Research Methods

Question 1

Validity

Answer 1

Genuine, accurate reflections of what is being studied

Question 2

Reliability

Answer 2

Similar finding recorded through repeated study

Question 3

Representativeness

Answer 3

Sample of the whole society or demographic- represents a large amount from a small number of

Question 4

Generalisibility

Answer 4

Data collection from a small sample that can be applied to a whole population

Question 5

Objectivity

Answer 5

Impartial and unbiased, no personal values or beliefs will influence the data collection

Question 6

Surveys

Answer 6

Large-scale quantitative study through questionnaires or structured interviews

Question 7

Questionnaires

Answer 7

List of questions to answer independently of a researcher

Question 8

Interviews

Answer 8

Researcher asking questions to respondents to record answers

Question 9

Focus groups

Answer 9

A group of people discussing an issue with a researcher present to facilitate the conversation and record it to limit distractions of the participants from note-taking

Question 10

Observations

Answer 10

Watching a respondent to collect qualitative data to understand experiences

Question 11

Interview Bias

Answer 11

An interviewer present can influence the answers given by a respondent such as giving what they thunk is ‘socially acceptable’ answers rather that their actual thoughts

Question 12

Triangulation

Answer 12

Two or more methods used to study an issue

Question 13

Methodological Pluralism

Answer 13

Combining interpretive and positivist approaches

Question 14

Participant observation

Answer 14

The researcher collects data y joining the group being studied and participating in

Question 15

Non-participation observation

Answer 15

Sociologists can collect information about social behaviour by watching behaviour without becoming involved with the group

Question 16

Overt

Answer 16

The study group are aware that they are being researches

Question 17

Covert

Answer 17

The study group has no knowledge that they are being studied

Question 18

Ethnography

Answer 18

Interpretive approach collecting qualitative data through the direct observation of a group, and often involves participation to investigate the way he group experiences and interprets the social world

Question 19

Gatekeeper

Answer 19

Someone with the trust and respect of a group that can facilitate an introduction

Question 20

Access

Answer 20

Before information can be collected, the researcher needs contact to those under study and the difficulty of this varies

Question 21

Going native

Answer 21

The researcher loses objectivity due to beginning t identifying with the group under study

Question 22

Literature review

Answer 22

Analysing existing research prior to conducting any new research

Question 23

Official statistics

Answer 23

Data collected by governments and other official bodies. Provides quantitative information about how society is and changes which can produce trends and patterns

Question 24

Personal Documents

Answer 24

Qualitative data collected through documents such as diaries and letters to understand the meaning and motives of people through personal experiance

Question 25

Mass Media

Answer 25

A diverse range of media outlets that reachers a large amount of people like broadcasting and newspapers

Question 26

Secondary sources

Answer 26

Information collected by others and used in a new piece of research

Question 27

Literature review

Answer 27

Analysing existing research prior to conducting any new research

Question 28

Content analysis

Answer 28

Primary data collection that can be quantitative or qualitative that studies the nature of media content

Question 29

Target population

Answer 29

The entire group the researcher is interested in

Question 30

Sample

Answer 30

A smaller group of the target population that represents the total

Question 31

Sample frame

Answer 31

List of all the people in the target population

Question 32

Representative sample

Answer 32

A sample that shares the same characteristics as the population under study

Question 33

Non-representative sample

Answer 33

A sample that are studied but are not representative of the entire population or group so cannot be generalised

Question 34

Ethics

Answer 34

Ethical or moral guidelines required to be followed when doubting research to ensure that no harm is caused to the participants or researchers

Question 35

Consent

Answer 35

Enter research freely with full information about what it means to them to take part, and they agree to before they enter the research

Question 36

Deception

Answer 36

Giving false information or not giving all relevant information to participants or intentionally misleading them

Question 37

Confidentiality

Answer 37

Protecting personal information

Question 38

Anonymity

Answer 38

The participants information is not revealed

Question 39

Sensitivity

Answer 39

Taking into consideration and acting with compassion, the emotional well-being and stress research can cause to participants around difficult or personal issues

Question 40

Avoiding harm

Answer 40

Protecting participants and researchers from negative consequences of decisions and action in research

Question 41

Closed questions

Answer 41

These are questions that limit the respondents answers, usually requiring them to select an answer from a list provided by the researcher

Question 42

Correlation

Answer 42

A correlation is a connection between two things

Question 43

Interpretivism

Answer 43

Emphasises the importance of finding out what things and behaviour mean to those involved

Question 44

Longitudinal study

Answer 44

If the sample is studied a number of times

Question 45

Opportunity sample

Answer 45

The researcher studies whoever is available and willing to take part in the study

Question 46

Pilot study

Answer 46

A small-scale test or practice before the main study. Can reveal any problems with the method

Question 47

Positivism

Answer 47

Aims to use scientific methods as far as possible, collecting quantitative data

Question 48

Primary data

Answer 48

Data collected by researchers themselves

Question 49

Qualitative data

Answer 49

Data that is in words, describing social situations and their meanings

Question 50

Quantitative data

Answer 50

Numerical or statistical data

Question 51

Quota sample

Answer 51

Used when there is no sampling method available. Respondents are selected by the researcher on the basis of characteristics

Question 52

Random sample

Answer 52

A sample is random if every member of the target population has the same chance of getting picked

Question 53

Realism

Answer 53

Both interpretivism and positivism and their preferred methods have strengths and weaknesses

Question 54

Replicate

Answer 54

Another term for repeat

Question 55

Snowball sample

Answer 55

Used when there are no other sampling frames available. The researcher makes contact with a suitable respondent who in turns introduces it to other people