You!!