Sociology Q2d – Ethical methodology in community research | VCE Units 3 & 4 Practice – StudyPulse
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Sociology VCE Units 3 & 4 Practice Question 2d – Ethical methodology in community research

Q2d Sociology Ethical methodology in community research Unit 4 - AOS 1

A VCE Sociology student is conducting community research on belonging and participation in a weekend skatepark community that has formed around a local council-funded facility. The student plans to use a mixed-method design:

  • Stage 1 (observation): Spend three Saturdays at the skatepark taking field notes about interactions, group norms and informal leadership.
  • Stage 2 (interviews): Conduct 10 semi-structured interviews with skaters.
  • Stage 3 (digital artefacts): Use screenshots from a public Instagram page that reposts skatepark videos to illustrate community symbols and shared identity.

The student’s current plan includes: approaching skaters “in the moment” to ask quick questions while filming tricks is occurring; interviewing two participants aged 15 and 16 without contacting parents/guardians; recording interviews on a phone and saving them with file names that include first names; storing all data in a personal Google Drive; and including one direct quote that mentions a distinctive injury and the time it occurred. The student intends to delete files “when the project is finished” but has not set a date or method for deletion.

Question 2d

6 marks

d. Evaluate the student’s data management plan in relation to confidentiality of data. Recommend two concrete changes and explain how each would reduce the likelihood of participant identification.

Your Answer

0 words

About This Sociology Question

This is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Sociology practice question worth 6 marks, testing your understanding of Ethical methodology in community research. It falls under Community in Unit 4: Community, social movements and social change. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.

Subject
Sociology – Victorian Certificate of Education Units 3 & 4
Unit 4
Community, social movements and social change
Area of Study 1
Community
Key Knowledge
Ethical methodology in community research

Unit 4 Overview

In this unit, students explore the ways sociologists have thought about the idea of community and how various types of community are experienced. They examine the relationship between social movements and social change, including the nature, purpose, power, and outcomes of social movements.

Community

Students examine the changing definitions and experiences of community, including the theories of Ferdinand Tonnies and Michel Maffesoli. They analyse factors influencing belonging, the impact of technology, economic, social, political, and geographical factors, and evaluate a specific community experience, considering ethical research methodology.

Key Knowledge Detail

the nature of ethical methodology with reference to voluntary participation, informed consent, privacy and the confidentiality of data.

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