Her fourth method of research was Questionnaires. After two years she decided to test the hypothesis on a more systematic basis. She had a 41 page questionnaire that was given to all English speaking members. She compared her results from the questionnaire with the population of Britain to compare characteristics such as sex, age and social class.
Reasons for Selection of research design (250-300) 351
Barker wanted her findings to be valid so she used four methods.
Her Initial Questions were in three stages. The first stage was ‘A personal level’ to look at the experience of individual Moonies. The second stage was ‘An interpersonal level’ to look at the interaction between Moonies and each other and Moonies and Non-Moonies. The third stage of initial questions was ‘An impersonal level’. This looked at the structure of the movement, its functions and consequences and looked at the overall role of the movement in society.
With the In-Depth Interviews Barker had an outline of what she wanted to discuss but the order of questions was flexible. Areas covered included the background of the interviewee, why and how they joined, their life in the movement and their understanding of what they were doing.
Participant Observation was important. The aim of it was to gain a deeper understanding of the Moonies. The first stage of participant observation was ‘passive observation’. In this stage she did very little, just watched and listened. The next stage was ‘interactive observation’ were she felt familiar enough with the Moonies to join in conversations without standing out. Finally the last stage was the ‘aggressive stage’. This was when she felt confident enough to question some of what the Moonies believed in. As she had been there for such a long time she was able to do this without being dismissed and told she didn’t understand the group.
The last method was the Questionnaire to provide a sample of answers that could be looked back on and used to back up other areas of research.
Together theses four methods work towards providing a more valid set of findings. They compliment each other to ensure that the findings are correct. If one method was just used the research would not be as valid as it is with the four different methods.
Evaluation of Research Findings (350-400) 410
After going to a recruitment session and deciding to study the Moonies, Barker found there was no evidence that physical force or other means of affecting biological or physical make up was used on members. She argues that the fact that most people who are subjected to the Moonies are perfectly capable of refusing to join the movement rules out those explanations which rely totally on unification techniques of coercion. She also found that people’s background, personalities and past experiences are important in understanding why some people become Moonies and that for these people becoming a Moonie may meet certain personal needs.
Barker’s research is not reliable. The methods she used would make it hard for someone to replicate the study. In her research she used participant observation and this method is highly subjective and therefore unreliable. It could be argued that due to the amount of time spent with the Moonies she could have developed a relationship with the group and viewed them in a sympathetic manor. This is known as ‘going native.’ Also she used initial questions and interviews. These two methods again are not reliable as you can not conduct them exactly the same. Her method of questionnaires is slightly more reliable than her other three methods. However taking in to consideration all four methods the research is not reliable.
Her research was highly valid. As she used four methods over a 6 year period her findings were clearly valid. Each method backed up the findings of the other methods to ensure the findings were true and just. If she had used just the one method you couldn’t be sure everything worked perfectly. Where as, if you have four methods showing similar findings the research has to be valid. She also kept a diary which aided her in translating her findings at the end of her research. With this added level of accuracy it gave her research higher validity.
The research is obviously not representative. She only studied one religious group so it is not possible for the findings to be representative. Further more the findings cannot be generalised to the population as a whole as she only studied the one group.
Barker’s research didn’t break any ethical guidelines. She was true to the participants throughout her study and didn’t attempt to deceive anyone. She was open in what she was doing from the start and everyone knew that she was a sociologists and not a Moonie.
