11. RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards
What are the 4 types of data?
Primary
Secondary
Quantitative
Qualitative
Define RELIABILITY
the repeatability of an experiment
would the results be the same
Define REPRESENTATIVNESS
how far the research represents the whole of society or group.
Define VALIDITY
how far the results give a true or genuine picture (to real life)
POSITIVISM:
What are they and what to they like?
Macro approach
Likes structural theory’s like marxism and functionalism
They like quantitative, generalisable data
INTERPRETIVISM:
What are they and what do they like?
Micro approach
interactionism
like qualitative data and validity
PRACTICAL ISSUES:
what do they consist of?
Time
Money
Funding
Personal Factors like age
ETHICAL ISSUES:
what do they consist of?
Legality and Immorality Consent Deception Harm Vulnerable Groups
THEORETICAL ISSUES:
what do they consist of
Reliability
Representativeness
Validity
SAMPLING:
Random Sampling
What is it and how do you carry it out?
Pulling names out of a hat
Adv: cheap quick easy and equal
Dis: not representative
SAMPLING:
Stratified Random
What is it and how do you carry it out?
Categories that reflect the society.
EG if 2.5% of the society are indian, then 2.5% of the sample are indian.
Adv: all groups represented
Dis: Costs more
SAMPLING:
Systematic
What is it and how do you carry it out?
Every nth person is chosen eg every 3rd person.
Adv: easy and cheap
Dis: if you change n it will be completely different so it’s not representative
SAMPLING:
Opportunities
What is it and how do you carry it out?
Selecting people who are available at the time
Adv: quick convenient economic
Dis: Unrepresentative and biased
SAMPLING:
Snowball
What is it and how do you carry it out?
Gain access to initial contact and who help the researcher recruit more sample people.
Adv: allows access to hard to reach groups
Dis: lack of control, limited access, some groups won’t want to be found
PRIMARY METHODS:
Questionnaires:
Advantages
P = not time consuming, cheap, large sample size, large amounts of data E = anonymous response, informed consent R= large sample R= reliable, standardised and no researcher influence T= Positivists