Test 1: Types of Studies and Data Collection Method

Question 1

What are the 4 types of studies?

Answer 1

Social survey, experimental research, field research, and indirect methods

Question 2

What is the definition of social survey?

Answer 2

Asking questions to a selected number of people, and using probability to draw conclusions on a population

Question 3

What is the definition of experimental research?

Answer 3

Attempting to control aspects of a situation by manipulating a variable to assess its effects

Question 4

What is the definition of field research?

Answer 4

To observe the flow of social life as it naturally takes place, and the context of behavior

Question 5

What is the definition of indirect methods?

Answer 5

To obtain data without the participation of respondents, in a non-disruptive way

Question 6

What are the data collection methods for social surveys?

Answer 6

Individually administered questionnaire
Face-to-face interview surveys (practical to ask more question, do follow-ups and remind the participant of the survey’s confidentiality)
Mail or e-mail surveys
Web-based survey
Phone survey

Question 7

What are the concerns with social surveys?

Answer 7

• Setting: giving a survey 2 min between the end of class will make people rush to finish it
• Instructions: being precise in language
• Format, ex.: too long = participants lose interest
• Interpretivism: being too vague, letting room for interpretation
• Language: using language which is too complicated for the average respondent of a survey

Question 8

What are the data collection methods for experimental research?

Answer 8

Laboratory experiment, field experiment, natural experiment, and internet-based experiments

Question 9

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 9

Formal research done in a controlled environment

Question 10

What is a field experiment?

Answer 10

A research that can be completed outside the lab, sometimes with the participant’s self-supervision

Question 11

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 11

The experimental conditions are determined by nature or other “out-of-control” factors

Question 12

What are the data collection methods for field research?

Answer 12

Nonparticipant observation, semi-participant observation, and participant observation

Question 13

What is nonparticipant observation?

Answer 13

Data is gathered by observing a certain group without them knowing about it

Question 14

What is semi-participant observation?

Answer 14

The researcher’s presence and intent are known, but a distance is maintained

Question 15

What is participant observation?

Answer 15

The researcher becomes a member of the group for the sake of comprehension

Question 16

What are the concerns over field research?

Answer 16

• Nonparticipant: interpretations are difficult to make without direct contact with the subjects, it is also impossible to obtain their consent
• Semi-participant and participant: an observer’s presence may alter the group’s activities and participation may involve personal danger and possibility to lose objectivity towards subjects
• In all cases: requires a lot of time and resources

Question 17

What are the concerns with experimental research?

Answer 17

• Hypothesis is challenging to formulate
• Some changes in variables are difficult to measure or predict
• Requires more time/resources to design
• Can be more difficult to recruit subjects
• Often requires keeping information from test subjects
• Often requires debriefing of test subjects following the study

Question 18

What are the data collection methods for indirect methods?

Answer 18

Unobstructive measurement, content analysis, and secondary data analysis

Question 19

What is unobstructive measurement?

Answer 19

Data is gathered without intruding in its natural process (ex.: archeology)

Question 20

What is content analysis?

Answer 20

The qualitative or quantitative analysis of text documents to identify patterns (ex.: historians use this)

Question 21

What is secondary data analysis?

Answer 21

Combining quantitative data from multiple databases (also called meta-analysis, the analysis of analyses)

Question 22

What are the concerns of indirect methods?

Answer 22

• Somewhat limited in scope
• Leaves lots of room for interpretation by researchers
• Easy to ignore certain texts and data in favor of hypothesis