Choice of method and research process

Question 1

What is primary data?

Answer 1

Data that is collected by the sociologists themselves for their own purposes.

Question 2

What are 2 advantage of Primary data?

Answer 2

Up to date

Specific to study

Question 3

What are 2 disadvantages to primary data?

Answer 3

Expensive

Time consuming

Question 4

What is secondary data?

Answer 4

Data collected by other sociologists, government departments or official bodies or individuals

Question 5

What are 2 advantages of Secondary data?

Answer 5

Bigger range of data

Quick

Question 6

What are 2 disadvantages of Secondary data?

Answer 6

Not specific

Out of date (generalised)

Question 7

What is Quanititative data?

Answer 7

deals with quantity of data and Closed ended data

Question 8

What is Qualitiative data?

Answer 8

deals with the quality of data and open ended data.

Question 9

What must a researcher consider before choosing a method/topic?

Answer 9

PERVERT analysis

Question 10

What does PERVERT mean?

Answer 10

Practical 
Ethical 
Reliable 
Validity 
Representativeness 
Theoretical

Question 11

What does Practical mean?

Answer 11

Considering time money, personal skills + charactersics., source of funding ( easier to get funding for quantitative research) and also funding bodies only fund important topics.

Question 12

What does Ethical mean?

Answer 12

Informed consent, disabilitiy, effects on researcher, confidentiality

Question 13

What does Reliable mean?

Answer 13

If a method is reliable it can be replicated. ( repeated with same variables) (positivists favor this.)

Question 14

What does Validity mean?

Answer 14

If a method is valid it gives you a true picture,

Question 15

What does Representativeness mean?

Answer 15

Can we make generalisations

Question 16

What does Theoretical mean?

Answer 16

Interpretivism = Qualitative data 
Positivism = Quanititative data.

Question 17

What is Positivism?

Answer 17

Seeks to discover patterns of behaviour, aims to answer relationships, therefore we must be able to control factors. Sociology a science.They want data to be Reliable and Representative

Question 18

What is Interpretivism?

Answer 18

Seek to understand social actors’ meaning and reject the view that sociology is a science. They like open ended research methods. They like validity, as they can find meaning of the data.

Question 19

What is Triangulation?

Answer 19

When sociologists see advantages in both types of data. Triangulation combines quantitative and qualitative methods so that the strengths of one balance the weakness of the other.

Question 20

When you have chosen a topic and a research method what do you have to formulate?

Answer 20

Hypothesis
Opertionalise concept
Complete Pilot study
Choose your sampling frame and technique to gain a sample.

Question 21

What does Hypothesis mean?

Answer 21

Aim of the study, what you intend to study

Question 22

What does Opertionalise concept mean?

Answer 22

The researcher must define their sociological concepts or ideas in ways that can be measured.

Question 23

What does complete a pilot study mean?

Answer 23

This is a test run e.g. draft questionnaire. This is to iron out any problems, refine or clarify questions

Question 24

When researching pupils what 3 things to do you have to look out for?

Answer 24

Power and status
Ability
Vulnerability and ethical issues.

Question 25

What does Power and status mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 25

There is hierachy in schools so children have to do as told. This causes a problem for consent which is ethical as they dont have the power

Question 26

What does Ability mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 26

Language has to be student language so all can access. This causes a problem because as they are different levels of ability, it may not be reliable, if you change for different groups.

Question 27

What does Vulnerability and ethical issues mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 27

Pupils have less power and ability than these sociologist, we need consent. This is a problem, because practically it is hard for access.

Question 28

When researching teachers what 3 things do you have to look out for?

Answer 28

Power relationships Teachers are overworked Teachers are used to being scrutinized

Question 29

What does Power relationships mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 29

Teachers have control over classroom, so less likely to let sociologists in. This causes a problem with Validity (if you tell them what you are researching)

Question 30

What does Teachers are overworked mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 30

Teachers don't want to give you the time. This causes a problem, because they may be incentives which affect validity.

Question 31

What does Teachers are used to being scrutinized mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 31

Teachers will change behavior as they know they are being watched, affecting validity.

Question 32

When researching classrooms what 3 things do you have look out for?

Answer 32

Controlled, social setting Disgusie real thoughts Peer pressure as an influence

Question 33

What does Controlled, closed social setting mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 33

It is a closed social setting and controlled, this causes a problem because the classroom behavior may not reflect what they really think and feel.

Question 34

What does Disguise real thoughts mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 34

Teacher and pupils are experienced at disguising real thoughts, so validity affected.

Question 35

What does Peer pressure as an influence mean and why does this cause a problem?

Answer 35

Young people may be insecure about their identity and status this causes a problem because this affects the way they respond to being researched.