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sociology > research methods > Flashcards

research methods Flashcards

1
Q

types of primary data

A

social surveys
participant observation
experiment

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2
Q

advantage of primary research

A

sociologists are able to gather precisely the information they need to test their hypothesis

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3
Q

disadvantage of primary research

A

costly and time consuming

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4
Q

types of secondary data

A

statistics
documents

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5
Q

advantage of secondary research

A

quick and cheap

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6
Q

disadvantage of secondary research

A

may not provide exactly the information needed

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7
Q

advantage of hypothesis

A

it can give direction to research

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8
Q

positivism

A

uses quantitative data- requires research to be valid
associated with scientific methods

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9
Q

interpretivism

A

uses qualitative data
they believe the world is not objective and cannot be measured or observed unlike positivists, instead they believe that the world is constructed through human experience

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10
Q

random sampling

A

sampling is selected purely by random chance

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11
Q

quasi- random sampling

A

similar to random but for instance every 10th or 100th name on the list is selected

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12
Q

the experimental group

A

the group where changes in variables can be applied and results measured

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13
Q

the control group

A

the group that remains the same/constant and results measured

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14
Q

Harvey and statin (lab experiment)

A

examined whether teachers had preconceived ideas about pupils of different social class. sample of 96 teachers. each was shown 18 photographs of children from different social class backgrounds. teachers were asked to rate the children on their performance, attitudes to education and aspirations

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15
Q

problems with Harvey and statins experiment

A

impossible and unethical to control variables
lacks validity
small scale means results are not representative
the Hawthorne effect

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16
Q

advantages of a field experiment

A

behaviour in real life setting
ability to control some variables to observe effects
valid
not affected by the Hawthorne effect

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17
Q

disadvantages of a field experiment

A

cant control all variables
ethical issue of deceit
depends on skill of observer/selectivity

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18
Q

the comparative method

A

carried out in the mind of the sociologist - it does not involve experimenting on people

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19
Q

advantages of the comparative method

A

avoids artificiality
can be used to study past events
no ethical problems

20
Q

disadvantage of the comparative method

A

less control over variables

21
Q

the Hawthorne effect

A

refers to peoples tendency to behave differently when they become aware that they are being observed

22
Q

how are questionnaires administrated

A

by post
email
on the spot

23
Q

advantages of questionnaires

A

quick and cheap
no need to train or recruit
data is easy to quantify
reliable
representative
fewer ethical problems

24
Q

disadvantages of questionnaires

A

data received can often be limited
inflexible
they are only a snapshot
lack validity
respondents may lie

25
Q

advantages of sampling and sampling frames

A

schools keep a list of pupils, staff and parents. these form accurate sampling frames

26
Q

disadvantages of sampling and sampling frames

A

lists my not reflect the researchers interests also gaining access to data can be tricky
response rates to questionnaires are often low in schools

27
Q

Michael Rutter (1979)

A

used questionnaires to collect large quantities of data from 112 inner London secondary schools. he was able to correlate achievement, attendance and behaviour with variables like school size, class size and number of staff

28
Q

practical issues

A

data is often limited and superficial
children have a shorter attention span
children’s life experience/ Memory can be limited
some children have learning difficulties

29
Q

structured interview

A

the interviewer has strict instructions on how to ask the questions . conducted in a standardised way using the same questions

30
Q

semi-structured interview

A

the same set of questions but the researcher can probe for more information with follow up questions

31
Q

unstructured interview

A

informal interviews are like a guided conversation
the researcher has a complete freedom to change as necessary

32
Q

group interview

A

held with a group of respondents to gauge ideas

33
Q

advantages of a structured interview

A

training is cheap
can cover large number of people quickly and cheaply
results are easily quantified
slight higher response rate

34
Q

disadvantages of a structured interview

A

lack validity - people lie
little opportunity to clarify meaning or explain questions
snapshot

35
Q

advantages of an unstructured interview

A

produces valid data
development of a ‘rapport’
useful when studying sensitive topics
highly flexible

36
Q

disadvantages of an unstructured interview

A

time consuming
more training
less representative
lack reliability
difficult to quantify
interviewer bias
interviewers need good inter-personal skills

37
Q

advantages of a group interview

A

participants may feel more comfortable being with others
they can generate initial ideas to be followed up with later research

38
Q

disadvantages of group interviews

A

peer group pressure
data generated from group interaction is more complex and difficult to analyse

39
Q

covert observations

A

going undercover

40
Q

overt observation

A

researchers make their true identity and purpose known

41
Q

participant in observation

A

researcher takes part in the event

42
Q

non-participant in observation

A

researcher just observes

43
Q

‘getting out’ observations

A

re-entering the normal world would be difficult for a covert observer.
loyalty could be developed

44
Q

P.E.T

A

practical
ethical
theoretical

45
Q

field experiments

A

Field experiments are experiments carried out outside of laboratory settings.

sociology (29 decks)

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