Evaluating Research Methods Flashcards
Content analysis - definition
The number of times a sign, symbol, word, picture etc is used within a media text. Quantitative data
Content analysis - theoretical strengths
Positivists would like as it produces quantitative data and is regarded as reliable as it can be carried out again and data can be cross-checked.
Content analysis - ethical strengths
No participants are required, so ethical considerations and guidelines set out by the BSA are easy to follow, so issues surrounding the validity of the research are not a concern as the content can be accurately represented.
Content analysis - practical strengths
This is a cheap method to carry out so easy to access a range of data on the research topic, increasing representativeness as you will be able to collect data that reflects the characteristics of the group you are interested in.
Content analysis - theoretical weaknesses
Interpretivists wouldn’t like as statistics provide little information about human stories or behaviour as no meanings/feelings/opinions are given, decreasing validity.
Content analysis - ethical weaknesses
This can be a subjective approach at times and some sociologists could analyse text out of context. This could cause emotional harm to the group/s being researched if they are not presented fully/fairly, decreasing validity as an accurate insight is not gained.
Content analysis - practical weaknesses
This is often a time consuming. This means that you cannot collect data on a large amount of content, reducing generalisability as you will not be able to make any wider claims about how a group has been represented based on a small amount of data.
Questionnaires/surveys - definition
List of questions subject to self completion. Questions can either open or closed. Quantitative data
Questionnaires/surveys - theoretical strengths
Positivists would like as standardised questions and the potential to pre-code data makes this method replicable so more reliable.
Questionnaires/surveys - ethical strengths
Due to the fact they are subject to self completion informed consent is given, increasing validity as the participants feel comfortable answering questions meaning they are more likely to be honest and give a true insight into the topic being researched.
Questionnaires/surveys - practical strengths
Can be distributed to a large geographical area/sample so likely to access the participants required for the research, increasing representativeness as it reflects the characteristics of the target population.
Questionnaires/surveys - theoretical weaknesses
Interpretivists wouldn’t like as the standardised nature of questions means the respondent may select the nearest answer that describes their situation but this may not be fully relevant. The respondents cannot explain meanings behind their answers.
Questionnaires/surveys - ethical weaknesses
If the topic is of a sensitive nature some respondents may feel some form of emotional harm and could potentially lie to give socially desirable responses, decreasing validity as it does not give a true insight.
Questionnaires/surveys - practical weaknesses
Can be subject to low response rates, reducing the overall sample size, decreasing generalisability as wider claims might not be able to be made about the whole population.
Structured interviews - definition
The researcher reads a list of closed questions and ticks boxes of pre-coded responses. Quantitative data
Structured interviews - theoretical strengths
Positivists would like as the use of closed and standardised questions and responses means the data collected is likely to be objective, numerical, increasing reliability as it is replicable. This can also help to ensure that the data has value freedom from researchers’ own biases.
Structured interviews - ethical strengths
The interviewer can explain the aims and objectives of the research which should lead the participants to feel more comfortable and rapport can be built up. This encourages informed consent to be given, increasing validity as participants are more likely to answer honestly.
Structured interviews - practical strengths
Due to interviews being pre-arranged with the interviewee, you are able to gain access to the required participants for the research and the response rate is likely to be higher, increasing representativeness as your sample will reflect the characteristics of the target population.
Structured interviews - theoretical weaknesses
Interpretivists wouldn’t like as they would suggest that it is not suitable when researching sensitive issues. Participants cannot expand on their responses, decreasing validity as a meaningful insight cannot be gained.
Structured interviews - ethical weaknesses
If the questions make the respondent feel uncomfortable this may lead to emotional harm and safeguarding issues. Due to the lack of conversational flow participants may not state that they feel uncomfortable so may not feel they have full right to withdraw. This can impact on the way they answer questions as they may lie and give socially desirable responses, decreasing validity as they may not provide a true insight into their lives.
Structured interviews - practical weaknesses
Can be more time consuming than methods such as questionnaires, so it can be difficult to access a large sample of participants, decreasing generalisability as wider claims cannot be made to all who hold the characteristics being researched.
Semi-structured interviews - definition
The researcher has some set/pre coded questions however they are able to probe respondents and ask extra questions if needed or some semi-structured interviews have some set themes which are then discussed. Quantitative and qualitative data, but usually qualitative.
Semi-structured interviews - theoretical strengths
Interpretivists would like as the unstructured elements of the interviews can produce data that is more qualitative. The nature of these interviews means that they are flexible, so themes can be explored by the interviewer if they find it interesting/relevant to the research aims. The unstructured questions means in-depth data can be gained, increasing validity.
Semi-structured interviews - ethical strengths
These interviews have more chance for rapport to be built up than in a structured interview. This encourages informed consent to be given. This can allow for more empathy and understanding of sensitive topics being discussed by the participant. This could lead to them being better safeguarded so potentially feeling more comfortable to answer honestly, increasing validity.
