Key terms: research methods

Question 1

Validity:

Answer 1

• How accurate findings are
• Gives a picture of what is being studied
• High validity = deeper insight into the group being studied

Question 2

Reliability:

Answer 2

• Extent to which research can be replicated at a different time/ sociologists and get the same results
• Reliable research allows patterns and trends to be identified
• High reliability = find correlation and comparisons with other groups over time

Question 3

Representative:

Answer 3

• Is the sample being researched a fair representation of the target population
• Sample representative of the characteristics that are typical of the larger population
• Takes into account age, race, gender and class

Question 4

Generalisability:

Answer 4

• Can the findings be applied to the target population
• Large enough and typical of the population