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research methods Flashcards

1
Q

what is data?

A
  • facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
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2
Q

what is primary data?

A
  • you collect it yourself
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3
Q

what is secondary data?

A
  • collected from elsewhere
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4
Q

what is quantitative data?

A
  • numbers and figures
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5
Q

what is qualitative data?

A
  • feelings and opinions
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6
Q

what are factors to consider in research methods?

A
  • practical
  • Ethical
  • Theoretical
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7
Q

what are types of practical issues?

A
  • time and resources
  • access
  • money and funding
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8
Q

what are types of ethical issues?

A
  • informed consent
  • confidentiality/privacy
  • effects on those taking part/danger
  • covert research=deceiving subjects
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9
Q

what is a hypothesis?

A
  • a possible explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence to prove it true or false
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10
Q

what is an aim?

A
  • identifies what we intend to study
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11
Q

Do positivists prefer an aim or hypothesis and why?

A
  • a hypothesis

- because they seek to discover cause and effect relationships

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12
Q

Do interpretivists prefer an aim or hypothesis and why?

A
  • an aim

- because they’re interested in understanding actors

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13
Q

what is operationalism?

A
  • the process of converting a sociological concept into something we can measure
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14
Q

why are positivists concerned with operationalising concepts?

A
  • because they place more importance on creating and testing hypothesises
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15
Q

what is the pilot study?

A
  • practice run
  • smaller scale
  • aim to finalise method and check issues
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16
Q

what is Young and Willmotts pilot study?

A
  • they did over 100 pilot studies
  • to decide on the design of their study
  • to iron out or refine questions
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17
Q

what is sampling?

A
  • the process of choosing your respondents and ensuring they are representative
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18
Q

what is a sampling frame?

A
  • list of all members of the population you are studying `
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19
Q

what are the 4 sampling techniques?

A
  • random
  • systematic
  • stratified
  • quota
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20
Q

what is random sampling?

A
  • sample is selected purely by chance

- everyone has a equal chance of being chosen

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21
Q

what is systematic sampling?

A
  • every Nth person in the sampling frame is selected
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22
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A
  • the researcher first stratifies the population in the sampling frame by age, class etc
  • sample is created in the same proportions
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23
Q

what is quota sampling?

A
  • population is stratified

- each interviewer is given a quota

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24
Q

what are theoretical advantages to questionnaires?

A
  • reliable/easy
  • useful for testing hypothesis
  • representative
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25
what are ethical advantages of questionnaires?
- limited interviewer intention or bias - respondents are kept anonymous - little danger for interviewer
26
what are practical advantages of questionnaires?
- quick and cheap | - easy to quantify and analyse
27
what are theoretical disadvantages of questionnaires?
- answers generally lack depth - may not by truthful - no room for respondents to explain - leading questions
28
what are practical disadvantages of questionnaires?
- low response rate | - respondents cannot ask for clarification of questions
29
what is a study for low response rate for questionnaires?
- Shire Hite's, study of love, passions and emotional violence in America - sent out 100,000 questionnaires - only 4.5% returned
30
what does Cicourel (1968) say about questionnaires?
- they lack validity | - we need to get closer to subject and share meanings
31
what are advantages of interviews?
- allow for a personal relations = more valid - open answers - ability to gain large amounts of quantitative data
32
what are disadvantages of interviews?
- may lie to hide truth on sensitive subjects - can be time consuming - could be bias
33
what are advantages of observations?
- validity= see how they act - insight= gain empathy - flexibility= open mindness
34
what does Whyte say about flexibility of participant observations?
- 'I learned answers to questions I wouldn't have had the sense to ask if I had been using interviews'
35
what are disadvantages of participant observations?
- time consuming - deceives people in order to gain information - researcher needs to be trained - hard to replicate - bias
36
what is a laboratory experiment?
- testing behaviour in controlled lab conditions | - preferred by positivists
37
what was Milgram's study on obedience?
- testes obedience by asking subjects to give eclectic shocks to a 'leaner' behind a door when they got a question wrong
38
what did Milgram's study find?
- 65% gave shocks of 450 volts (double UK power mains)
39
what is a practical disadvantage for lab experiments?
- expensive (have to pay the subjects)
40
what ethical disadvantages for lab experiments?
- paying the participants | they feel like they're obliged to carry out the action
41
what are pros of lab experiments?
- very reliable - scientific (variables strictly controlled) - great for positivists
42
what are cons of lab experiments?
- impossible to control al factors - cost - time consuming/must be small scale - lack of consent/sometimes deception
43
what is a field experiment?
- takes place in the natural environment of subjects | observing subjects responses to variables
44
what are pros of field experiments?
- more natural/valid - no Hawthorne effect - cheaper
45
what are cons of field experiments ?
- involve deception/lack of consent | - less control over variables
46
what is a comparative method?
thought experiment - involves researchers comparing 2 groups based on one variable - test data to see how they compare
47
what was Durkeim's comparative method study?
- study of suicide tested which Christian group was more likely to commit suicide - Catholics or Protestants
48
what are the 4 types of observations?
- covert - overt - participant - non-participant
49
what is a covert observation?
- the researchers real identity + purpose are kept concealed - researcher takes on fake identity
50
what is a non-participant observation?
- the researcher simply observes the group or event without taking part in it
51
what is a participant observation?
- the researcher takes part in an event | - in the everyday life of the group while observing it
52
what is an overt observation?
- the researcher makes their true identity + purpose known to those being studied
53
what are official statistics?
- govt/official bodies | - e.g. divorce figures, GCSE results
54
what are advantages of official statistics?
- free data=more money for other factors - collected at intervals=shows patterns - representative=can be applied to a lot - reliable
55
what are disadvantages of official statistics?
- cant always find what your looking for - gevt definitions ay differ from sociological ones - definitions change over time
56
what are hidden figures of crime?
- crimes committed but not reported
57
what is the British crime survey and what were the findings?
- asked a sample if they have been victims of crime | - in 2002 42% of crimes were reported
58
why do positivists like official stats?
- they're objective (no bias) | - large scale
59
what are advantages of documents?
- personal documents= give qualitative insights - best way to study the past - cheap and quick
60
what are disadvantages of documents?
- historical=not always authentic/credible | - can be difficult to access
61
according to Scott, 1990 what are the 4 criteria for usefulness of documents?
- credibility - representativeness - authenticity - meaning

sociology (11 decks)

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