surveys/questionnaires Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

surveys/questionnaires:

A
  • quantifiable data - can be easily converted into statistics to prove correlations
  • positivism - discover social facts and record them
  • standardisation of the data collected is critical
  • e.g census every ten years that is useful for social trends
  • data that can be directly compared
  • everybody is answering the same questions so any differences in the answers will reflect real differences
  • respondents must have same understanding of the information
  • answers to the questions are coded into various categories so the researcher simply counts them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

types of questionnaires:

A
  • self completion - these are left with the respondent to complete
  • postal
  • internet
  • closed-ended - respondent selects one or more from a range of responses (quantitive - reliable)
  • open-ended - reply in own words (harder to categorise - qualitivitive more valid)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are the advantages of questionnaires?

A
  • cheap
  • large sample (generalisations/representative)
  • quick
  • large geographical area
  • easy to collect results
  • results can be checked - reliable (P)
  • few ethical problems
  • no need to train interviewers
  • anonymous
  • no interviewer effect
  • good for testing hypothesis
  • can discover cause and effect relationships
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are the PRACTICLE DISADVANTAGES to questionnaires?

A
  • low response rate could ruin representativeness
  • respondent could misunderstand questions
  • restrictive nature - can’t go beyond questions which causes low validity. only find out what you intended to find out - nothing new
  • not flexible - researcher stuck with same questions
  • not accurate s only researchers thoughts are explored and not subjects POV
  • lies - ‘right answerism’
  • data tends to be limited
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are the ETHICAL issues relating to questionnaires?

A
  • informed consent must be gained - in schools this is given by the head teacher (gatekeeper)
  • all parents must be informed
  • most ethical method
  • offer the respondents the choice to miss some questions that they do not want to answer
  • do not ask personal questions
  • confidentiality
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what are the THEORETICAL considerations of questionnaires?

positivists vs interpretivists

A

POSITIVISTS
- prefer questionnaires
- standardised questions which produce reliable data
- no personal contact
- maintains detachment and objectivity
- large sample makes generalisation

INTERPRETIVISTS
- dislike questionnaires
- fail to produce a valid picture
- can’t explain answers
- superficial snapshots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

use of surveys to study education

A
  • operationalise concepts for pupils to understand - cultural capital - material deprivation
  • suitable for age and ability of student
  • should do a piolet study
  • could be difficult to select a sample
  • fairly easy to distribute in schools
  • children could take them home to parents
  • peer pressure in a classroom setting
  • schools would have to give approval of the topic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is an imposition question?

A
  • interpretivists argue they only reflect the researchers meanings
  • research sets the questions so decide what’s important
  • only find out the things you asked for
  • closed-ended question - researcher selects the answers - researchers values instead of respondents
  • open-ended questions - researcher also catagorises answers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

practice considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:

A
  • sociologists dont need to go into schools - dont need a DBS
  • questionnaires can be dropped off at school to be given to teachers to give to children which creates easy access. though children could loose them which effects result rate.
  • emails - would have to ask head teacher. junk folder. may not have email
  • cost is cheap
  • make closed ending tick box - save time but not very valid
  • could catch parents at parents eve
  • busy working - teachers/parents labelled as not interested when really just working
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

ethical considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:

A
  • emails - would need to access personal information through schools
  • could have a harmful effect on schools if published
  • could potentially harm relationships between parents/teachers - teachers may blame parents for a child being unsuccessful
  • could potentially lead to labelling - ‘parents dont hep so dont care’
  • parents may think its intrusive - judging parenting skills
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

theoretical considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:

A
  • closed ending is reliable
  • could be representative but would need to give out more questionnaires and involve more schools
  • could pull a correlation to make it valid and representative - positivism - look at exam results to prove it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly