research methods Flashcards
(41 cards)
1
Q
quantative methods
who are quantative mthods favoured by?
A
positivists
2
Q
quantative methods
what type of data do quantative methods produce?
A
numerical/statistical data
3
Q
quantative methods
labatory experiments
A
- laboratory experiments test a hypothesis in a controlled environment
4
Q
quantative methods
advantages of laboratory experiments
A
- they are highly reliable
- can easily identify cause and effect relationships
5
Q
quantative methods
disadvantages of laboratory experiments
A
- high amount of artificiality
- the hawthorne effect may impact results as the lab is not a natural environment
- ethical issues as the researcher needs informed consent of the participant which may be difficult to obtain
- unrepresentaative as lab experiments generally have a small sample size
- costly
6
Q
quantative methods
field experiments
A
- experiments which take place in the real world, where the researcher either creates a situation or adapts a real-life situation to their research purpose
7
Q
quantative methods
advantages of field experiments
A
- less artificiality than lab experiments
- higher validity as individuals are unaware of the experiment and they are in their normal environment
8
Q
quantative methods
disadvantages of field experiments
A
- ethical issues as it individuals involved are generally not informed that they are being studied
- lower reliability than lab experiments
9
Q
quantative methods
questionnaires
A
- a form of social survey where questionnaires are handed out to participants
- typically have a set of closed ended questions with pre-set answers
10
Q
quantative methods
advantages of questionnaires
A
- respresentative as they can be handed out to a large sample size
- high reliability
- limited ethical concerns as the participant is not under pressure to give up information
- relatively low in cost
11
Q
quantative methods
disadvantages of questionnaires
A
- representativeness may suffer if there is a low response rate and the same types of people may be responding
- some groups may be missed from the sample such as those who cannot read
- ethical concerns around using a questionnaire for some more sensitive subjects
12
Q
quantative methods
structured interviews
A
- structured interviews involve face to face or over the phone, using a list of pre-set questions designed by the researcher
13
Q
quantative methods
advantages of structured interviews
A
- practical advantages as training interviewers and administration is easy and cheap
- easier to have a larger sample size than unstructured interviews
- reliable
- results are easily quantifiable as they use closed ended questions
14
Q
quantative methods
disadvantages of structured interviews
A
- lack of validity as individuals may not be truthful and the pre-coded questions may limit what an interviewer uncovers/finds
- some subjects are too personal or sensitive to investigate using pre-set questions
15
Q
quantative methods
official statistics
A
- data collected by official bodies such as the government
16
Q
quantative methods
advantages of official statistics
A
- easy and low in cost to obtain
- reliable
- collected at regular intervals so they are likely to be recent
- allows cross examination which researchers can use to find cause and effect relations and trends
17
Q
quantative methods
disadvantages of official statistics
A
- even if data is only a few years old, it may not be completely representative of current society
- the government may manipulate these statistics so they lack validity
- there is no way of checking the accuracy of the data as it is a secondary source of information
18
Q
qualitative methods
unstructured interview
A
- a type of interview that involves asking open-ended questions
19
Q
qualitative methods
advantages of unstructured interviews
A
- there is rapport built between the researcher and the interviewee
- there is flexibility as the questions are not fixed
- increased validity
- can be used to investigate more sensitive and personal topics
- allows the interviewee to express their own meanings and values
20
Q
qualitative methods
disadvantages of unstructured interviews
A
- less practical and more time consuming than structured interviews
- interviewers may have to be trained in sensitivity and picking key information
- interviewers picking key information may mean that there is researcher imposition
- low reliability
- generally less representative
21
Q
qualitative methods
semi-structured interviews
A
- a type of interview which includes pre-set questions but with room for the interviewer to paticular themes or reponses further
22
Q
qualitative methods
advantages of semi-structured interviews
A
- higher validity than structured interviews
- less formatility than structured interviews which can generate more rapport
- easier to analyse data than in unstructured interviews
23
Q
qualitative methods
disadvantages of unstructured interviews
A
- cause and effect cant be inferred
- flexibility of the interview lessens the reliability
- difficult to compare answers
- more time consuming than structured interviews
24
Q
qualitative methods
participant observation
A
- the researcher joins the activity of the group they are researching, covertly or overtly
25
# qualitative methods
advantages of participant observation
- high validity
- detailed data and deep understanding
- through participation the researcher may pick up on things they may have missed through non-participant observation
26
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of participant observation
1. low reliability
2. ethical issues if the observation is covert
3. participation may chage a group dynamic so the research will not be valid
4. risk of researcher imposition
5. researchers may become too engrossed in their role
6. can be an incredibly lengthy process
27
# qualitative methods
personal documents
- include diary entries, letters and autobiographies created with the intention of being kept private
28
# qualitative methods
advanatages of personal documents
1. high validity as individuald wrote them with the intention of keeping them private
2. practical and cheap
3. can be compared to other documents which reflect the same thing eg two different diary entries about WW1
4. interpretivists can investigate the meanings and beliefs of the individual
29
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of personal documents
1. some events are unlikely to have personal documents dicussing them
2. researchers may need to interpret documents which can lead to bias and researcher imposition
3. some grpups may not have personal documents such as those whose literacy skills are poor
30
# qualitative methods
historical documents
- documents from the past
- can be personal or offical
31
# qualitative methods
advantages of historical documents
1. allow comparisons over time eg birth rate
2. they are useful when examining the outcomes of policies
32
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of historical documents
1. unrepresentative as some documents may have been lost or destroyed
2. the validity of the documents are open to question as they may have been written selectively
33
# qualitative methods
non-participant observation
- observation where the researcher does not get involved or participate with the research group
34
# qualitative methods
advantages of non-participant observation
1. less chance of researcher impostion
2. the researcher will not become too immersed in the research process
3. avoids the problem of the group dynamic being disrupted
35
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of non-participant observation
1. low level of reliability
2. ethical concerns if the group does not know they are being researched
3. the researcher may have to hide, go undercover or pretend their role is not the researcher to avoid the hawthorne effect
4. may not be very representative
36
# qualitative methods
covert observation
- observation where the researcher is undercover
37
# qualitative methods
advantages of covert observation
1. less chance of the hawthorne effect
2. research obtained is more valid as it is gained from first hand insight
3. allows the researcher to investigate groups who wouldnt willingly allows researchers to study them
38
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of covert observation
1. researchers cannot openly take notes in order to keep their cover so they may forget to record key information
2. there are certain ethical issues
3. the researcher has to gain trust which can be time consuming
4. can be dangerous for researchers if their cover is revealed
39
# qualitative methods
overt observation
- observation where the researcher is not undercover and individuals know they are being observed
40
# qualitative methods
advantages of overt observation
1. there arent any ethical issues as individuals know they are being studied
2. the observer can openly take notes, which minimises the risk of them forgetting key information
3. higher reliability than covert observations
4. overt observation allows the interviewer to use interviews and other techniques to retrieve further data
41
# qualitative methods
disadvantages of overt observation
1. risk of the hawthorne effect
2. hard to use overt observation on some people such as gangs who will not willingly be studied
