Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Sociology > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

(108 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Positivism

Positivism

A

Believes sociology should be studied like a natural science, using objective methods to uncover social laws and patterns. Takes a macro approach

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

Positivism

Postitivism- research methods

A
  • Quantitative methods
  • Surveys
  • Official statistics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Positivism

Positivism- Strengths

A
  • Objectivity
  • Reliability
  • Identifies social trends
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Positivism

Positivism- weaknesses

A
  • No rapport
  • Only quantitative
  • Lack depth and explanation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism

A

Human behaviour is complex and cannot be studies like the natural sciences, focuses on understanding meanings and experiences. Takes a micro approach

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

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- research methods

A
  • Qualitative methods
  • Unstructured interviews
  • Participent observation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- strengths

A
  • In depth data
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- weaknesses

A
  • Low reliability
  • Small scale
  • Subjective
  • Time-consuming
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

GROVER

Generalisability

A

General statements and conclusions that apply not to the sample sudied but also to the general population

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

GROVER

Representative

A

A representative sample that reflects the characteristics of its population

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

GROVER

Objectivity

A

Absence of bias and the removal of opinions and values

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

GROVER

Validity

A

Findings are truthful and authentic

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

GROVER

Ethics

A

Morally acceptable research which protects the rights and wellbeing of research participants

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

GROVER

Reliability

A

The consistency of research findings- the same or consistent findings can be obtainted if the method is repeated

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

Data types

Primary data

A

Data collected by yourself

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

Data types

Secondary data

A

Data collected by someone else that you use

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

Data types

Quantitative data

A

Data in numerical form

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

Data types

Qualitative data

A

Data which includes words

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

Research process

Practical factors

A
  • Cost
  • Time available
  • Subject matter of the research
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Research process

BSA rules

A
  • Legality or imorality
  • Informed consent
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Protection from harm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Research process

Bias

A

Results influenced by the researchers personal opinions, including political prejudice

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

Research process

Research aim

A

General focus on the study

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

Research process

Hypothosis

A

Testable statement predicting an outcome

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

Research process

Operationalisation

A

Breaking down the aims/ hypothesis into something thst can be measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
# Research process Pilot studies
Small scale trial run to test research design and fix issuess before the main study
26
Respondent validation
Sociologist's interpretation of data is checked with thoes that took part to ensure that datta collected is accurate and fairly interpreted
27
# Sampling methods Population
A group of people who are at the focus of the researchers interest
28
# Sampling methods Sample frame
Group of people who take part in the research, sample is drawn from the research population
29
# Demand characteristics Demand characteristics
When a participant changes their characteristics because they know they are being watched
30
# Demand characteristics Screw you effect
Participant guesses the conclusions
31
# Demand characteristics Social desireability
When a particiant acts in a way deemed good by society rather than how they actually would
32
# Demand characteristics Hawthorne effect
Participent guessesthe conclusions the researcher wants to draw and acts/ responds in a certain way
33
# Sampling methods- random Random sampling
Everyone has an equal chance of selection
34
# Sampling methods- random Random sampling- positives
- Fair and unbias - Good for large populations - Representative
35
# Sampling methods- random Random sampling- negatives
- May not reflect population diversity - Can be impractical for large groups - Could be costly and time consuming
36
# Sampling methods- non-random Quota samplin- negatives
- Researcher bias as participents are chosen - Not random - Can be unreresentative
37
# Sampling methods- random Random sampling- negatives
- May not reflect population diversity - Can be impractical - May be costly and take time
38
# Sampling methods- random Systematic sampling- positives
- Reduces bias - Simple and quick - Representative
39
# Sampling methods- random Systematic sampling
Every nth person
40
# Sampling methods- random Systematic sampling- negatives
- Potential for bias - Could be unrepresentative # - Not suitable for all populations
41
# Sampling methods- random Stratified sampling
Population divided into groups and sampled proportionally
42
# Sampling methods- random Stratified sampling- positives
- More representative - Ensures key groups are included - Allows for the comparison of different groups
43
# Sampling methods- non-random Quota sampling- positives
- Representative - Less time consuming - Simple
44
# Sampling methods- non-random Quota sampling
Researcher selects participents to match population proportions
45
# Sampling methods- non-random Snowball sampling
Participents recruit others
46
# Sampling methods- non-random Snowball sampling- positives
- Good to hard to reach groups - Can provide detailed insights - Low cost
47
# Sampling methods- non-random Snowball sampling- negatives
- Highly unrepresentative - Not objective - Hard to generalise
48
# Sampling methods- non-random Opportunity sampling- positives
- Quick and convientent - Low cost - Useful for pilot studies
49
# Sampling methods- non-random Opportunity sampling
Using people who are readily available
50
# Sampling methods- non-random Opportunity sampling- negatives
- Highly unrepresentative - Not objective - Hard to generalise
51
# Sampling methods- non-random Non-random sampling
Deliberatly targating specific groups rather than randomly selecting a sample from the general population
52
# Sampling methods- non-random Non-random sampling- positives
- Cost effective - Time efficient - Targets specific groups of people
53
# Sampling methods- non-random Non-random sampling- negatives
- Researcher bias - May not be generalisable - May not be reliable
54
# Sampling methods- non-random Purposive sampling
Researcher chooses individuals or cases that fit the nature of the research
55
# Sampling methods- non-random Perposive sampling- positives
- Data collection is targated - Efficent - Flexible
56
# Sampling methods- non-random Purposive sampling- negatives
- Limited generalisability - Researcher bias - May not be reliable
57
# Sampling methods- non-random Volunteer sampling
Sociologists advertise for research volunteers and participents self select
58
# Sampling methods- non-random Volunteer sampling- advantages
- Cost efficent - Wide sample frame - Good for hard to reach groups
59
# Sampling methods- non-random volunteer sampling- negatives
- May not be representative - Limited generalisability - Potential for bias
60
# Surveys Longitutional surveys
Studying the same group of people over a long period of time
61
# Surveys Questionaires
List of questions written down in advance that are given to the respondent, could be online or in person
62
# Surveys Questionairs- positives
- Large sample size making results more generalisable - Cost effective - Reliable
63
# Surveys Questionairs- negatives
- Low response rates - Social desirability - Lacks depth
64
# Interviews Structured interviews
Standardised questions asked face to face or over the phone
65
# Interviews Structured interviews- positives
- Easy to compare - Quick to conduct - Large sample possibility
66
# Interviews Structured interviews- negatives
- Lacks depth - Researcher bias - May not reflect true opinions
67
# Interviews Semi-structured interviews
Balance between unstructured and structured interviews, allows for flexibility while mantaining focus
68
# Interviews Unstructured interviews
Informal open ended conversations for in depth understanding
69
# Interviews Semi-structure interviews- positives
- Rich in qualitative data - Adaptable - Builds a rapport
70
# Observations Observations
Researcher watches participants in real-life setting
71
# Interviews Group interviews- positives
- Observation of group dynamics - Wide pool of candidates - Allows for comparison
72
# Interviews Group interviews- negatives
- Limited individual assessment - Difficulty recording and analysing - Social desirability bias
73
# Ethnography Ethnography
Involves the researcher inserting themselves into the natural setting of the social group being studied and participating in and observing their daily activities
74
# Interviews Unstructured interviews- positives
- High validity - Builds a rapport - Flexible
75
# Interviews Semi-structured interviews- negatives
- Time consuming to analyse - Potential for bias - Subjective
76
# Interviews Unstructured interviews- negatives
- Time-consuming - Hard to replicate and compare - Risk of interviewer bias
77
# Interviews Group interviews
Multiple candidates are interviewed simultaneously
78
# Ethnography Ethnography- positives
- Detailed data - Hollistic observation - Contextual understanding
79
# Ethnography Ethnography- negatives
- Time consuming - Not necessarily generalisable - Ethical considerations
80
# Observations Observations- positives
- High validity - Rich detailed data - Useful for studying groups in depth
81
# Observations Non-participant observations- positives
- Maintains objectivity - Reliable - Natural setting
82
# Observations Observations- negatives
- Ethical issues - Hard to generalise - Researcher may become bias
83
Non-participant observations- negatives
- Researcher bias - Hawthorne effect - Ethical concernes
84
# Observations Non-participant obervations
Where the researcher observes a sitiation without engaging
85
# Observations Participant observation
Researcher joins in a groups and looks at the members activities or daily lives
86
# Observations Participant observations- positives
- Validity - Insight - Flexibility
87
# Observations Participant observations- negatives
- Small sample sizes hard to generalise - Researcher bias - Time consuming
88
# Observations Overt observation
Participants know they are being observed
89
# Observations Overt observation- advantages
- Ethical transparency - Reduces researcher bias - Easy access for data recording
90
# Observations Overt observation- negatives
- Hawthorne effect - Reduced validity - Difficult for studying sensative behaviours
91
# Observations Covert observation
Participants are unaware they are being observed
92
# Observations Covert observation- positives
- Natural behaviour - Access to deviant groups - High reliability
93
# Observations Covert observation- negatives
- Ethical concernes - TIme consuming - Risk of harm
94
# Statistics Official statistics
Statistics collected by governements or official bodies
95
# Statistics Official statistics- positives
- Large sample size - Trend analysis - Accessible
96
# Statistics Official statistics- negatives
- Lack of control - Potential for manipulation - Underreporting
97
# Statistics Unofficial statistics
Statistics gathered by non-governmental sources
98
# Statistics Unofficial statistics- positives
- Flexibility and specificity - Diverse perspecives - Cost-effective
99
# Statistics Unofficial statistics- negatives
- Potential for bias - Reliability issues - Lack of generalisability
100
# Media Content analysis
Analysing media content to identify how particular social groups or social situations are being portrayed
101
# Media Content analysis- advantages
- Unobtrusive data collection - Reliable - Accessable and efficient
102
# Media Content analysis- disadvantages
- Subjective- researcher bias - Context ignored - Limited preexisting material
103
# MIxed methods Triangulation
Combining research methods to check or verify thr validity of the research findings
104
# MIxed methods Triangulation- positives
- Enhances validity and reliability - Reduces bias - Increases confidence in findings
105
# MIxed methods Triangulation- disadvantages
- Time and resource intensive - Increases conplexity in data analysis - Potential for conflicting findings
106
# MIxed methods Methodological pluralism
Combining different reasearch methods to build up a fuller picture of what is happening
107
# MIxed methods Methodological pluralism- advantages
- Enhanced validity and reliability - More comprehensive understanding - Adresses limitations of single method
108
# MIxed methods Methodological pluralism- disadvantages
- Increased complexity - Potential for bias - Resource intensive

Sociology (8 decks)

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