Social Research Methods and Project Work: Observation, Survey, Interview, Case Study and Project Report
What the exam tests
This domain tests your ability to choose and justify research methods and to structure a project report. Questions often ask for differences between survey and case study, types of observation, or ethical issues in research.
Core rules and concepts
- Observation can be participant or non-participant; it must be systematic and recorded; observer effect can bias findings.
- Survey uses questionnaires and sampling to study large populations; representativeness depends on the sampling frame.
- Interview can be structured or unstructured; rapport and probing improve depth but interviewer bias is a risk.
- Case study examines one case in depth qualitatively; it is not mere anecdote and often uses triangulation.
- Project report includes title, introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, conclusion and references.
- Ethics require informed consent, confidentiality, no harm and honesty.
Worked example
To study school dropout, use a survey to estimate the rate, interviews with dropouts to understand reasons, a case study of one school for context, and observation of classrooms. Triangulation strengthens validity.
Traps that cost marks
- Using a survey for a rare, in-depth case.
- Asking leading questions in interviews.
- Treating a case study as a casual story.
- Ignoring ethics and sampling.