research methods T1/2

Question 1

what are the two SOURCES of data?

Answer 1

primary and secondary.

Question 2

what are the two TYPES of data?

Answer 2

quantitative data and qualitative data.

Question 3

what is QUANtitative data?

Answer 3

information in numerical form.

Question 4

what is qualitative data?

Answer 4

information that gives you a feel of what something is like.

Question 5

what are some examples of QUANtitative data?

Answer 5

lab experiments
official statistics
STRUCTURED interviews

Question 6

what are some examples of QUALitative data?

Answer 6

observations
diaries
UNSTRUCTURED interviews
field experiments

Question 7

who likes QUANtitative data?

Answer 7

positivists

Question 8

who likes QUALitative data?

Answer 8

interprativists

Question 9

what are the 3 factors influencing choice of methods?

Answer 9

practical
ethical
theoretical

Question 10

what are the 5 things that effect the practical factor on influencing choice of methods?

Answer 10

time and money
requirements of funding bodies
personal skills and characteristics
subject matter
research opportunities

Question 11

what are the 5 things that effect the ethical factor on influencing choice of methods

Answer 11

informed consent
confidentiality and anonymity
harm to participants
vulnerable groups
covert to research

Question 12

what are the 3 things that effect the theoretical factor on influencing choice of methods?

Answer 12

validity
reliability
representativeness

Question 13

what are the two factors that influence the methodological perspective?

Answer 13

positivists view
interpretivists view

Question 14

what is the positivists view on the methodological perspective?

Answer 14

prefer QUANtitative data and seek to discover patterns of behaviour. also see sociology as a science.

Question 15

what is the interpretivists view on the methodological perspective?

Answer 15

prefer QUALitative data because they seek to understand social actors meaning. reject the idea sociology is a science.

Question 16

what do positivists like their research to be like?

Answer 16

reliable and representative

Question 17

what do interpretivists like their research to be like?

Answer 17

valid

Question 18

what are the 4 factors influencing choice of topic?

Answer 18

sociologist perspective
society’s values
practical factors
funding bodies

Question 19

what is the process of gathering research

Answer 19

1: formulating an aim/hypothesis
2: choosing a research method
3: pilot study
4: choosing a sample
5: taking out the research
6: analysing data

Question 20

what are some sampling techniques?

Answer 20

random sampling
stratified random sampling
quota sampling
snowball sampling
opportunity sampling

Question 21

what are the 3 ways of studying human behaviour?

Answer 21

laboratory experiments
field experiments
comparative method

Question 22

what are the two groups in the laboratory experiments?

Answer 22

the experimental group
control group

Question 23

who like lab experiments?

Answer 23

positivism

Question 24

what are some practical advantages of laboratory experiments?

Answer 24

funding bodies
personal characteristics
easy and step by step

Question 25

what are some ethical advantages of laboratory experiments?

Answer 25

informed consent legality benefits society

Question 26

what are some theoretical advantages of laboratory experiments?

Answer 26

reliability able to specify the precise steps very detached method

Question 27

what are some practical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?

Answer 27

society is a very complex issue time money

Question 28

what are some ethical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?

Answer 28

lack of informed consent deception harm

Question 29

what are some theoretical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?

Answer 29

validity representativeness

Question 30

what are the two main differences between field experiments and laboratory experiments?

Answer 30

they take place in a natural surrounding those involved are typically not aware they are part of the experiment.

Question 31

what are some practical advantages of field experiments?

Answer 31

pre-existing setting money

Question 32

what are some ethical advantages of field experiments?

Answer 32

confidentiality and privacy unintrusive

Question 33

what are some theoretical advantages of field experiments?

Answer 33

validity

Question 34

what are some practical disadvantages to field experiments?

Answer 34

time can’t control all variables and environment as it is real

Question 35

what are some ethical disadvantages to field experiments?

Answer 35

consent covert

Question 36

what are some theoretical disadvantages to field experiments?

Answer 36

unreliable unrepresentative

Question 37

what are the two steps in the comparative method?

Answer 37

step 1: identify two groups of people which are alike in all major respects except for the one variable we are interested in step 2: compare the two groups to see if the difference between them has any effect.

Question 38

what are the main three advantages of the comparative method

Answer 38

it avoids artificiality it can be used to study past events poses no ethical problems

Question 39

what are some practical advantages to the comparative method?

Answer 39

money time

Question 40

what are some ethical advantages to the comparative method

Answer 40

limited as there are no people involved

Question 41

what are some theoretical advantages of the comparative method?

Answer 41

reliable representativeness

Question 42

what are some practical disadvantages to the comparative method?

Answer 42

access there may be a language barrier or misunderstanding of data

Question 43

what are some ethical disadvantages to the comparative method?

Answer 43

limited as no people involved

Question 44

what are some theoretical disadvantages to the comparative method?

Answer 44

validity

Question 45

what is a structured interview?

Answer 45

interviewer has strict instructions. the interview is conducted in the same way each time, same questions, in the same order and voice. close-ended questions.

Question 46

what is a group interview?

Answer 46

number of people interviewed together. can also include focus groups to discuss certain topics and record their views.

Question 47

what is a unstructured interview

Answer 47

like a conversation. doesn’t follow a specific question pattern

Question 48

what is a semi structured interview?

Answer 48

like a unstructured interview but push the person being interviewed a slight bit further than normal by asking follow up questions.

Question 49

unstructured interview sociologist

Answer 49

Dobash and Dobash