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Theory and Methods Flashcards

need to do observations and secondary sources still (57 cards)

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1
Q

What is Validity?

A

Truthfulness. Is the data a genuine and true picture of society? Qualitive methods are usually more valid.

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2
Q

What is Reliability?

A

Repeatability. Is it possible to repeat the research and get the same results? Quantitive methods are usually more reliable and objective.

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3
Q

What is Representativeness?

A

Generalisation. Is the group you are studying an accurate representation of people in society? You need diverse/varied groups to be truly representative.

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4
Q

What do Positivists prefer?

A

Quantitative data and clear patterns. They like reliability and representativeness.

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5
Q

What do Interpretivists prefer?

A

Qualitative data and meanings. They like validity.

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6
Q

What is a Lab experiment?

A

A sociological study that takes place in a lab/specialised and controlled environment.

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7
Q

What are the Practical advantages of Lab experiments?

A

Funding bodies will fund ethical lab experiments. They are easy and step by step. Anyone can do it as they don’t require specific characteristics.

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8
Q

What are the Ethical advantages of Lab experiments?

A

They require informed consent. Lab experiments rarely ask participants to do anything illegal. When they DO break ethical guidelines (eg. Milgram), the findings usually outweigh ethical issues.

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9
Q

What are the Theoretical advantages of Lab experiments?

A

Reliable - controlled environment so they are easy to replicate. Personal feelings have no effect because it is a detached method.
They are preferred by Positivists.

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10
Q

What are the Practical disadvantages of Lab experiments?

A

Society is very complex and hard to control. Can’t study events of the past. Time consuming, people can’t just drop their jobs and lives for an experiment. Expensive unless paid for by a funding body.

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11
Q

What are the Ethical disadvantages of Lab experiments?

A

Some groups may find it difficult to give consent, eg. children. Lab experiments can easily decieve because people trust authority without question. It could harm participants, eg. Milgram’s study.

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12
Q

What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Lab experiments?

A

Validity, as it is focused on quick statistical answers, there is no answer as to WHY people are acting the way they are.
Hawthorne Effect if participants are aware they are being studied they may change their behaviour according to what they think the researcher wants.
Representativeness, lab experiments usually only study small scale samples.

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13
Q

What are Field experiments?

A

Experiments done in a subject’s natural surroundings. Participants are usually unaware they are being studied so there is no Hawthorne Effect.

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14
Q

What are the Practical advantages of Field experiments?

A

Pre-existing setting, it is cheaper and quicker.

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15
Q

What are the Ethical advantages of Field experiments?

A

Confidentiality, there is no need to collect any information about people’s identities, so they remain safe. It doesn’t intrude on people’s routines as it happens in their natural environment.

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16
Q

What are the Theoretical advantages of Field experiments?

A

Validity, it is truthful to how people would act in their real lives.

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17
Q

What are the Practical disadvantages of Field experiments?

A

Time, it could take a lot of time to get results when people are just living their lives as they might not interact with the experiment.
Can’t control all variables as it is real life.

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18
Q

What are the Ethical disadvantages of Field experiments?

A

Consent, subjects aren’t aware they are being studied so they can’t give consent.
Covert, researchers can easily conceal their identity and lie to participants.

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19
Q

What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Field experiments?

A

Unreliable, data is very hard to repeat as it isn’t a controlled environment.
Unrepresentative, usually takes place on a small scale so we cannot make generalisations.

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20
Q

What is the Comparative Method?

A

A ‘thought’ experiment carried out in the researcher’s mind and not with any real subjects, it can include past and present groups.

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21
Q

What are the Practical advantages of the Comparative Method?

A

Cheap, it isn’t a physical experiment.
Quick, data is already available it just needs to be analysed.

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22
Q

What are the Ethical advantages of the Comparative Method?

A

No ethics as no people are involved.

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23
Q

What are the Theoretical advantages of the Comparative Method?

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A

Reliable, easy to repeat especially over time.
Representative, the study can gather information across a large population.

24
Q

What are the Practical disadvantages of the Comparative Method?

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A

Access, some data may be restricted, eg. Durkheim’s suicide study.
Possible misunderstandings, noone is there to clarify the data.

25
What are the Ethical disadvantages of the Comparative Method?
No ethical issues as there are no people involved.
26
What are the Theoretical disadvantages of the Comparative Method?
Validity, statistics are impacted by bias as it takes place in the researcher's mind.
27
What is a Questionnaire?
A form of social survey that includes closed and open ended questions. They are used to test ideas about cause and effect relationships.
28
What are the Practical advantages of Questionnaires?
Quick, cheap and efficient, can gather large amounts of data quickly. Can be processed quickly to find patterns. Require no training.
29
What are the Ethical advantages of Questionnaires?
Questions are predetermined and participants can choose not to answer if they don't feel comfortable. Details are kept anonymous.
30
What are the Theoretical advantages of Questionnaires?
Reliability, can easily be repeated and produce similar results. Representativeness, they collect data from large numbers of people and are therefore likely to be representative of the wider population.
31
What are the Practical disadvantages of Questionnaires?
Data can be limited or superficial as questionnaires are usually short. Money, sometimes incentives like prize draws are necessary but costly. Postal questionnaires may not be completed. Questions are fixed so no follow-up questions can be asked. Can lead to miscommunications as the complex language could confuse participants.
32
What are the Ethical disadvantages of Questionnaires?
Can't create a rapport as it is a detached method, so participants may not open up as much as they could.
33
What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Questionnaires?
'Right answerism', participants may lie, not know, forget, not understand etc. They might try to please the researcher, which can affect validity, eg. Schofield "are you a virgin?" "not yet." Low response rate, few people will actually complete them, less representative.
34
What are the 4 types of Interviews?
Structured, semi-structured, unstructured and group.
35
What are the Practical advantages of Structured Interviews?
Quick and cheap. Training interviewers is straightforward. Closed ended questions are easily analysed because they provide quantitative data.
36
What are the Ethical advantages of Structured Interviews?
Detachment, structure means interviewees won't be impacted by ethical issues. Predetermined questions, less risk of asking upsetting questions.
37
What are the Theoretical advantages of Structured Interviews?
Response rate, quick and large amounts of data. Reliability, data is reliable as all questions are the same so it can be repeated easily. Validity, closed ended predetermined questions so data is measurable and quantitative.
38
What are the Practical disadvantages of Structured Interviews?
Inflexible, questions have to be made in advance, can't ask follow-up questions. Cost, whilst they are cheap they are more expensive than questionnaires.
39
What are the Ethical disadvantages of Structured Interviews?
Not suitable for personal or sensitive topics as they can't create a rapport.
40
What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Structured Interviews?
Response rate, the people who engage with it are people with free time. People with jobs and busy lives aren't doing interviews, so they are not representative. Validity, little freedom to elaborate or explain questions.
41
What are the Practical advantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Flexible, increased validity. Can explore unfamiliar topics.
42
What are the Ethical advantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Rapport and sensitivity, the interviewer can create a rapport and encourage the interviewee to open up. Increased validity.
43
What are the Theoretical advantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Interviewer can speak about topics they feel are important, producing fresh insights from interviewees. Lack of structure means interviewers can check understanding. Flexible, data is more valid.
44
What are the Practical disadvantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Time and cost, unstructured interviews take longer than other research methods. Training, interviewers need to know which information is important and they need good interpersonal communication skills.
45
What are the Ethical disadvantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Harm, distressing questions could come up. Interviewers could cross professional boundaries and become too friendly.
46
What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Unstructured Interviews?
Low representativeness due to a small numbers of participants. Reliability, unstructured interviews aren't standardised and therefore cant be replicated. Quantification, open ended questions make it difficult to quantify. Validity, interactions between interviewee and interviewer can distort information.
47
What are the Practical advantages of Group Interviews?
Good for observing group dynamics and getting initial ideas to look into later.
48
What are the Ethical advantages of Group Interviews?
Feel more comfortable among peers and may be more likely to open up.
49
What are the Theoretical advantages of Group Interviews?
Group all stimulate each other's ideas and produce more valid data.
50
What are the Practical disadvantages of Group Interviews?
1/2 individuals may dominate discussions, researchers must be able to keep them focused, data can be difficult to analyse.
51
What are the Ethical disadvantages of Group Interviews?
People may not open up due to fear of judgement.
52
What are the Theoretical disadvantages of Group Interviews?
Peer pressure to conform to norms can affect validity.
53
What are the 2 types of Observations?
Non-participant and Participant Observation.
54
What is Non-participant Observation?
When a researcher studies a group without taking part, eg. using a 2 way mirror.
55
What is Participant Observation?
When a researcher joins the group/community over a period of time and tries to become accepted.
56
What's the difference between Covert and Overt Observation?
Covert - Research is carried out undercover, with the researcher's identity and goal hidden from the group. Overt - The researcher asks for permission/consent before conducting the research.
57
Does research always fit into the categories of Overt and Covert Observation?
No. For example, Whyte's study was semi-overt, he revealed his purpose to a key member of the group but not others.

Sociology (9 decks)

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