Why Understanding Research Methods is Important

About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about why research methods are so important to understand, focusing in particular on: (i) a function of research methods being to enable the testing of the social world; (ii) a secondary function of research methods being to structure the adherence of scientific method to rules and guidelines; (iii) a modern function of research methods understanding being to better enable the reader to discern good from bad information sources; (iv) ‘anti-vaxxers’ as an example of a group of people who had chosen to follow the teachings of proposals and research which did not meet the research methods standards that much of science is held to; (v) an instrumentalist view on the importance of understanding research methods being to enable an individual to evaluate studies, design and conduct research, identify sound and spurious research, and be highly employable.

About the lecturer

Dr Rodolfo Leyva is a lecturer in quantitative methods in the Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology at the University of Birmingham. Dr Leyva’s research interests are in experimental social science, direct democracy and civil disobedience. Some of Dr Leyva’s recent publications include ‘Media Ethics, Regulations, And Effects: How The British Right-Wing Press Disregards All Three & Undermines Democratic Deliberations’ (2020) and ‘Testing & Unpacking The Effects Of Digital Fake News On Presidential Candidate Evaluations & Voter Support.’ (2020).