Unit 2: Theory and Methods

Question 1

Structuralism

Answer 1

An approach focusing on the large-scale social structures in which people play defined roles

Question 2

Macro-micro approaches

Answer 2

Macro approaches focus on the large scale of whole societies, micro approaches on small-scale social interaction

Question 3

Correlation

Answer 3

When two variables are related to each other but causation cannot be proved

Question 4

Causation

Answer 4

Where a strict link can be proved between variables in a time sequences

Question 5

Interpretivism

Answer 5

Approaches that start at the level of the individual, focusing on small-scale phenomena and usually favouring qualitative methods

Question 6

Identity

Answer 6

How a person sees themselves, and how others see them
E.g. a girl and a student

Question 7

Perspectives

Answer 7

Ways of viewing social life from different points of view

Question 8

Consensus

Answer 8

Basic agreement on a set of shared values

Question 9

Conflict

Answer 9

Disagreement between groups with different interests

Question 10

Positivism

Answer 10

An approach to sociology based on studying society in a scientific manner

Question 11

Quantitative data

Answer 11

Information and facts that take a numerical form

Question 12

Bias

Answer 12

prejudice that distorts the truth when research is influenced by the values of the researcher or by decisions taken about the research, such as the sampling method used

Question 13

Objectivity

Answer 13

absence of bias; the researchers do not allow their values or feelings to influence the research

Question 14

Hypothesis

Answer 14

A theory or explanation at the start of research that the research is designed to test

Question 15

Pilot study

Answer 15

A small-scale test of a piece of a research project before the main research

Question 16

Survey population

Answer 16

All those to whom the findings of the study will apply and from which a sample is chosen

Question 17

Sampling frame

Answer 17

A list of members of the population from which the sample is chosen

Question 18

Generalisability

Answer 18

When the findings about a sample can be said to apply to a larger group of people sharing their characteristics

Question 19

Random sampling

Answer 19

When each person has an equal chance of being selected

Question 20

Stratified sampling

Answer 20

When the sampling frame is divided
E.g. by gender / age

Question 21

Quota sampling

Answer 21

Deciding in advance how many people with what characteristics to involve in the research and then identifying them

Question 22

Snowball sampling

Answer 22

When one respondent puts the researcher in contact with others

Question 23

Sampling methods

Answer 23

The different ways in which samples can be created

Question 24

Ethical issues

Answer 24

Issues that have a moral dimension, such as when harm or distress may be caused to the participants

Question 25

Questionnaires

Answer 25

A standardised list of questions used in social surveys

Question 26

Social surveys

Answer 26

The systematic collection of information from a sample, usually involving a questionnaire or structured interviews

Question 27

Open questions

Answer 27

The respondent can reply freely in their own words to give their responses

Question 28

Closed & pre-coded questions

Answer 28

The researcher has set out which responses can be recorded

Question 29

Respondent

Answer 29

Someone who provides information to researchers, usually used for surveys ad interviews rather than other methods

Question 30

Qualitative data

Answer 30

Information and facts that are not able to be presented in numerical form

Question 31

Self-completion questionnaires

Answer 31

Questionnaires that are completed by the respondent on their own, with the researcher not present

Question 32

Postal questionnaires

Answer 32

Self-completion questionnaires that are sent out and returned by post

Question 33

Response rate

Answer 33

The proportion of responses obtained out of a sample

Question 34

Structured interview

Answer 34

An interview in which the questions are standardised (same questions asked in same order) and the replies codified to produce quantitative data

Question 35

Telephone questionnaires

Answer 35

When the researcher reads the questions to a respondent over the telephone and records their answers

Question 36

Reliability

Answer 36

When the research can be repeated and similar responses will be obtained

Question 37

Validity

Answer 37

When the findings accurately reflect the reality that it is intended to capture

Question 38

Unstructured interview

Answer 38

An interview without set questions that usually involves probing into emotions and attitudes, leading to qualitative data

Question 39

Semi-structured interview

Answer 39

An interview with some standardised questions but allowing the researcher some flexibility on what is asked in what order

Question 40

Focus group

Answer 40

A group brought together to be interviewed on a particular topic (the focus); a special type of group interview

Question 41

Group interview

Answer 41

Any interview involving a group interviewed together

Question 42

Interviewer bias

Answer 42

Intentional or unintentional effect of the way that the interviewer asks questions or interprets answers

Question 43

Interviewer effect

Answer 43

Ways in which an interviewer may influence participants' responses, by their characteristics or appearance or by verbal cues E.g. facial expressions, tone of voice

Question 44

Subjectivity

Answer 44

Lack of objectivity The researcher's view influences the approach taken

Question 45

Laboratory experiment

Answer 45

Experiments taking place in a laboratory An artificial setting created for the research where external variables are excluded as far as possible

Question 46

Hawthorne / Observer Effect

Answer 46

The unintended effects of the researcher's presence on the behaviour or responses of participants

Question 47

Field experiments

Answer 47

Experiments that take place in the natural setting of the real world rather than in a laboratory

Question 48

Case study

Answer 48

A detailed in-depth study of one group or event

Question 49

Longitudinal survey

Answer 49

A survey taking place at intervals over a long period

Question 50

Overt participant observation

Answer 50

When the group being studied is aware that research is taking place and of who the researcher is

Question 51

Covert participation observation

Answer 51

Group being researched is unaware of the research and is deceived into thinking the researcher is a real member of the group

Question 52

Non-participant observation

Answer 52

When the researcher observes a group but does not participate in what it is doing

Question 53

Content analysis

Answer 53

A method of studying communication and the media Involves classifying the content and counting frequencies

Question 54

Triangulation

Answer 54

Use of two or more methods in the same research project

Question 55

Representativeness

Answer 55

The degree to which research findings about one group can be applied to a larger group or similar groups

Question 56

Primary data

Answer 56

Information collected by the sociologist at first hand

Question 57

Secondary data

Answer 57

Information collected earlier by others and used later on by a sociologist

Question 58

Official statistics

Answer 58

Produced by government and official agencies

Question 59

Non-official statistics

Answer 59

Produced by other organisations E.g. charities and think tanks

Question 60

Trend

Answer 60

A change over time in a particular direction

Question 61

Comparative study

Answer 61

In research, looking at two or more different groups or events in terms of their similarities and differences

Question 62

Historical documents

Answer 62

A wide range of documents from the past used as sources of information by sociologists