research methods - researchers need to consider

Question 1

what is primary data?

Answer 1

first hand data

Question 2

what is secondary data?

Answer 2

second hand data

Question 3

what is quantitative data?

Answer 3

data in numerical form

Question 4

what is qualitative data?

Answer 4

data expressed in words

Question 5

whats does positivist prefer?

Answer 5

reliable and representative data
e.g. P = R+R
objective data (free from bias)

Question 6

what do interpretivists prefer?

Answer 6

valid data
e.g. I=V
subjective data (bias data)

Question 7

why does positivists prefer quanititative data?

Answer 7

positivists prefer quanititative data - behaviours influence by external factors + data should be scientific and analyse social facts (things affect behaviour that is easily measured)

they use statistics to measure relationship between different factors

Question 8

what research methods does positivist Prefer?

Answer 8

• questionnaires
• structured interviews
• official statistics
• experiments

Question 9

why dos interpretivists prefer quanitative data?

Answer 9

interpretivists prefer quanitative data - to undestand human behaviour using empathy or verstehen (weber)
analyse through micro scoiology - focus on individual not social facts - understand meaning to the actions by them

Question 10

what research method does interpretivists use?

Answer 10

• participant observation
• ethnography
• unstructured interviews

Question 11

what does PERVERT stand for?

Answer 11

• Practical
• Ethnical
• Reliable
• Valid
• Example
• Representative
• Theory

Question 12

what are the 5 types of practical issues?

Answer 12

• time and money
• funding bodies
• characteristics
• subject matter
• access

Question 13

patrick research on gangs

Answer 13

patrick research method: participant observation - hung out with gangs in glasgow and relied on memory

Question 14

what are the 5 types of ethic issues?

Answer 14

• informed consent
• confidentially and privacy
• psychological harm
• vulnerable groups (elderly, children)
• illegal activities

Question 15

jacobson and rosenthal research on self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 15

jacobson and rosenthal research method: observation of the ‘spurters’ but deception by lieing to both teacher and student about the IQ test

Question 16

what is valid?

Answer 16

research method produces a true picture of society
requires to get closely involved with their participant to have a deeper understanding of their picture

Question 17

what is reliable?

Answer 17

research is repeated it produces the same results.

Question 18

what is representative?

Answer 18

the true cross section of wider population - you can make generalisations

Question 19

what is a macro perspective?

Answer 19

taking the large scale approach and see the wider social strucutre shape individual behaviour
- functionalists
- marxists

Question 20

what is a micro perspective?

Answer 20

taking the small scale approach and establish valid accounts of individuals meaning as they see reality as socially constructed by individuals and their interaction

Question 21

what are the 5 areas researchers are interested in?

Answer 21

• pupils
• teachers
• parents
• classrooms
• schools

Question 22

what are the 4 main problems of researching pupils?

Answer 22

1. power and status — children have less status and power in school, diffucult for them to state their opinion openly.
2. ability — childrens vocab, expression and confidence are likely to be limited, need to make sure questions are clear
3. vulnerability — children are vulnerble to physical and psychological harm
4. parents permission — permission to research their child

Question 23

what are the 3 problems of researching teachers?

Answer 23

1. they have more power and status
2. teachers opinions and actions influence by the pressure of the headteacher, ofsted etc
3. teacher overwork and are less likely to cooperate with the research

Question 24

what are the 2 problems of researching classroom?

Answer 24

1. high conrolled settings with restrictions and behavioural codes (gate keepers)
2. interactions not real - teacher and student good at hiding their real feelings

Question 25

what are the 2 problems of researching school?

Answer 25

1. organisations with rules and hierarchies - (including the researcher) - students may see their teachers as inspector result in change in behaviour
2. denied access to schools if research interfere with the work of the school

Meighan - headteachers view researchers negatively, dont want students to discose their own opinion about teachers

Atikison - ‘off limits’ to researcher in particular classes where teachers have poor control over their students

Question 26

what are the 2 problems of researching parents?

Answer 26

1. parents are outside of the school, difficult to contact and research
2. background of a parent may play role in data gained (e.g. m/c parents are likely to cooperate in research)