Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Sociology > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

(63 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Definition - quantitative data

A

numerical data

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

Definition - qualitative data

A

written data

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

Definition - validity

A

the truthfulness of data

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

Definition - reliability

A

consistent results

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

Definition - verstehen

A

when the researcher gains an empathetic understanding

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

Definition - objectivity

A

fact based

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

Definition - subjectivity

A

opinion based

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what type of data do positivists prefer

A

quantitative data

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

what type of data do interpretivists prefer

A

qualitative data

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

Definition - ecological validity

A

finding that are true to there natural environment

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

Definition - hawthorne effect

A

change your behaviour or answers

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

Definition - covert

A

participants don’t know about study

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

Definition - overt

A

participants know about the study

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

Definition - participant observation

A

they participate whilst observing the group

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

Definition - non-participant observation

A

they just observe, don’t participate

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

Definition - going native

A

too embedded so effectively become a member

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

Definition - standardised

A

highly structured, already decided

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

Definition - hard statistics

A

stats on black/white issues, objective

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

Definition - soft statistics

A

stats based on someones decisions, subjective

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

Questionnaires - practical

A

+ cheap, quick, easy
- lacks flexibility, standardised

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

Questionnaires - ethical

A

+ anonymous, no obligation to answer
- difficult with sensitive topics

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

Questionnaires - theoretical

A

+ easily repeated so reliable
- lacks verstehen, lie to be socially desirable

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

Questionnaires case studies

A

Census - sent by gov and done very 10 years - lacks validity, 0.7% said their religion was Jedi
Connor & Dewson - found why the WC went to that uni

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

Labatory - practical

A

+ quick, cheap
- society is complex, can’t fit in a lab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Labatory - ethical
+ consent is given, debrief given - lack informed consent, deception - Milgram said was about memory
26
Labatory - theoretical
+ reliable, objective as standardised and can't influence the study - lacks validity, hawthorne effect, no ecological validity
27
Labatory case studies
Milgram - see if people would harm others if told so by an authority figure - 65% went over 450v Mayo - see if workers productivity changes when work conditions worsened - didn't respond so showed hawthorne effect
28
Field experiments - practical
+ natural environment so easier access - difficult to control variables
29
Field experiments - ethical
+ debrief to limit harm - deception, hindered actual spurters
30
Field experiments - theoretical
+ validity, no hawthorne effect - unreliable, lacks verstehen, cant control outside factors
31
Field experiments case studies
Rosenthal & Jacobsen - tested IQ and found teachers labelling affects performance due to a self-fulfilling prophecy Rosenhan - faked having schizophrenia then stopped faking but staff still treated them the same showing its the label
32
Structured interviews - practical
+ easily analysed long term - more expensive then questionnaires, pay trained interviewers
33
Structured interviews - ethical
+ anonymity, don't need to answer - can't explore personal topics, no rapport
34
Structured interviews - theoretical
+ limited interviewer bias, reliable - lacks verstehen, can't ask follow up to get deeper understanding
35
Structured interviews case studies
Willmott & Young - research families in London about age. job, religion British crime survey - ask public about experiences of crime, 75% take part
36
Unstructured interviews - practical
+ highly flexible, deeper insight - time-consuming, need training
37
Unstructured interviews - ethical
+ informed consent, build trust and rapport - difficult recalling events
38
Unstructured interviews - theoretical
+ gain verstehen, flexibility increases validity - low reliability, hawthorne effect
39
Unstructured interviews case studies
Dobash & Dobash - interviewed domestic violence victims Dean & Taylor-Gooby - investigate experiences of unemployment
40
group interviews - practical
+ less time consuming - long time to analyse data
41
group interviews - ethical
+ safe peer environment so more open to discuss things - may feel unable to withdraw
42
group interviews - theoretical
+ Validity, build rapport, gain verstehen - hawthorne effect to fit in with group, individuals may dominate
43
group interviews case study
Willis - looked at impact of WC background on educational success
44
Participant observations - practical
+ can be only method to get into some groups - difficult to get in, stay in, get out, rely on memory (covert)
45
Participant observations - ethical
+ anonymity, debrief - deception, immoral, lack informed consent
46
Participant observations - theoretical
+ validity, less Hawthorne effect, verstehen (Griffin) - unreliable, Hawthorne effect undermines validity (overt)
47
Participant observations case studies
Humphrey - watch queen for gay couples in public, followed them home and ask about their life, only 14% actively part of gay community Patrick - joined students gang, got handed an axe so abandoned study Griffin - experience racism first hand by turn skin black went to white areas Barker - unification church for 6yrs see if they brainwash and kidnap members, no evidence Venkatesh - lived with gang members, gained insight into lives and criminal behaviour
48
Non-participant observations - practical
+ in a natural setting - difficult to gain access, time consuming to see true behaviour
49
Non-participant observations - ethical
+ informed consent - lack informed consent if don’t reveal true meaning
50
Non-participant observations - theoretical
+ higher reliability, can’t go native - Hawthorne effect, less validity as its subjective
51
Non-participant observations case study
Willis - 12 WC lads how capitalism shaped their education
52
Official statistics - practical
+ easily accessible - not collected for sociology so may not find what want
53
Official statistics - ethical
+ no harm - inappropriate to study suicide from numbers
54
Official statistics - theoretical
+ reliable, more objective, keeps views out of study - no verstehen, issues of validity
55
Official statistics case studies
Public statistics - ofsted, census Durkheim - found a countries suicide rate was affected by religion, less suicide in religious countries
56
Documents - practical
+ cheap, only source of info (historical) - public docs can be held back for 30yrs so takes time to get access, authenticity
57
Documents - ethical
+ historical and public done need informed consent - is it appropriate to use a dead girls diary?
58
Documents - theoretical
+ valid, gain verstehen and insight - unrepresentative, not reliable, unstandardised, subjective
59
Documents case studies
Public documents - ofsted Personal docs (Hey) - used girls notes passed in lessons, girls dairies to find about girls friendships Personal/historical docs (Anne Frank) - got a deep insight in Jews treatment in the holocaust, written from her perspective
60
Content analysis - practical
+ easy access, cheap - time consuming, especially qualitative
61
Content analysis - ethical
+ serves public interest to find how manipulative the media is - none
62
Content analysis - theoretical
+ no Hawthorne effect as no human involvement, objective, high reliability - subjective interpretation, less validity
63
Content analysis case studies
Cohen - media is exaggerated and distorted events between mods and rockers in the 60s Lobban & Tuchman - analyse gender roles in children’s TV and books, female had the domestic role

Sociology (7 decks)

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