Choosing A Research Method

Question 1

What is meant by primary research?

Answer 1

Data collected first hand

Question 2

What is meant by secondary research?

Answer 2

Data taken from someone else who’s collected that data

Question 3

What is meant by quantitative?

Answer 3

Measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than quality. Able to put on a graph and express through numbers.

Question 4

What is meant by qualitative?

Answer 4

Measuring or measured by the quality rather than quantity. Cannot be put on a graph or into sets of data.

Question 5

What are examples of practical issues in sociological research?

Answer 5

• choice of topic and method
• time, money, funding
• hiring staff
• finding space/facilities
• sampling
• pilot studies
• processing data

Question 6

What are examples of ethical issues in sociological research?

Answer 6

• choice of topic
• consent (informed and post hoc)
• deception
• privacy and confidentiality
• effects on participants

Question 7

What are examples of theoretical issues in sociological research?

Answer 7

• positivism vs interpretivism
• objectivity
• representativeness
• reliability
• validity

Question 8

What is meant by hypothesis?

Answer 8

An idea or explanation that is then tested through study and experimentation

Question 9

What is meant by operationalisation?

Answer 9

Turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

Question 10

What is a sample?

Answer 10

A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like

Question 11

What is positivism?

Answer 11

Things that are definite, there is no room for change, it is all based on facts

Question 12

What is interpretivism?

Answer 12

Action or event is analysed based on beliefs, norms and values of the culture of the society. Things can’t be directly observed and counted

Question 13

What is meant by validity?

Answer 13

Research that produces a true and in-depth picture of what the subject matter is really like.

Question 14

What is meant by reliability?

Answer 14

Research that is standardised so that it can be replicated precisely. When repeated, same results should be produces in order to prove reliability

Question 15

What is meant by representative?

Answer 15

A sample that reflects a typical cross section of the group being studied; the data is generalisable to wider society

Question 16

What does generalisable mean?

Answer 16

The extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other situations

Question 17

What is a pilot study?

Answer 17

Small research study conducted before the intended study to try eliminate systematic errors or unexpected problems

Question 18

What is informed consent?

Answer 18

A procedure for ensuring that research participants understand what is being done to them and any risks that could potentially happen.

Question 19

What is post hoc consent?

Answer 19

Consent given after the research was done

Question 20

What is meant by objectivity?

Answer 20

Research carried out in an impartial and value free basis.
No prejudice or subjectivity

Question 21

What is meant by overt observation?

Answer 21

Those being observed are aware
Researcher may participate (overt participant observation) or may simply observe (overt non-participant observation)

Question 22

What is meant by covert observation?

Answer 22

Where the researcher is undercover.
The participants are unaware that they are being observed

Question 23

What is a close ended question?

Answer 23

Question that asks respondents to choose from a predefined set of responses, typically one word answers or a set of multiple choice questions.

Question 24

What is an open ended question?

Answer 24

Question that requires a participant to answer in their own words. Mostly opinion based

Question 25

What is the Hawthorne effect?

Answer 25

When participants respond differently because they know they’re being observed/watched

Question 26

What is meant by demand characteristics

Answer 26

Participants acting in a particular way because they researcher has disclosed/hinted at what they expect to find

Question 27

What is meant by social desire ability?

Answer 27

Participants using select responses they think are socially desirable.

Question 28

What is meant by extreme responses?

Answer 28

Bias towards the options on the end

Question 29

What is meant by neutral responses?

Answer 29

Respondents sticking to middle ground often picking “neutral” or “no opinion”

Question 30

What is acquiescence bias?

Answer 30

When a participant answers positively to every question (agreeing with everything). Bias to answering to affirm the question.

Question 31

What is dissent bias?

Answer 31

When a participant answers negatively to every question (disagreeing with everything). Bias to answering to negate the question

Question 32

What is a leading question?

Answer 32

A question that points towards an answer

Question 33

What is a control variable?

Answer 33

The variable that is kept the same throughout the research

Question 34

What is an independent variable?

Answer 34

The variable that is changed to change results

Question 35

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 35

The variable that you measure This is dependent on the independent variable

Question 36

What is an experimental group?

Answer 36

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

Question 37

What is a control group?

Answer 37

A group in the experiment which a variable is not being tested

Question 38

What is a dark figure?

Answer 38

Statistics that just cannot be identified and so are left missing E.g. male-on-male rape hardly ever appears in statistics produced

Question 39

What are soft statistics?

Answer 39

(Qualitative) Data that involves opinions, attitudes and feelings, things that cannot be measured E.g. numbers of people that are victims of sexual harassment

Question 40

What are hard statistics

Answer 40

(Quantitative) Measurable and verifiable information E.g. births and deaths

Question 41

What is a convenience sample?

Answer 41

A non-probability sampling method where units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the easiest for the researcher to access

Question 42

What is a stratified sample?

Answer 42

Researchers divide subjects into subgroups based of characteristics they share

Question 43

What is a random sample?

Answer 43

When a researcher randomly selects participants for research through randomly generated choice by computer or out of a hat. Each member of the target population has an equal chance of being in the sample

Question 44

What is meant by detachment?

Answer 44

Approach to research that employs emotional detachment and limits interaction with subject

Question 45

What is a Literature Review?

Answer 45

Analysis of published information in a particular subject. Part of the research process