Methods and research Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is a sample?
A smaller sub-group drawn from the wider group that we are interested in. The process of creating or selecting a sample is called sampling.
What is the purpose of sampling?
Ensure that those people we have chosen to include in the study are representative or typical of the research population.
Sampling attracts —-?
Positive sociologists who like to make general, law like statements about the wider social world.
What is meant by sampling frame?
A list of all the members of the population we are interested in studying
Give an example of sampling frame being used.
Willmott and Young used the electrical register as their sampling frame.
What are 4 sampling techniques?
Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Quota sampling
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Give a + and - of random sampling
+ no interviewer bias
- might not be representative
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Give a + and - of systematic sampling
+ quick and simple
- risk of under representation
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Give a + and - of stratified sampling
+ representative
- takes time to prep
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Give a + and - of quota sampling
+ representative
- prep and time
What are factors influencing the choice of research topic?
Society’s’ values,
The sociologists perspective,
Practical factors,
Funding bodies
Factors influencing the choice of research topic - practical factors.
Factors such as inaccessibility of certain situations to the researcher might restrict the topic they wish to study.
Factors influencing the choice of research topic - the sociologists perspective
This will have a major impact on what they decide to research
Factors influencing the choice of research topic - funding bodies
Most research requires funding from an external body (government agencies, charities, businesses).
As the funding body is paying for the research, it will determine the topic to be investigated.
Factors influencing the choice of research topic - societys values
Sociologists are part of society themselves, therefore the values of that society will influence their choice of topic.
What are pilot studies?
A small scale trial run conducted before the main study.
This includes trying out a draft version of the questionnaire or interview schedule on a small sample.
What is the basic aim of pilot studies?
Iron out any problems, clarify questions and give interviewers practice so survey goes as smoothly as possible.
Give an example of a pilot study being used?
Young and Willmott - carried out just over 100 pilot interviews to help them decide on the design of their study, the questions to ask and how to word them.
OPERATIONALISING CONCEPTS
What is meant by the term operationalisation?
The process of turning sociological concepts of theory into something measurable.
OPERATIONALISING CONCEPTS
What sociologists place great value on these concepts due to it being measurable?
Positivists
OPERATIONALISING CONCEPTS
Why do interpretivists put less emphasis on operationalising concepts?
They are more interested in actors’ own definitions and understanding of ideas such as “class” than imposing their own definitions of these concepts.
What is meant by the term aim?
Identifies what we intend to study and hope to achieve throughout research.
What is meant by the term hypothesis?
A positive explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence to prove it is true or false.
Who favours a broad aim instead of a hypothesis?
Interpretivists
