Community and Family Studies Trial Notes

TOPIC: Research Methodology

- Types of data (what types can be collected from individuals and groups?)
o Primary and secondary

Primary: data YOU have collected in your own investigation, firsthand knowledge and
research.
Secondary: data previously collected from other researchers. Used to support or contrast
research findings or to gain prior research knowledge.
o Qualitative and quantitative

Qualitative: Rich in information, thoughts, feelings, experiences, values, attitudes, more

subject to bias. Harder to quantify, written descriptive statements of judgements.
Quantitative: numerical and statistical data, can be quantified into graph forms, less
subject to bias. Yes or no, %, scale, etc.
- Sources of data (advantages and limitations)
o Print and digital

Print and digital: print being newspapers, books, magazines. Digital being websites.
Important for providing background information on a topic prior to in depth research,
literature review. Can be used for points of reference, point of analysis etc. Print forms
are increasingly digital meaning higher accessibility.
Advantages: Print – informative, info can’t be altered, high quality, proofread
Digital – recent, easy access, translate, lots of info, can access wherever
Limitations: Print – outdated, limited to Q, interpretation, hard for low literacy,
Digital – Not everyone can access internet, time consuming, false info
- Reliability and Validity (How sampling contributes to reliability and validity)
Reliability: repeatability, consistency of data gathering and research. Can this be
repeated with same instructions?
Validity: Accuracy of chosen data measurements. Refers directly to appropriate sample
group, the questions asked being reflective of hypothesis, various methodologies used to
enhance validity.
Sampling: Reliability and validity link to correct sampling through selection of group, size,
and type of sampling. This can differ from research focus but the larger the group, the
more reliable data and the more relevant the participants the more valid the findings are.
Sampling types: random, systematic, stratified, cluster, convenience, volunteer
- Ethical behaviour (importance of bias when conducting research)
o Bias

Bias: inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group especially in a way
considered unfair. Research is always influenced by personal values, but researchers
need to try to remain as objective as possible in order to gain valid data. Bias occurs
when a factor unduly influences the outcome and distorts results.
In order to avoid bias - be open to all possibilities, select effective and appropriate
method of research, representative sample group, interpret results as they appear not
based on how you think they should appear.
Importance of avoiding bias: bias disrupts findings, impacts researcher’s credibility and
validity as well as the reliability of the research if repeated. If bias research is published
and verified as factual, it can interfere with other correct forms of data and research out
there and negatively influence opinions of readers and other researchers.
- Research methods (description of each and suitability of each for topics)
o Questionnaires

Questionnaires: form of survey that consists of a series of questions.

Suitability: good for when resources such as time & money are limited. Allows for a high
rate of responses through the use of tech, results are easy to record, high representation
o Interviews

Interviews: form of survey where the researcher asks one or more people a series of
questions to gather info about a topic.
Suitability: highly personal, useful to gain info on specific people, face to face, can be
done through use of tech on facetime etc, better qualitive data, can be structured or not.
o Case studies

Case studies: written summary of a real-life case, based on data collected over time.
Used for more specific aspects within a research topic, can consist of various other
methodologies used, contains a process of analysis or reflection on outcomes.
Suitability: great for in depth study of a specific aspect of an issue, clarifies information
for a bigger issue, provides extra set of data to analyse in bigger study, can be time
consuming, can only focus on one aspect and not others.
o Observations

Observations: used to record what is witnessed by a researcher, such as what is said or

done by different participants in a particular context.
Suitability: Great for group dynamics, cohesion, and behaviour that is difficult to obtain in
other ways, allows for objective data rather than spoken perceptions form participants,
behaviour can be adjusted depending on knowledge on being observed, trust bias and
privacy can be issues of concern when taking place.
o Literature review

Literature review: examination on existing research that has been conducted on a topic
or issue, summary of views, opinions and findings of other researchers.
Suitability: develops an understanding prior to research, potential gaps within knowledge
or ideas to be challenged, can potentially bias future results.
- Planning for research
o Formulating a research proposal

Research proposal: project plan provides an initial summary and outline of complete
research process. Involves selecting a research topic, overview of sampling methods that
will be used, proposing how the research will be conducted.
o Managing resources, eg time, materials

Managing resources: utilising a timeline to set out milestones, targets or goals to

achieve. Resources such as human, accessing knowledge from individuals and groups,
non-human such as technology, notepads, questionnaires, stationary.
- Interpreting research
 o Presenting research findings

Graphs: collecting raw primary data and drawing line, pie, bar and histograms by using
technological software.
Tables: collecting raw primary data and displaying it in tables, qualitative comments and
judgments.
Written reports: presenting primary qualitative data in paragraph form, interview results.
o Analysing research results

Comparing quantitative and qualitative primary data with secondary data discovered in
literature reviews via articles, documentaries etc.
o Drawing conclusions from research

Looking at the analysis of results and coming to conclusions about what has been
discovered, how it relates to topic and hypothesis, what does this research mean to
people and communities within this context? Has the question been answered?
Hypothesis disproven or proven and why.

TOPIC: Groups in Context

- Prevalence of each group within the community (within Australia)(What
determines whether an individual is part of the group?)
Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
- Individual diversity within each group (How do individuals vary within the group?)
Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
- Specific needs of each group (definitions and application to group)
o Adequate standard of living

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Health

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
 o Education

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Employment

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Safety and security

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Sense of identity

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
- Identify and prioritise the specific needs of each group
Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
- Factors affecting access to services
o What types of services do each individual require access to

Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Characteristics of individuals within the group eg age, gender, level of
education, culture, type of disability, first language spoken, socioeconomic
status (How do these affect access?)
Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Aspects of the service, eg opening hours, confidentiality, location, staffing
(How available are services?)
Youth:
People w disabilities:
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
ONLY B CATEGORY (First Nations and Homeless people)
- Equity issues (Investigate current inequity issue and propose strategies to address
this)
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
- Advocacy – speaking out for the groups needs and concerns (How do community
organisations do this and how does it positively influence community attitudes)
Homeless people:
First Nations people:
o Promoting the rights of the group

Homeless people:
First Nations people:

TOPIC: Parenting and Caring

- Social parents
Social parents: one who has parental responsibilities for a child they do not share a
genetic relationship with.
o Fostering

o Step-parenting
o Surrogacy
- Explore the impact of legal, social and technological change on social parents by
considering change in:
o Legislation
o Community beliefs and attitudes
- Carers
o Informal and formal
- Roles of parents and carers
o Satisfying the specific needs of the dependant
o Building a positive relationship with the dependant
o Promoting the wellbeing of the dependent
- Outline the roles of parents and carers and evaluate significance of each role in
various parenting and caring situations
- Preparations for becoming a parent or carer (Examine situations and impact
preparations have on dependant’s wellbeing)
 o Organising finance, eg budgeting, saving, support payments
- Influences on parents and carers – social
o Community attitudes (social influences on role)
o Gender expectations (expectations on different genders in P&C roles in a
changing society)
- Legal rights of parents, carers and dependants (impact on wellbeing)
o Health and medical decisions
o Education and schooling
o Financial support
- Responsibilities of parents and carers (contribution to positive relationships)
o Duty of care
- Support for parents and carers – formal (how can this assist to prepare for their
roles, fulfil their responsibilities, maintain their own wellbeing)
o Government agencies
o Community organisations

TOPIC: Social Impact of Technology

- Technologies and the family (Wellbeing within families)
o Household technology

Household tech: introduction of labour-saving devices, washing machines, dishwashers,

dryers, vacuum cleaners.
Impact on wellbeing within families: frees up time to manage multiple commitments,
contributes to positive social and emotional wellbeing of family members resulting in
reduced stress, increased time for social involvement. Negative impact however of
technologies on economic and physical wellbeing through allocation of excess money
towards technology and reduced physical activity/labour.
o Entertainment technology

Entertainment tech: provides relaxation and recuperation, consists of tablets, televisions,

game consoles, computers and smart phones. Used to view online content, information,
entertainment and play interactive games.
Impact on wellbeing within families: Positive impact within families as it improves social
wellbeing through social connection and bond between family members. Overuse of
entertainment technology however can negatively impact social wellbeing through
isolation and limiting time for other activities and interactions. Entertainment technology
can also increase risk of developing obsessions and health issues reducing social,
physical, emotional and economic wellbeing.
- Technologies and the community (How does tech contribute to productive
communities?) (Impact of tech on community health and wellbeing)
o Education and training
o Transport and travel
o Health and medicine
o Food
o Leisure and entertainment