Interpreting Data, Practical and Ethical Issues
How sociologists read graphs, charts and tables and spot trends, and the practical issues (time, cost, access) and ethical issues (consent, confidentiality, harm) they must manage when doing research.
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Reading the research
Collecting data is only half of research. A sociologist must also read it correctly, spotting patterns rather than staring at single numbers, and must handle the real limits of doing research: how long it takes, what it costs, and getting to the people studied. On top of that come the ethical duties owed to those taking part. This module covers all three.
Research vocabulary
Learn these four terms before you study the detail.
Two kinds of issue
Researchers face two very different sets of problems.
Read trends, treat people well
A top answer does two things. When reading data it names the overall pattern, not just one figure, and backs it with values from the table or chart. When planning research it shows how the practical limits of time, cost and access are handled, and how participants are protected by consent, confidentiality and care to avoid harm.
Match the term
- trend
- access
- informed consent
- confidentiality
- a general pattern in the data
- being able to reach the group to study
- agreeing to take part after being informed
- keeping what people say private
Practical or ethical
- research takes a long time
- research costs money
- keeping people safe from harm
- getting agreement to take part
- a practical issue about time
- a practical issue about cost
- an ethical issue about safety
- an ethical issue about consent
What is a trend?
When interpreting data, what is a trend?
- A general pattern across the data.
- One number read on its own.
- The title of the graph.
- A mistake in the data.
Ethical issues
Select the TWO ethical issues a researcher must consider.
- Getting informed consent.
- Protecting people from harm.
- How long the study takes.
- How much the study costs.
Order the reading
Put the steps of reading a chart in order, earliest first.
- Read the title and the labels
- Read the values shown
- Compare the values
- Describe the overall trend
- Draw a conclusion
Complete the facts
A general pattern in data is a _____. Time, cost and getting to the group are _____ issues. Agreeing to take part after being informed is _____ consent. Keeping what people say private is _____. Making sure no one is hurt by the research is protecting them from _____.
Find the mean
Three groups gave 10, 20 and 30 answers. Add 10, 20 and 30 to get 60, then divide 60 by 3 to find the mean number per group. What is the answer?
Spot the practical issues
Tap the TWO practical issues in research.
- the research takes a long time
- the research costs a lot of money
- getting informed consent from people
- protecting people from harm
Practical or ethical?
Read each situation and decide which kind of issue it is.
- A researcher worries the study will cost more money than the budget allows. What kind of issue is this?
- A researcher must make sure people know what they are agreeing to before taking part. What kind of issue is this?
- A researcher promises to keep every answer private and to store names separately. What is being protected?
Explain the issues
Explain how a sociologist interprets data and the practical and ethical issues they must manage.
- Explain how to read a trend from a chart or table
- Describe two practical issues in doing research
- Describe two ethical issues and how they can be addressed