2. research methods Flashcards
What is primary data?
data generated by the researcher during the actual process of research
e.g. questionnaires, interviews and observations
What is secondary data?
data that already exists
e.g. historical records, official statistics, government reports, diaries, autobiographies, novels, newspapers, films and recorded music
What is quantitative data?
data in the form of numbers
e.g. statistics
Why is quantitative data useful?
useful for measuring the strength of possible relationships between various factors, e.g. age and internet use, and ethnicity and educational attainment
What is qualitative data?
all types of data that are not in the form of numbers
e.g. observations, interviews, written sources, pictures
How is qualitative data useful?
it can often provide a richer and more in depth picture of social life than numbers provided by quantitative data
What is meant by reliability?
whether another researcher, if repeating research using the same method for the same research on the same or similar group would achieve the same results
What is meant by validity?
validity is concerned with notions of truth: how far the findings of research actually provide a true or genuine picture of what is being studied
What is positivism?
the view that society and human behaviour can be studied scientifically
- positivists look to provide solutions to social issues through using scientific research methods to find patterns in behaviour
What methods do positivists prefer?
quantitative methods and statistical tests in order to find a causal relationship between 2 factors
How did positivists conduct research?
using large-scale research methods, such as: questionnaires, official and non-official statistics, lab and field experiments, structured interviews and observations, content analysis
What do interpretivists believe?
they want to gain an understanding of the interpretations and meanings that influence an individual’s behaviour and how people see and understand the world around them
What is verstehen?
the understanding of human behaviour by putting yourself in the position of those being studied and trying to see things from their point of view
What type of data do interpretivists prefer?
qualitative including: participant and sometimes non-participant observation, informal and unstructured interviews and personal accounts
Give an example of an interpretivist study?
Atkinson (1978) study of suicide:
- argues that suicide statistics are simply social constructions reflecting the behaviour of coroners, doctors, relatives and their definitions of suicide
What is P.E.T?
Practical issues
Ethical issues
Theoretical issues
What is meant by practical issues?
the logistics of an experiment:
- funding, ease of access, time available, researcher’s skills
What is meant by ethical issues?
the conduct of the research:
- any harmful consequences, informed consent, accuracy and honesty
What is meant by theoretical issues?
whether a Marxist, Functionalist, Feminist, positivist or an interpretivist approach should be applied.
What are lab experiments?
they take place in a controlled environment and the researcher is able to control all of the variables that might influence a participant’s behaviour
- they manipulate the IV and measure changes in the participant’s behaviour
Strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments?
+ increased reliability
- decreased validity
What are field experiments?
take place in the participant’s natural environment, often without their knowledge
- researcher still manipulates the IV and measures the DV but cannot control any extraneous variables
- can only make assumptions based on correlations between one behaviour and another
Strengths and weaknesses of field experiments
+ increased validity
- decreased reliability
What is meant by operationalise?
making variables measurable and changeable
