Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

A-level OCR Sociology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two theories involved in Research methods

A

Positivism and Interpretivism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define Positivism

A

An approach to sociological research which advocates using similar methods to natural sciences, such as analysis of quantitative data.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What do postivists believe about human behaviour

A

That human behaviour is the product of ‘social laws’ or ‘social facts’ which arise out of the way societies are socially organised or structured.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do Positivists believe

A

That sociology is a science and that sociological researchers should adopt both the logic and methods of the natural sciences.
They also believe that research should be carried out under controlled conditions, as are experiments in a lab.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What do sociologists do alternatively to using a lab for research

A

They aim to achieve control through the use of random sampling techniques and skilfully designed standardised and scientific measuring tools such as survey questionnaires and structured interview schedules.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What approach to positivist sociologists take to investigating social issues

A

A macro-approach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do positive sociologists believe when coming to investigating social issues

A
  • They believe society is more important than the individual
  • They see human or social behaviour as the product of social forces or laws, so people have little or no influence
  • They therefore view people as puppets of society who behave in predictable ways - groups of people follow particular trends in their behaviour
  • They believe the job of a sociologist is to uncover these social forces and to document them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What sociologists prefer positivist research

A

Marxists and functionalists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why do marxist and functionalists prefer positivist research

A

Because they are interested in how large-scale social processes, structures and institutions shape or influence social trends or patterns of human behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Define value freedom

A

The notion that sociologists should be objective when they carry out research and that their subjective beliefs, values and attitudes should not bias how they organise the research or interpret the data they collect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Define objectivity

A

The absence of bias or approaching research without any pre-conceived ideas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define validity

A

Research findings give a true or authentic picture of what is being studied. It reflects reality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define reliability

A

A research tool is reliable if another sociologist can use it and obtain the same results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define representative

A

Relates to the sample of people who agree to take part in sociological research. If the sample is representative, it means they are a good cross-section of the wider population in which the sociologist is interested

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Define quantitative data

A

Statistical or numerical data that can be presented in graphs and tables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are positivists keen on achieving

A

Value freedom or objectivity. They want to make sure the sociologist should carry out research and interpret evidence with an open mid and set aside their own beliefs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is Interpretivism

A

An approach to sociology which advocates using methods which allow sociologists to understand the meanings and interpretation of those they study, typically using qualitative methods

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What approach do interpretivists take

A

They take a micro rather than a macro approach because they believe the individual is more important than society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What do interpretivists observe

A

That human beings have consciousness which differentiates them from the subject matter of the natural sciences. People have free will and choose how to behave, the behaviour cannot be predicted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What do Interpretivists argue

A

That cause and effect relationships are impossible to establish in regard to human behaviour because human behaviour is generally unpredictable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What do Interpretivists argue about sociological research

A

That the research should focus on the shared meanings or interpretations that people use to make sense of their social world.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define Verstehen

A

When a sociologist employs a method that helps them to see the world through the eyes of the group being researched

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is Subjectivity

A

Interpretivists argue that it is important to appreciate how the world looks from the point of view of those being studied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Interpretivists emphasise _______ rather than _______

A

Validity rather than Reliability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Define Reflexivity
Refers to the process of self-reflection by sociologists carrying out research. Many interpretivists researchers, discuss how their interaction with their research subjects may have influenced process. It is a process aimed at achieving objectivity and minimising bias
26
What do Interpretivists argue about the researchers
That the researcher should always be aware of how their presence influences the behaviour of the research subjects
27
What do Interpretivists believe about positivists research methods
That methods such as questionnaires and structured interviews are artificial and alien and consequently people may feel threatened by them and be tempted to give false or fake answers.
28
Define Generalisable
Sociologists can safely conclude that what was studied is probably true of the wider population to which the sample belongs
29
Define Rapport
Building up a relationship with those being studied
30
Define Ethnography
Researcher entering into the setting being studied
31
What is triangulation
Using a variety of means of undergoing the research
32
What are 3 factors effecting research
Pratical Ethical Theoretical
33
What are 4 practical factors affecting research
Cost Time Subject matter Social characteristics
34
What are 5 Ethical factors affecting research
Informed consent Rights to privacy Avoidance of emotional/physical harm Legality Morals
35
Name the two types of random sampling
Systematic random sampling Stratified random sampling
36
Describe systematic random sampling
Randomly choosing a number between 1 and 10 and then picking out every 10th number for that number (not always representative)
37
Describe stratified random sampling
Dividing the research population into a number of different sampling frames and then using systematic random sampling to select the group that will make up the sample
38
Name the 4 types of non-random sampling
Quota sampling Purposive sampling Opportunity sampling Snowball sampling Volunteer sampling
39
Describe quota sampling
Researcher has a certain number they need to fill and he/she looks for the right number of people until the quota is filled
40
Describe purposive sampling
Researcher chooses individuals or cases that fit the nature of the research
41
Describe opportunity sampling
Making most of situation or opportunities in which the research population is likely to be found
42
Describe snowball sampling
Used when researchers have difficult gaining access to particular groups. Involves interviewing and asking them for advice on who to ask next. Friends ask friends to join in etc.
43
Describe volunteer sampling
Sociologist advertise for volunteers
44
What is a Pilot study
Trial/practice study which allows the sociologist to check if the questions are relevant, understandable and appropriate, interviewers can be trained and can also spot bias
45
What are 2 factors affecting choice of research topic
Social problems Sociological problems
46
Define social problems
Aspects of social life which cause misery and anxiety to individuals and society in general
47
What are choices of research topics dependent on
Interests and values of researcher Current debates in academic world Funding Access to research subjects
48
Define hypothesis
An informed guess which will then be tested
49
What is Grounded theory
Some sociologists begin with a general aim and allow hypothesis to take shape and develop as the research data is collected
50
Define operationalisation
Hypothesis or research aim is broken down into concrete things that can be observed or measured
51
What are 2 positive factors of Longitudinal surveys
- Study the same group of people over a long period of time - Clear image of changes and attitudes and behaviour over a number of years
52
What are 3 negative factors of Longitudinal surveys
- Respondents may drop out or researchers may lose track of them (undermines representativeness of original sample) - Views of those who remain in the sample may be significantly different to those who drop out (undermines validity) - Researcher team may get too friendly with members of group
53
What is Researcher imposition
Respondent changes what they say as the researcher is there
54
Describe Questionnaires
Main methods of gathering data in social surveys A list of questions that are written down in advance and are handed to the chosen respondents for self completion.
55
What are open and closed questions
Open are open ended, like thoughts and feelings Closed are like multiple choice
56
What are Semi-structured interviews
Questionnaires that employ a combination of mainly closed questions with occasional open questions Self-report = asks respondents to tick what they have experienced Attitudinal questionnaire = asking respondents on a scale of 1-5 Ideally, questions should be neutral and objective
57
Name 3 strengths of questionnaires
- Can be used for reaching larger and consequently more representative samples of people - Less time consuming and are cheaper - Usefull if they guarantee anonymity
58
Name 3 weaknesses of questionnaires
- Low response rates - especially is posted. Therefore, the validity is undermined - Interpretivists argue they produce data which is low in validity - interpretation could be wrong or even lying - Interpretivists argue that closed questions suffer from the imposition problem
59
Describe interviews
Can be carried out in a public space, telephone or online forums. The most successful interviews are carried out in private, neutral and unthreatening venues. Particularly useful when studying areas which are not accessible However: Can be expensive, Success depends on how well the interviewer has been trained e.g listening skills and body language
60
Describe structured interviews
Researcher reads out a list of closed questions from an interview schedule and ticking boxes or writing down answers Interviewer plays a passive and robotic role Responses normally converted to quantitative
61
Name 3 strengths of structured interviews
- Positivists are keen, they regard the method as scientific - Use of close questions and fixed-choice tick boxes generate large amounts of quantitative data - Can be conducted quite quickly - increasing possibility of a representative sample from which generalisations can be made
62
Name 3 weaknesses of structured interviews
- Artificial devices that are not a normal part of everyday reality - people could respond with suspicion, in an evasive way or could lie (Interviewer bias - undermining validity) - Inflexible - interviewer cannot pursue any interesting leads - Only snapshots taken at one moment in time
63
What are official and unofficial statistics
Official - numerical data collected by government Unofficial - quantitative data collected by non-government sources
64
What are 3 strengths of official and unofficial statistics
- Easy and cheap to access - online - Normally up-to-date and can clearly see patterns and trends - Positivists see them as reliable - collected in a systematic way
65
Name 3 weaknesses of official and unofficial statistics
- May not represent a true picture - Open to political abuse - stats can be manipulated for political advantage - Statistics are socially constructed
66
Describe unstructured interviews
A guided conversation Normally carried out in natural setting of respondent
67
Name 3 strengths of an unstructured interview
- Allow researcher to establish a qualitative interaction or relationship with respondent generating trust and rapport - They are flexible - Data is highly valid
68
Name 2 weaknesses of unstructured interviews
- Could be bias if interviewer picks and chooses material to match his/her opinion - There are no pre-coded answers so the data is hard to analyse and quantify and turn into graphs or tables
69
Describe group interviews
Interviewer talks to a group or panel of respondents. Often used to interview children or to investigate the dynamics of a particular group High in validity if truer image emerges when the group is interviewed together but it could be argued that there is a more dominant member of the group
70
Describe focus group interviews
Participants are encouraged to talk to each other and discuss an issue. There is minimal interference from the sociologist. The danger is that strong personalities can dominate
71
Describe Non-participant or direct observation
Involves the researcher sitting and observing an activity e.g patient/doctor interaction or a classroom. The observer is a detached and unobtrusive onlooker who plays no active role in the activity being observed Less likely to be biased but could be argued that the behaviour is artificial (researcher imposition)
72
Describe participant observation
Researcher immerses into the lifestyle of the group.
73
Name 4 strengths of participant observation
- Researcher can see things through the eyes and actions of those in the group - verstehen - High in validity - trustworthy - Allows an understanding of changing attitudes and behaviour - Can be supported by informal questions
74
Name 4 weaknesses of participant observation
- Observer or researcher effect - Some observers can get too close to those being studied - Covert can be dangerous for sociologist - Dedication and acting ability is required
75
Define methodological pluralism
Combining of different research methods to build up a fuller picture of what is being studied

A-level OCR Sociology (69 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions