Research Methodz

Question 1

Experiments - Types of Experiments

Answer 1

• Lab –> All variables apart from independent are controlled
• Field –> Natural Env - less control over extraneous variables

Question 2

Experiments - Practical Evaluation

Answer 2

Weaknesses
• Cost of materials + lab hire
• Gathering a sample that is representative
Strengths
• Test predictions + prove theories

Question 3

Experiments - Ethical Evaluation

Answer 3

Weakness
• Deception in lab experiments - need to hide true aims
• Consent in field experiments
• Psychological harm if ppt behaves against morals

Question 4

Experiments - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 4

Strengths
• Highly scientific
• High in reliability (replicable)
• Quantitative data - analyse - positivist
Weaknesses
• Lab lack validity - not real beh
• Objective BUT researcher decides e
variables to manipulate

Question 5

Questionnaires - Info

Answer 5

• List of questions distributed by mail, face to face
• Closed questions –> fixed responses, pre-codes to give quantitative data
• Open questions –> Respondent provides own unique response, provides qualitative data, explain meanings

Question 6

Questionnaires - Practical Evaluation

Answer 6

Strengths
• Cheap + quick to distribute
Weaknesses
• Low response rate - limits representativeness
• Leading/ambiguous questions
• Closed questions - imposition
• Open Questions - time consuming to analyse

Question 7

Questionnaires - Ethical Evaluation

Answer 7

Strengths
• Less intrusive than observations
Weaknesses
• Sensitive topics can cause distress
• Recording info kept in GDPR guidelines
• Respondents may only give info if anonymous

Question 8

Questionnaires - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 8

Strengths
• Broad range of respondents - increases representativeness
• Easy to replicate
Weaknesses
• Closed questions lack validity - fixed responses
• Open questions lack reliability - responses less repeated
• Is it really true reflection if beh

Question 9

Questionnaires - Interview Intro

Answer 9

• Conversation between researcher + respondent
• Structures –> standardised qs
• Semi - structured –> some standardised qs but ability to ask follow up qs
• Unstructured –> Themes to discuss not set qs, flexible

Question 10

Questionnaires - Practical Evaluation

Answer 10

Strengths
• High response rate
Weaknesses
• Cost –> training + recruiting interviewers
• Time –> Time- consuming to gain representative sample + transcribe + analyse findings

Question 11

Interviews - Ethical Evaluation

Answer 11

Weaknesses
• Useful for sensitive topics but may cause psychological upset
• Revealing info in group can be distressing/consequences
• Anonymity + confidentiality needs to be guaranteed
• Illegal/immoral activities disclosed causes dilemma- report or keep confidential

Question 12

Interviews - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 12

Strengths
• Quantitative + qualitative data
• Explains + clarify qs
• Gains rapport with respondent = valid
• Structured can be repeated = reliable
Weaknesses
• Issues of validity –> interviewers presence may cause social desirable answers
• Depending on format, interviews can have issues with reliability + ability to generalise

Question 13

Observations - Info

Answer 13

• Researcher observes group/infiv yo witness social beh first hand
• Inteepretivists prefer
• Participant –> takes part in activities
• Non-participant –> detached
• Overt –> aware of researcher
• Covert –> unaware of observation

Question 14

Observations - Practical Evaluation

Answer 14

Strengths
• Good to research hard-to-access groups
Weaknesses
• Getting access to groups - especially if covert
• Recording info
• Maintaining a cover when covert
• Costly –> training, qualifications

Question 15

Observations - Ethical Evaluation

Answer 15

Weaknesses
• Deception when covert
• Informed consent
• Protection from harm –> researcher in gangs may face threat if uncovered
• Illegal + immoral activities

Question 16

Observations - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 16

Strengths
• Witness beh firsthand + intentions = valid
• Observe people in natural env = valid
Weaknesses
• Reliability –> difficult to replicate
• Lack objectivity –> can become attached to group
• Validity –> overt can cause hawthorne effect
• Less representative –> small groups

Question 17

Official Stats - Practical Evaluation

Answer 17

Strengths
• Readily available + cover range of topics
• Provide trends over time between groups
Weaknesses
• Time –> quick to access but can take time to interpret
• Access –> some are unavailable
• Operationalising variables

Question 18

Official Stats - Ethical Evaluation

Answer 18

Strengths
• No deception, consent or harm issues
Weaknesses
• Can get manipulated by giv to produce political points
• Poverty indicators change

Question 19

Official Stats - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 19

Strengths
• Highly reliable - repeated
Weaknesses
• Validity –> interpreativists believe they are social Constructs
• Validity –> dark figures - crime, Ed, health

Question 20

Documents - Info

Answer 20

• Personal –> diaries, letters, photos, school reports
• Historical –> gov docs, personal docs from last, TV, radio + newspaper

Question 21

Documents - Practical Evaluation

Answer 21

Strengths
• Historical docs can be the inly way of gaining insight into lives of individuals from past
Weaknesses
• Gaining access –> kept away from public
• Time –> Historical docs may require expert to understand lang
• Finding docs that fit the purpose of research is time consuming + costly

Question 22

Documents - Ethical Evaluations

Answer 22

Weaknesses
• Anonymity + confidentiality
• Potential Harm –> relatives may not want History researched
• Historical docs from gov may not be released - sensitive material

Question 23

Documents - Theoretical Evaluation

Answer 23

Strengths
• Personal docs are valid
Weaknesses
• Validity –> can’t assume it’s authentic
• Not representative
• Subjective