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A-level OCR Sociology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two theories involved in Research methods

A

Positivism and Interpretivism

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2
Q

Define Positivism

A

An approach to sociological research which advocates using similar methods to natural sciences, such as analysis of quantitative data.

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3
Q

What do postivists believe about human behaviour

A

That human behaviour is the product of ‘social laws’ or ‘social facts’ which arise out of the way societies are socially organised or structured.

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4
Q

What do Positivists believe

A

That sociology is a science and that sociological researchers should adopt both the logic and methods of the natural sciences.
They also believe that research should be carried out under controlled conditions, as are experiments in a lab.

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5
Q

What do sociologists do alternatively to using a lab for research

A

They aim to achieve control through the use of random sampling techniques and skilfully designed standardised and scientific measuring tools such as survey questionnaires and structured interview schedules.

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6
Q

What approach to positivist sociologists take to investigating social issues

A

A macro-approach

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7
Q

What do positive sociologists believe when coming to investigating social issues

A
  • They believe society is more important than the individual
  • They see human or social behaviour as the product of social forces or laws, so people have little or no influence
  • They therefore view people as puppets of society who behave in predictable ways - groups of people follow particular trends in their behaviour
  • They believe the job of a sociologist is to uncover these social forces and to document them
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8
Q

What sociologists prefer positivist research

A

Marxists and functionalists

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9
Q

Why do marxist and functionalists prefer positivist research

A

Because they are interested in how large-scale social processes, structures and institutions shape or influence social trends or patterns of human behaviour.

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10
Q

Define value freedom

A

The notion that sociologists should be objective when they carry out research and that their subjective beliefs, values and attitudes should not bias how they organise the research or interpret the data they collect

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11
Q

Define objectivity

A

The absence of bias or approaching research without any pre-conceived ideas

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12
Q

Define validity

A

Research findings give a true or authentic picture of what is being studied. It reflects reality

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13
Q

Define reliability

A

A research tool is reliable if another sociologist can use it and obtain the same results

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14
Q

Define representative

A

Relates to the sample of people who agree to take part in sociological research. If the sample is representative, it means they are a good cross-section of the wider population in which the sociologist is interested

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15
Q

Define quantitative data

A

Statistical or numerical data that can be presented in graphs and tables

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16
Q

What are positivists keen on achieving

A

Value freedom or objectivity. They want to make sure the sociologist should carry out research and interpret evidence with an open mid and set aside their own beliefs.

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17
Q

What is Interpretivism

A

An approach to sociology which advocates using methods which allow sociologists to understand the meanings and interpretation of those they study, typically using qualitative methods

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18
Q

What approach do interpretivists take

A

They take a micro rather than a macro approach because they believe the individual is more important than society

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19
Q

What do interpretivists observe

A

That human beings have consciousness which differentiates them from the subject matter of the natural sciences. People have free will and choose how to behave, the behaviour cannot be predicted

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20
Q

What do Interpretivists argue

A

That cause and effect relationships are impossible to establish in regard to human behaviour because human behaviour is generally unpredictable

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21
Q

What do Interpretivists argue about sociological research

A

That the research should focus on the shared meanings or interpretations that people use to make sense of their social world.

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22
Q

Define Verstehen

A

When a sociologist employs a method that helps them to see the world through the eyes of the group being researched

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23
Q

What is Subjectivity

A

Interpretivists argue that it is important to appreciate how the world looks from the point of view of those being studied

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24
Q

Interpretivists emphasise _______ rather than _______

A

Validity rather than Reliability

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25
Q

Define Reflexivity

A

Refers to the process of self-reflection by sociologists carrying out research. Many interpretivists researchers, discuss how their interaction with their research subjects may have influenced process. It is a process aimed at achieving objectivity and minimising bias

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26
Q

What do Interpretivists argue about the researchers

A

That the researcher should always be aware of how their presence influences the behaviour of the research subjects

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27
Q

What do Interpretivists believe about positivists research methods

A

That methods such as questionnaires and structured interviews are artificial and alien and consequently people may feel threatened by them and be tempted to give false or fake answers.

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28
Q

Define Generalisable

A

Sociologists can safely conclude that what was studied is probably true of the wider population to which the sample belongs

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29
Q

Define Rapport

A

Building up a relationship with those being studied

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30
Q

Define Ethnography

A

Researcher entering into the setting being studied

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31
Q

What is triangulation

A

Using a variety of means of undergoing the research

32
Q

What are 3 factors effecting research

A

Pratical
Ethical
Theoretical

33
Q

What are 4 practical factors affecting research

A

Cost
Time
Subject matter
Social characteristics

34
Q

What are 5 Ethical factors affecting research

A

Informed consent
Rights to privacy
Avoidance of emotional/physical harm
Legality
Morals

35
Q

Name the two types of random sampling

A

Systematic random sampling

Stratified random sampling

36
Q

Describe systematic random sampling

A

Randomly choosing a number between 1 and 10 and then picking out every 10th number for that number (not always representative)

37
Q

Describe stratified random sampling

A

Dividing the research population into a number of different sampling frames and then using systematic random sampling to select the group that will make up the sample

38
Q

Name the 4 types of non-random sampling

A

Quota sampling
Purposive sampling
Opportunity sampling
Snowball sampling
Volunteer sampling

39
Q

Describe quota sampling

A

Researcher has a certain number they need to fill and he/she looks for the right number of people until the quota is filled

40
Q

Describe purposive sampling

A

Researcher chooses individuals or cases that fit the nature of the research

41
Q

Describe opportunity sampling

A

Making most of situation or opportunities in which the research population is likely to be found

42
Q

Describe snowball sampling

A

Used when researchers have difficult gaining access to particular groups. Involves interviewing and asking them for advice on who to ask next. Friends ask friends to join in etc.

43
Q

Describe volunteer sampling

A

Sociologist advertise for volunteers

44
Q

What is a Pilot study

A

Trial/practice study which allows the sociologist to check if the questions are relevant, understandable and appropriate, interviewers can be trained and can also spot bias

45
Q

What are 2 factors affecting choice of research topic

A

Social problems
Sociological problems

46
Q

Define social problems

A

Aspects of social life which cause misery and anxiety to individuals and society in general

47
Q

What are choices of research topics dependent on

A

Interests and values of researcher
Current debates in academic world
Funding
Access to research subjects

48
Q

Define hypothesis

A

An informed guess which will then be tested

49
Q

What is Grounded theory

A

Some sociologists begin with a general aim and allow hypothesis to take shape and develop as the research data is collected

50
Q

Define operationalisation

A

Hypothesis or research aim is broken down into concrete things that can be observed or measured

51
Q

What are 2 positive factors of Longitudinal surveys

A
  • Study the same group of people over a long period of time
  • Clear image of changes and attitudes and behaviour over a number of years
52
Q

What are 3 negative factors of Longitudinal surveys

A
  • Respondents may drop out or researchers may lose track of them (undermines representativeness of original sample)
  • Views of those who remain in the sample may be significantly different to those who drop out (undermines validity)
  • Researcher team may get too friendly with members of group
53
Q

What is Researcher imposition

A

Respondent changes what they say as the researcher is there

54
Q

Describe Questionnaires

A

Main methods of gathering data in social surveys

A list of questions that are written down in advance and are handed to the chosen respondents for self completion.

55
Q

What are open and closed questions

A

Open are open ended, like thoughts and feelings

Closed are like multiple choice

56
Q

What are Semi-structured interviews

A

Questionnaires that employ a combination of mainly closed questions with occasional open questions

Self-report = asks respondents to tick what they have experienced

Attitudinal questionnaire = asking respondents on a scale of 1-5

Ideally, questions should be neutral and objective

57
Q

Name 3 strengths of questionnaires

A
  • Can be used for reaching larger and consequently more representative samples of people
  • Less time consuming and are cheaper
  • Usefull if they guarantee anonymity
58
Q

Name 3 weaknesses of questionnaires

A
  • Low response rates - especially is posted. Therefore, the validity is undermined
  • Interpretivists argue they produce data which is low in validity - interpretation could be wrong or even lying
  • Interpretivists argue that closed questions suffer from the imposition problem
59
Q

Describe interviews

A

Can be carried out in a public space, telephone or online forums. The most successful interviews are carried out in private, neutral and unthreatening venues. Particularly useful when studying areas which are not accessible

However:
Can be expensive, Success depends on how well the interviewer has been trained e.g listening skills and body language

60
Q

Describe structured interviews

A

Researcher reads out a list of closed questions from an interview schedule and ticking boxes or writing down answers

Interviewer plays a passive and robotic role

Responses normally converted to quantitative

61
Q

Name 3 strengths of structured interviews

A
  • Positivists are keen, they regard the method as scientific
  • Use of close questions and fixed-choice tick boxes generate large amounts of quantitative data
  • Can be conducted quite quickly - increasing possibility of a representative sample from which generalisations can be made
62
Q

Name 3 weaknesses of structured interviews

A
  • Artificial devices that are not a normal part of everyday reality - people could respond with suspicion, in an evasive way or could lie (Interviewer bias - undermining validity)
  • Inflexible - interviewer cannot pursue any interesting leads
  • Only snapshots taken at one moment in time
63
Q

What are official and unofficial statistics

A

Official - numerical data collected by government

Unofficial - quantitative data collected by non-government sources

64
Q

What are 3 strengths of official and unofficial statistics

A
  • Easy and cheap to access - online
  • Normally up-to-date and can clearly see patterns and trends
  • Positivists see them as reliable - collected in a systematic way
65
Q

Name 3 weaknesses of official and unofficial statistics

A
  • May not represent a true picture
  • Open to political abuse - stats can be manipulated for political advantage
  • Statistics are socially constructed
66
Q

Describe unstructured interviews

A

A guided conversation
Normally carried out in natural setting of respondent

67
Q

Name 3 strengths of an unstructured interview

A
  • Allow researcher to establish a qualitative interaction or relationship with respondent generating trust and rapport
  • They are flexible
  • Data is highly valid
68
Q

Name 2 weaknesses of unstructured interviews

A
  • Could be bias if interviewer picks and chooses material to match his/her opinion
  • There are no pre-coded answers so the data is hard to analyse and quantify and turn into graphs or tables
69
Q

Describe group interviews

A

Interviewer talks to a group or panel of respondents. Often used to interview children or to investigate the dynamics of a particular group

High in validity if truer image emerges when the group is interviewed together but it could be argued that there is a more dominant member of the group

70
Q

Describe focus group interviews

A

Participants are encouraged to talk to each other and discuss an issue. There is minimal interference from the sociologist. The danger is that strong personalities can dominate

71
Q

Describe Non-participant or direct observation

A

Involves the researcher sitting and observing an activity e.g patient/doctor interaction or a classroom. The observer is a detached and unobtrusive onlooker who plays no active role in the activity being observed
Less likely to be biased but could be argued that the behaviour is artificial (researcher imposition)

72
Q

Describe participant observation

A

Researcher immerses into the lifestyle of the group.

73
Q

Name 4 strengths of participant observation

A
  • Researcher can see things through the eyes and actions of those in the group - verstehen
  • High in validity - trustworthy
  • Allows an understanding of changing attitudes and behaviour
  • Can be supported by informal questions
74
Q

Name 4 weaknesses of participant observation

A
  • Observer or researcher effect
  • Some observers can get too close to those being studied
  • Covert can be dangerous for sociologist
  • Dedication and acting ability is required
75
Q

Define methodological pluralism

A

Combining of different research methods to build up a fuller picture of what is being studied

A-level OCR Sociology (69 decks)

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