types of data, method and research design

Question 1

research methods

Answer 1

techniques for collecting data such as interviews or questionnaires

Question 2

ethical

Answer 2

relating to moral principles that state what is right and wrong

Question 3

research participants

Answer 3

the people who researcher’s study

Question 4

data

Answer 4

information that a researcher draws on and/or generates during a study

Question 5

primary data

Answer 5

new information produced by the researcher during the research process

Question 6

secondary data

Answer 6

pre-existing information used by the researcher

Question 7

quantitative data

Answer 7

information in the form of statistics

Question 8

qualitative data

Answer 8

all data (such as quotations from interview participants) that is not in numerical form

Question 9

official statistics

Answer 9

numerical data produced by government departments and agencies

Question 10

validity

Answer 10

data are valid if they represent a true or accurate measurement

Question 11

reliability

Answer 11

data are reliable when different researchers using the same methods obtain the same results

Question 12

positivism

Answer 12

an approach based partly on the methods used in the natural sciences. It favours quantitative data.

Question 13

interpretivism

Answer 13

an approach that explores people’s lived experiences and the meanings they attach to their actions. It favours qualitative data.

Question 14

correlation

Answer 14

a statistical link between two or more variables or factors

Question 15

generalisation

Answer 15

a statement based on a relatively small group which is then applied to a larger group

Question 16

representative sample

Answer 16

a subgroup that is typical of its population

Question 17

population

Answer 17

the group under study from which a sample is selected

Question 18

social survey

Answer 18

systematic collection of the same type of data from a fairly large number of people

Question 19

hypothesis

Answer 19

a testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 20

self-completion questionnaire

Answer 20

a questionnaire that the respondent fills in

Question 21

closed questions

Answer 21

questions in which the range of responses is fixed by the researcher

Question 22

open questions

Answer 22

questions which allow the respondent to answer in their own words

Question 23

ethical issue

Answer 23

a concern with morals and how to conduct morally acceptable research

Question 24

pilot study

Answer 24

a small-scale study to check the suitability of the methods to be used in the main study

Question 25

operationalise

Answer 25

translate abstract concepts into a form that can be measured

Question 26

coded

Answer 26

answers are classified into various categories

Question 27

response rate

Answer 27

the percentage of the sample that participates in the research

Question 28

sample

Answer 28

a subgroup of research participants from the larger group to be studied

Question 29

replication

Answer 29

repeating an experiment or research study under the same conditions

Question 30

structured interview

Answer 30

a questionnaire which the interviewer reads out and fills in

Question 31

interviewer bias

Answer 31

the effect of the interviewer on a research participant's answers

Question 32

interview bias

Answer 32

the effect of the interview situation itself on a participant's responses

Question 33

social desirability effect

Answer 33

bias resulting from a research participant's desire to reflect in their responses what is generally seen as the right way to behave

Question 34

laboratory experiment

Answer 34

an experiment conducted in a specially designed setting

Question 35

field experiment

Answer 35

an experiment conducted in everyday social settings

Question 36

variables

Answer 36

factors that affect behaviour. Variables can vary, for example, temperature can increase or decrease

Question 37

experimental effect

Answer 37

any unintended impact of the experiment on a participant

Question 38

experimenter bias

Answer 38

the unintended effect of the experimenter on a participant

Question 39

informed consent

Answer 39

the participant only agrees to participate in the research once the sociologist has explained fully what the research is about and why it is being undertaken

Question 40

Hawthorne effect

Answer 40

changes in participants' behaviour resulting from an awareness that they are taking part in an experiment

Question 41

non-directive interviewing

Answer 41

an interviewing technique that seeks to avoid leading participants to answer in particular ways

Question 42

rapport

Answer 42

a friendly, trusting and understanding relationship

Question 43

moderator

Answer 43

an interviewer who guides focus group discussions

Question 44

participant observation

Answer 44

a qualitative method in which the researcher gathers data by joining a group and taking part in its activities

Question 45

non-participant observation

Answer 45

an observation-based study in which the researcher doesn't join those they are studying

Question 46

key informant

Answer 46

a member of the group being studies who provides important information and often sponsors the researcher

Question 47

observer effect

Answer 47

this occurs in an observation-based study when the observer's known presence changes the behaviour of the people being studied

Question 48

objectivity

Answer 48

a value-free, impartial, unbiased view

Question 49

observation schedule

Answer 49

instructions which tell the observer what to look for and how to record it

Question 50

ethical guidelines

Answer 50

guidelines provided by social science organisations and universities on how to conduct morally acceptable research covering issues such as informed consent and confidentiality

Question 51

trend

Answer 51

the general direction in which statistics on something (such as the divorce rate) change or move over time

Question 52

personal documents

Answer 52

letters, diaries, notes and photographs

Question 53

historical documents

Answer 53

documents from the past

Question 54

semiology

Answer 54

the analysis of signs

Question 55

research ethics committees

Answer 55

bodies in universities that scrutinise research proposals