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sociology Yr12 > 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

Functionalists and Marxists

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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

Interactionists

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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

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20
Q

disadvantage of the comparative method

A

less control over variables

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21
Q

the Hawthorne effect

A

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

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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
advantages of sampling and sampling frames
schools keep a list of pupils, staff and parents. these form accurate sampling frames
26
disadvantages of sampling and sampling frames
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
Michael Rutter (1979)
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
structured interview
the interviewer has strict instructions on how to ask the questions . conducted in a standardised way using the same questions
29
semi-structured interview
the same set of questions but the researcher can probe for more information with follow up questions
30
unstructured interview
informal interviews are like a guided conversation the researcher has a complete freedom to change as necessary
31
group interview
held with a group of respondents to gauge ideas
32
advantages of a structured interview
training is cheap can cover large number of people quickly and cheaply results are easily quantified slight higher response rate
33
disadvantages of a structured interview
lack validity - people lie little opportunity to clarify meaning or explain questions snapshot
34
advantages of an unstructured interview
produces valid data development of a 'rapport' useful when studying sensitive topics highly flexible
35
disadvantages of an unstructured interview
time consuming more training less representative lack reliability difficult to quantify interviewer bias interviewers need good inter-personal skills
36
advantages of a group interview
participants may feel more comfortable being with others they can generate initial ideas to be followed up with later research
37
disadvantages of group interviews
peer group pressure data generated from group interaction is more complex and difficult to analyse
38
covert observations
going undercover
39
overt observation
researchers make their true identity and purpose known
40
participant in observation
researcher takes part in the event
41
non-participant in observation
researcher just observes
42
'getting out' observations
re-entering the normal world would be difficult for a covert observer. loyalty could be developed
43
P.E.T
practical ethical theoretical
44
field experiments
Field experiments are experiments carried out outside of laboratory settings.
45
Social surveys
These involve asking people questions in a written questionnaire or interview.
46
Official statistics
Produced by government on wide range of issues, eg: crime, divorce, health, unemployment as well as other statistics produced by charities, businesses, churches and other organisations.
47
Ethical issues
This refers to moral issues of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. •Informed consent •Confidentiality and privacy •Effects on research participants •Vulnerable groups (EG children- age, disability) •Covert research
48
Theoretical issues
Can we obtain an accurate, truthful picture of society? •VALIDITY: A method that produces a true or genuine picture of whatever is being studied. It allows researchers to get closer to the truth! •RELIABILITY: Also known as replicability. A reliable method is one that can be repeated by another researcher to obtain the same results! Representativeness: Are the people you study a typical cross-section of the population you are interested in? You need to select an appropriate sample size. EG 100 children of divorced parents in Benfleet. •Methodological perspective: What sociologists are influenced by.....
49
Hypothesis
an untested theory or explanation expressed as a statement which a sociologist will seek to prove or disprove by testing it.
50
Aim
is a general statement about the purpose of the research
51
OPERATIONALISING CONCEPTS
•To turn a sociological concept or theory into something measurable.
52
Practical issues
Time & money •Requirements of funding bodies (They may need data in a specific format) •Personal skills & characteristics •Subject matter •Research opportunity
53
Open and closed questions
Open questions invite detailed, free-form responses, encouraging elaboration and deeper insights. Closed questions, in contrast, require short, specific answers like "yes" or "no", or a selection from a limited set of options Open questions generate qualitative data (e.g., text, opinions), while closed questions produce quantitative data (e.g., numbers, percentages).

sociology Yr12 (31 decks)

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