Research 1: Collecting Data Unit – Use this weekly independent guide to help you complete your assignment

Week and Focus Tasks (to be completed in the seminar- to be continued at home)
1 - Research question, You must choose one of the five topic areas given on the assignment brief and
background and rationale: create a specific research question for primary research.

a research question relating to the Which of the suggested topic from the assignment brief have you selected?
chosen topic area and a specific
social group, background and Making a research question (things to consider):
rationale (500 words) - Choose a topic – what topic of the five are you interested in, what social issue
(health and social care or other issues) within that topic are you interested in?
choosing a topic area does not mean that you have to include the topic itself in your
question. For example, if you choose mental health, you do not have to include the
term ‘mental health’ itself in your question. You can choose to look at one aspect of
mental health or a specific mental health condition, such as depression. As long as
your question is related to the topic, for example mental health and it is feasible, you
can use the question.
- Choose a social group (a group of people) – e.g. older people, young people,
teenagers, women, men, people of working age, long-term unemployed, disabled
people, children with special educational needs, refugees, asylum seekers, people
from ethnic minority backgrounds, etc.. You can choose a specific group of people
who fall into two or more categories (e.g. unaccompanied asylum seeking children,
older people living in care homes, women in employment, black young people, etc.).
- Will you be using comparison group to compare with your main
(treatment/intervention group) if so what other interventions or groups should be
considered if any?
- What outcome/results do you plan to measure or capture?
- How long will it take you to collect data?
- Now using your topic and social group and other relevant points made above start
making a ‘How’ or ‘Why’ research question – you can use ‘what’ but make sure that
it is not too descriptive, but I recommend avoiding descriptive questions which can
be answered simply or does not allow in-depth exploration of the topic

You must provide background information and rationale for choosing the research

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 topic and question. You must show why your research topic is important and why it
is worth researching.
- What data/research can you get on your chosen topic? Why is the topic/ area
important? What research gap already exist in that topic area from what you have
read so far? What research question can you propose to address that gap – an
example of a research gap is after you have read literature on the topic you choose,
you may have noticed that most studies in that area did not look at gender, or
ethnicity differences or they only used quantitative method, then for your research
you can either look at gender or ethnicity difference or use a qualitative method as
there is lack of qualitative research or one looking at gender or ethnicity differences.

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week and finish this by
next week, have a research question for your seminar leader to give you oral
feedback on next week in the seminar (see the assignment brief for specifics).

2 - Research question, Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
background and rationale: You must choose one of the five topic areas given on the assignment brief and
create a specific research question for primary research.
a research question relating to the
chosen topic area and a specific Which of the suggested topic from the assignment brief have you selected?
social group, background and
rationale (500 words) Making a research question (things to consider):
- Choose a topic – what topic of the five are you interested in, what social issue
(health and social care or other issues) within that topic are you interested in?
choosing a topic area does not mean that you have to include the topic itself in your
question. For example, if you choose mental health, you do not have to include the

2
 term ‘mental health’ itself in your question. You can choose to look at one aspect of
mental health or a specific mental health condition, such as depression. As long as
your question is related to the topic, for example mental health and it is feasible, you
can use the question.
- Choose a social group (a group of people) – e.g. older people, young people,
teenagers, women, men, people of working age, long-term unemployed, disabled
people, children with special educational needs, refugees, asylum seekers, people
from ethnic minority backgrounds, etc.. You can choose a specific group of people
who fall into two or more categories (e.g. unaccompanied asylum seeking children,
older people living in care homes, women in employment, black young people, etc.).
- Will you be using comparison group to compare with your main
(treatment/intervention group) if so what other interventions or groups should be
considered if any?
- What outcome/results do you plan to measure or capture?
- How long will it take you to collect data?
- Now using your topic and social group and other relevant points made above start
making a ‘How’ or ‘Why’ research question – you can use ‘what’ but make sure that
it is not too descriptive, but I recommend avoiding descriptive questions which can
be answered simply or does not allow in-depth exploration of the topic

You must provide background information and rationale for choosing the research
topic and question. You must show why your research topic is important and why it
is worth researching.
- What data/research can you get on your chosen topic? Why is the topic/ area
important? What research gap already exist in that topic area from what you have
read so far? What research question can you propose to address that gap – an
example of a research gap is after you have read literature on the topic you choose,
you may have noticed that most studies in that area did not look at gender, or
ethnicity differences or they only used quantitative method, then for your research
you can either look at gender or ethnicity difference or use a qualitative method as
there is lack of qualitative research or one looking at gender or ethnicity differences.

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 You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week and finish this by
next week, have a research question for your seminar leader to give you oral
feedback on next week in the seminar (see the assignment brief for specifics).

3 - Research question, Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
background and rationale:
You must choose one of the five topic areas given on the assignment brief and
a research question relating to the create a specific research question for primary research.
chosen topic area and a specific
social group, background and Which of the suggested topic from the assignment brief have you selected?
rationale (500 words)
Making a research question (things to consider):
- Choose a topic – what topic of the five are you interested in, what social issue
(health and social care or other issues) within that topic are you interested in?
choosing a topic area does not mean that you have to include the topic itself in your
question. For example, if you choose mental health, you do not have to include the
term ‘mental health’ itself in your question. You can choose to look at one aspect of
mental health or a specific mental health condition, such as depression. As long as
your question is related to the topic, for example mental health and it is feasible, you
can use the question.
- Choose a social group (a group of people) – e.g. older people, young people,
teenagers, women, men, people of working age, long-term unemployed, disabled
people, children with special educational needs, refugees, asylum seekers, people
from ethnic minority backgrounds, etc.. You can choose a specific group of people
who fall into two or more categories (e.g. unaccompanied asylum seeking children,
older people living in care homes, women in employment, black young people, etc.).

4
 - Will you be using comparison group to compare with your main
(treatment/intervention group) if so what other interventions or groups should be
considered if any?
- What outcome/results do you plan to measure or capture?
- How long will it take you to collect data?
- Now using your topic and social group and other relevant points made above start
making a ‘How’ or ‘Why’ research question – you can use ‘what’ but make sure that
it is not too descriptive, but I recommend avoiding descriptive questions which can
be answered simply or does not allow in-depth exploration of the topic

You must provide background information and rationale for choosing the research
topic and question. You must show why your research topic is important and why it
is worth researching.
- What data/research can you get on your chosen topic? Why is the topic/ area
important? What research gap already exist in that topic area from what you have
read so far? What research question can you propose to address that gap – an
example of a research gap is after you have read literature on the topic you choose,
you may have noticed that most studies in that area did not look at gender, or
ethnicity differences or they only used quantitative method, then for your research
you can either look at gender or ethnicity difference or use a qualitative method as
there is lack of qualitative research or one looking at gender or ethnicity differences.

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week and finish this by
next week, have a research question for your seminar leader to give you oral
feedback on next week in the seminar (see the assignment brief for specifics).

5
4 - Method of data collection and By now you should have your research question, your draft for that section, review it again
ethics – you must choose one of and choose/finalise on a method.
three methods as your method of You must choose one of the three research methods given on the assignment brief
data collection: semi-structured (semi-structured interviews, focus groups or surveys) and explain the method and
interviews, focus groups or a why you think the method is appropriate for answering your question, and sampling
survey. You must discuss in detail strategy (how the research participants will be recruited, which participants you will
your research approaches, the consider recruiting, how many, how to approach them, etc.) and ethics.
method you chose, the rationale
for choosing the method, sampling Once you have decided on a research method, in order to better explain the
strategy and ethics (1,000 words) method and why you think it is appropriate for answering your research
question, you should read around the method, use the core text and do
independent research around the method and read these sources to ensure
that you properly understand the method. This knowledge and understanding
will then help you to better explain the method, why you chose it and why you
think it is appropriate for answering your question. Reading around the method
selected will help you understand how participants are approached, how many
participants and how participants are recruited when using the method you
chose.

You should also locate example journal articles that report on studies that have used the
similar method you have chosen to use for your proposed research– bring one or two to the
seminar (this may be different or not from papers you located in week 1-3). Look at how
they collected the data, participants, number and ethical issues considered etc. Reading
such journal articles will give you insight into how the authors have investigated their
research using the type of method you have chosen to use to answer their question.

Your ethics is basically related to ethical consideration for primary data collection, read the
core text section on ethics, you can also find more through Discover and recommended
reading list on ethical considerations for primary research.

You must discuss ethical issues arising from your suggested primary research – not only

6
 the basic principles of primary research such as informed consent, confidentiality,
anonymity, no harm to participants, etc., you should also consider other ethical issues – for
example, if the participants involved in your proposed research are young children (consent
from parents/guardian required) or vulnerable older people (extra safety measures,
cognitive ability – in case of people with dementia).

When describing your method of data collection and key ethical principles and
consideration, you must cite appropriate academic sources (e.g. books on social research
methods).

Please note that you are not expected to actually carry out primary research – you are only
expected to submit a plan for your (future/imaginary) primary research. Any students
claiming that they have actually met with participants and collected first-hand data will fail
as it involves a serious ethical breach.

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the
assignment brief for specifics).

5 - Method of data collection and Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
ethics – you must choose one of By now you should have your research question, your draft for that section, review it again
three methods as your method of and choose/finalise on a method.
data collection: semi-structured You must choose one of the three research methods given on the assignment brief
interviews, focus groups or a (semi-structured interviews, focus groups or surveys) and explain the method and
survey. You must discuss in detail why you think the method is appropriate for answering your question, and sampling
your research approaches, the strategy (how the research participants will be recruited, which participants you will
method you chose, the rationale consider recruiting, how many, how to approach them, etc.) and ethics.
for choosing the method, sampling
strategy and ethics (1,000 words) Once you have decided on a research method, in order to better explain the
method and why you think it is appropriate for answering your research

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question, you should read around the method, use the core text and do
independent research around the method and read these sources to ensure
that you properly understand the method. This knowledge and understanding
will then help you to better explain the method, why you chose it and why you
think it is appropriate for answering your question. Reading around the method
selected will help you understand how participants are approached, how many
participants and how participants are recruited when using the method you
chose.

You should also locate example journal articles that report on studies that have used the
similar method you have chosen to use for your proposed research– bring one or two to the
seminar (this may be different or not from papers you located in week 1-3). Look at how
they collected the data, participants, number and ethical issues considered etc. Reading
such journal articles will give you insight into how the authors have investigated their
research using the type of method you have chosen to use to answer their question.

Your ethics is basically related to ethical consideration for primary data collection, read the
core text section on ethics, you can also find more through Discover and recommended
reading list on ethical considerations for primary research.

You must discuss ethical issues arising from your suggested primary research – not only
the basic principles of primary research such as informed consent, confidentiality,
anonymity, no harm to participants, etc., you should also consider other ethical issues – for
example, if the participants involved in your proposed research are young children (consent
from parents/guardian required) or vulnerable older people (extra safety measures,
cognitive ability – in case of people with dementia).

When describing your method of data collection and key ethical principles and
consideration, you must cite appropriate academic sources (e.g. books on social research
methods).

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 Please note that you are not expected to actually carry out primary research – you are only
expected to submit a plan for your (future/imaginary) primary research. Any students
claiming that they have actually met with participants and collected first-hand data will fail
as it involves a serious ethical breach.

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the
assignment brief for specifics).

6 - Method of data collection and Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
ethics – you must choose one of
three methods as your method of By now you should have your research question, your draft for that section, review it again
data collection: semi-structured and choose/finalise on a method.
interviews, focus groups or a You must choose one of the three research methods given on the assignment brief
survey. You must discuss in detail (semi-structured interviews, focus groups or surveys) and explain the method and
your research approaches, the why you think the method is appropriate for answering your question, and sampling
method you chose, the rationale strategy (how the research participants will be recruited, which participants you will
for choosing the method, sampling consider recruiting, how many, how to approach them, etc.) and ethics.
strategy and ethics (1,000 words)
Once you have decided on a research method, in order to better explain the
method and why you think it is appropriate for answering your research
question, you should read around the method, use the core text and do
independent research around the method and read these sources to ensure
that you properly understand the method. This knowledge and understanding
will then help you to better explain the method, why you chose it and why you
think it is appropriate for answering your question. Reading around the method
selected will help you understand how participants are approached, how many
participants and how participants are recruited when using the method you
chose.

9
You should also locate example journal articles that report on studies that have used the
similar method you have chosen to use for your proposed research– bring one or two to the
seminar (this may be different or not from papers you located in week 1-3). Look at how
they collected the data, participants, number and ethical issues considered etc. Reading
such journal articles will give you insight into how the authors have investigated their
research using the type of method you have chosen to use to answer their question.

Your ethics is basically related to ethical consideration for primary data collection, read the
core text section on ethics, you can also find more through Discover and recommended
reading list on ethical considerations for primary research.

You must discuss ethical issues arising from your suggested primary research – not only
the basic principles of primary research such as informed consent, confidentiality,
anonymity, no harm to participants, etc., you should also consider other ethical issues – for
example, if the participants involved in your proposed research are young children (consent
from parents/guardian required) or vulnerable older people (extra safety measures,
cognitive ability – in case of people with dementia).

When describing your method of data collection and key ethical principles and
consideration, you must cite appropriate academic sources (e.g. books on social research
methods).

Please note that you are not expected to actually carry out primary research – you are only
expected to submit a plan for your (future/imaginary) primary research. Any students
claiming that they have actually met with participants and collected first-hand data will fail
as it involves a serious ethical breach.

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the

10
 assignment brief for specifics).

7- Data collection tools - a Data collection tools - You should make questions that can actually be asked to future
comprehensive topic guide (an research participants in this section (these are actual questions you will use for interviews
interview guide) OR a focus group or focus group or survey if you were to do the primary research in the future). This part of
discussion guide OR a survey the assignment will look like a list of questions or topics (no explanation or introductory
questionnaire depending on your paragraph needed, although you could add some instructions for participants).
chosen method (500 words). This The questions can be numbered, bullet-pointed or can be included in a table (any format is
section must consist of 20-25 fine, just a list of questions worth 400-500 words should be fine in terms of the format).
questions or topics you would like
to ask to participants in order to You should write about 500 words for this section and must present about 20-25 questions
answer your research question. If or topics you would like to ask your participants in order to answer your research question.
you are developing a survey
questionnaire, you must also If doing a survey, the survey questions must be 20-25 questions with answer choices (if
provide multiple choices for they chose a survey), or if doing a semi-structured interview guide it must be 20-25 or if
participants to choose from. There doing a focus group discussion guide they must be 20-25 questions or topics. No matter
is no need to include any which method you are doing, they there must be 20-25 questions or topics ( your list could
explanation and you only need the consist of topics, questions or the combination of both).
list of questions (with bullet points
or numbered questions) included Make sure that your survey questions or interview or focus group topics/questions are
here. appropriate for answering your research question.
Remember that these questions or topics are for your research participants so they should
be worded clearly and in plain language, avoiding leading questions and asking two things
in one question, etc.
You are expected to mainly use close-ended questions for surveys and open-ended
questions for interviews and focus groups. So, if you are making a survey
questionnaire, you must provide answer options as well (e.g., multiple choices, tick boxes,
Likert scale, etc.). You can include some questions to check participants’ background such
as asking for key personal details or questions relating to key socio-demographic factors
(e.g., income, age, ethnicity, etc. depending on your research question).

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself

11
 as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the
assignment brief for specifics).

8 - Data collection tools - a Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
comprehensive topic guide (an
interview guide) OR a focus group Data collection tools - You should make questions that can actually be asked to future
discussion guide OR a survey research participants in this section (these are actual questions you will use for interviews
questionnaire depending on your or focus group or survey if you were to do the primary research in the future). This part of
chosen method (500 words). This the assignment will look like a list of questions or topics (no explanation or introductory
section must consist of 20-25 paragraph needed, although you could add some instructions for participants).
questions or topics you would like The questions can be numbered, bullet-pointed or can be included in a table (any format is
to ask to participants in order to fine, just a list of questions worth 400-500 words should be fine in terms of the format).
answer your research question. If
you are developing a survey You should write about 500 words for this section and must present about 20-25 questions
questionnaire, you must also or topics you would like to ask your participants in order to answer your research question.
provide multiple choices for
participants to choose from. There If doing a survey, the survey questions must be 20-25 questions with answer choices (if
is no need to include any they chose a survey), or if doing a semi-structured interview guide it must be 20-25 or if
explanation and you only need the doing a focus group discussion guide they must be 20-25 questions or topics. No matter
list of questions (with bullet points which method you are doing, they there must be 20-25 questions or topics ( your list could
or numbered questions) included consist of topics, questions or the combination of both).
here.
Make sure that your survey questions or interview or focus group topics/questions are
appropriate for answering your research question.
Remember that these questions or topics are for your research participants so they should
be worded clearly and in plain language, avoiding leading questions and asking two things
in one question, etc.
You are expected to mainly use close-ended questions for surveys and open-ended
questions for interviews and focus groups. So, if you are making a survey
questionnaire, you must provide answer options as well (e.g., multiple choices, tick boxes,

12
 Likert scale, etc.). You can include some questions to check participants’ background such
as asking for key personal details or questions relating to key socio-demographic factors
(e.g., income, age, ethnicity, etc. depending on your research question).

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the
assignment brief for specifics).

9 - Data collection tools - a Some of you may need more time on this, so use this week to work on this.
comprehensive topic guide (an
interview guide) OR a focus group Data collection tools - You should make questions that can actually be asked to future
discussion guide OR a survey research participants in this section (these are actual questions you will use for interviews
questionnaire depending on your or focus group or survey if you were to do the primary research in the future). This part of
chosen method (500 words). This the assignment will look like a list of questions or topics (no explanation or introductory
section must consist of 20-25 paragraph needed, although you could add some instructions for participants).
questions or topics you would like The questions can be numbered, bullet-pointed or can be included in a table (any format is
to ask to participants in order to fine, just a list of questions worth 400-500 words should be fine in terms of the format).
answer your research question. If
you are developing a survey You should write about 500 words for this section and must present about 20-25 questions
questionnaire, you must also or topics you would like to ask your participants in order to answer your research question.
provide multiple choices for
participants to choose from. There If doing a survey, the survey questions must be 20-25 questions with answer choices (if
is no need to include any they chose a survey), or if doing a semi-structured interview guide it must be 20-25 or if
explanation and you only need the doing a focus group discussion guide they must be 20-25 questions or topics. No matter
list of questions (with bullet points which method you are doing, they there must be 20-25 questions or topics ( your list could
or numbered questions) included consist of topics, questions or the combination of both).
here.
Make sure that your survey questions or interview or focus group topics/questions are
appropriate for answering your research question.
Remember that these questions or topics are for your research participants so they should

13
 be worded clearly and in plain language, avoiding leading questions and asking two things
in one question, etc.
You are expected to mainly use close-ended questions for surveys and open-ended
questions for interviews and focus groups. So, if you are making a survey
questionnaire, you must provide answer options as well (e.g., multiple choices, tick boxes,
Likert scale, etc.). You can include some questions to check participants’ background such
as asking for key personal details or questions relating to key socio-demographic factors
(e.g., income, age, ethnicity, etc. depending on your research question).

You cannot write in the first person in this assignment. You could refer to yourself
as ‘the researcher’, if you want (or just write ‘The proposed research will involve…’).

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week (see the
assignment brief for specifics).

10 - review, proofread, review Use this week to tidy up your work, review work carefully to ensure you have met the
and proofread and review – assignment criteria.
check the assignment brief for
specifics. By this week, you should be ready to submit your assignment (some of you may
have finished your assignment by week 8 or 9).

Proofread your work very carefully. Remember to read the assignment brief for
specifics on what you need to do and include. Also remember to send your work to
Study Hub/studiosity for grammar and spelling etc support.

Continue working on these at home/at your spare time this week.

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