RM Key Terms

Question 1

Operationalising concepts

Answer 1

turning a sociological concept or theory into something that can be measured.

Question 2

Sampling frame

Answer 2

a list of all members of the research population from which a sample is selected.

Question 3

Random sampling

Answer 3

when everyone in a sampling frame has an equal chance of being selected e.g. drawing names out of a hat.

Question 4

Systematic sampling

Answer 4

selecting a sample from a sampling frame using some sort of routine e.g. every 5th name on a list.

Question 5

Sample attrition

Answer 5

Where participants leave the study

Question 6

Social desirability effect

Answer 6

when a respondent gives an answer to give a positive impression of themselves.

Question 7

Triangulation

Answer 7

Using more than one method in a piece of research

Question 8

Verstehen

Answer 8

empathy; being able to put yourself in another person’s shoes.

Question 9

Comparative method

Answer 9

a research method that compares two social groups that are alike apart from one factor e.g. Durkheim’s comparison of Catholics and Protestants in his study of suicide.

Question 10

Interview schedule

Answer 10

the list of questions to be asked in an interview (for structured interviews).

Question 11

Standardisation

Answer 11

when all of the questions asked/answers available (if closed questions are used) are exactly the same in questionnaires/interviews.

Question 12

Independent variable

Answer 12

the variable a researcher manipulates during an experiment.

Question 13

Dependent variable

Answer 13

the variable a researcher measures during an experiment, to measure what effect the independent variable has on it.

Question 14

Rapport

Answer 14

a relationship of trust and understanding.

Question 16

Snowball sampling

Answer 16

when a researcher uses one participant to introduce them to other potential participants. Used when no sampling frame is available.

Question 17

Quota sampling

Answer 17

when a researcher looks for a specific number of people in the categories they are interested in studying, e.g. 500 males and 500 females.

Question 18

Opportunity sampling

Answer 18

when a researcher simply uses whoever is available to be in their sample. Used when no sampling frame is available.

Question 19

Leading question

Answer 19

a question which is asked in a way which may lead the interviewee to think the interviewer wants them to give a specific answer.

Question 20

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 20

when those being studied change their behaviour to how they believe the researcher wants them to act.

Question 21

Going native

Answer 21

when a researcher over-identifies with those they are observing.

Question 22

Longitudinal study

Answer 22

A study in which information is collected at regular intervals over an extended period of time

Question 23

Flexibility