Mini-Lesson

Applied methods of sociological enquiry

This mini-lesson covers applied research methods: planning an enquiry, choosing methods, sampling, and evaluating research for reliability, validity, representativeness and ethics — the practical skills of doing sociology.

Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Some questions are multiple-choice, some are sort-and-match games, and a few use simple research-methods maths (percentages and sample figures). Press Start when you're ready.

Enquiry

Planning a sociological enquiry

Choose an aim/hypothesis; pick suitable methods and a sample.
Consider practical, ethical and theoretical factors (the 'PET' issues).

Spec note (please read): OCR withdrew GCSE Sociology (J696); its final exams were in summer 2018 and it was not redeveloped for the current 9–1 GCSEs. This lesson teaches mainstream GCSE Sociology content that matches the old J696 topic. If you are sitting a current exam, check whether your school uses AQA or Eduqas instead.

Quick check

Planning

?Before collecting data, a researcher writes a testable statement to investigate. This is a…

Choosing methods

Matching method to aim

For breadth and numbers: questionnaires, structured interviews (quantitative).
For depth and meaning: unstructured interviews, observation (qualitative).

Sort it

Sort the method

Tap a feature, then whether it fits quantitative or qualitative (or both).

🔁 Both

🔢 Quantitative

💬 Qualitative

Quick check

Choosing

?A researcher wants deep, valid insight into a small group's experiences. Best choice?

Sampling

Sampling for representativeness

Sampling frame; random, systematic, stratified, snowball.
Good sampling improves representativeness so results can be generalised.

Calculate

Your turn — sample size

✎A sampling frame lists 1200 people. The researcher takes a one-in-six (1/6) sample. How many people are in the sample?

people

Hint: sample = 1200 × 0.16666666666666666.

Calculate

Your turn — response rate

✎A researcher posts 500 questionnaires and 300 are completed and returned. Calculate the response rate as a percentage. Give a whole number.

%

Hint: response rate = (returned ÷ sent) × 100 = (300 ÷ 500) × 100.

Match it

Match method to strength

Tap a method, then its strength.

Statement

Answer

Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 300 responses coded positive, 225 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.

%

Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (225 ÷ 300) × 100.

Evaluating

Evaluating research & ethics

Judge reliability (repeatable), validity (true/deep), representativeness.
Ethics: informed consent, confidentiality, no harm.

Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 250 respondents who refused, 45 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.

%

Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (45 ÷ 250) × 100.

Quick check

Evaluating

?A repeatable study giving the same results each time has high…

Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 800 people who returned a questionnaire, 280 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.

%

Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (280 ÷ 800) × 100.

Quick check

Ethics

?Studying people covertly, without telling them, mainly raises…

Recap

Applied methods — the big ideas

Plan: aim/hypothesis; match method to aim; PET issues

Methods: quantitative (breadth) vs qualitative (depth)

Sampling: frame; random/stratified/snowball → representativeness

Evaluate: reliability, validity, representativeness; ethics

You've covered applied methods of sociological enquiry. Press Finish.

🏆

Mini-lesson complete!

⭐⭐⭐

You've worked through Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry for GCSE Sociology (OCR J696 legacy). 🎉

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