2.1 Intro to Research Methods Flashcards
What is PRIMARY DATA?
Information collected by sociologists for their own purposes. These can include trying to gain a first-hand picture of a group or society to test hypothesis.
Examples of PRIMARY data
Social Surveys (written questionnaires or interviews), Participant observations, Experiments
Advantage of PRIMARY data
Primary data is advantageous because it can gather precisely for the needs of the hypothesis/ study.
Disadvantage of PRIMARY data
But it can be very time consuming and costly.
What is SECONDARY DATA?
Information that has been created by someone else for their own purposes, which Sociologists then use for their own research.
Examples of SECONDARY data
Official statistics (produced by the government), Documents (letters, diaries, newspapers etc.
Advantage of SECONDARY data
Secondary data is advantageous as it can be a quick and cheap way of doing research.
Disadvantage of SECONDARY data
But the original researcher may not have researched exactly what is needed.
What is QUALITATIVE data?
Gives you a feel for what something is like, for example what it feels like to get divorced. This type of data can be collected by using methods such as participant observations, where you can get a sense of what it feels like to be a member of a group. In-depth interview can also gather this type of data and give us an insight into what it is like to be in that persons ‘shoes’.
What is QUANTITATIVE DATA?
Information in numerical form. An example of quantitative data would include official statistics on how many girls pass 5 or more GCSEs.
Information collected from opinion polls and market researchers often comes in the form of quantitative data – e.g. the number of the electorate intending to vote.
Examples of QUALITATIVE data
Word based data:
• Observations
• Diaries
• Unstructured interviews
• Group interviews
• Field experiments
• Open ended questionnaires
Examples of QUANTITATIVE data
Number based data:
• Lab experiments
• Official Statistics • Closed questionnaires
• Structured interviews
QUALITATIVE: who likes it?
INTERPRETIVISTS:
Validity- as they have the chance to tell the truth
QUANTITATIVE: who likes it?
POSITIVISTS
Reliable- easy to repeat over and over.
Representative- as it can be generalised to a larger proportion
PRACTICAL factors influencing choice of method
Time and Money
Requirements of Funding Bodies
Personal Skills/Characteristics
Subject Matter
Research Opportunities
ETHICAL factors influencing choice of method
INFORMED CONSENT
CONFIDENTIALITY AND ANONYMITY
HARM TO PARTICIPANTS
VULNERABLE GROUOS
COVERT RESEARCH
THEORETICAL factors influencing choice of method
VALIDITY
RELIABILITY
REPRESENTATIVENESS
METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: Positivists
POSITIVISTS - prefer quantitative data and seek to discover patterns of behaviour and see sociology as a science. Functionalists and Marxists take a positivist approach they see society as macro/ structural.
Positivists like their research to be reliable and representative
Positivist:
Scientific
Likes experiments.
Likes data that can give them pattens to look at like graphs.
See sociology as a science.
Likes Quantitative data.
METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: Interpretivists
INTERPRETIVISTS - prefer qualitative data because they seek to understand social actors’ meanings and reject the idea that sociology can be scientific.
Interactionists favour interpretivist approaches, they take a micro level view of society and so focus on small scale.
Interpretivists value validity.
Interpretivist:
• Not Scientific
Ikes interviews
Likes data that gives them deep insight into feelings of the participant.
• Sociology is not a science.
Likes Qualitative data.
factors influencing choice of TOPIC
SOCIOLOGISTS PERSPECTIVE
SOCIETY’S VALUES
PRACTICAL FACTORS
FUNDING BODIES
Process of Research
Hypothesis
Research Method
Pilot Study
Sample
Research
Analysis of Data
What is a SAMPLE?
A group that represent the population of your study, usually selected from a sampling frame (full list of population e.g. registers)
Purpose of SAMPLING?
Generalisations: general statements and conclusion that apply to the population
What is RANDOM SAMPLING?
Randomly selecting participants e.g. out of a hat or randomly-generated choice by computer.
Each member of the target population has an equal chance of being in the sample.
What is QUASI-RANDOM/SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING?
For example, choosing every 4th name. Still random, but not every name on the sampling
frame has an equal chance of being chosen.
What is STRATIFIED-RANDOM SAMPLING?
Method of sampling that involves the division of a population into smaller sub-groups known
as strata. E.g. colour of starburst
What is QUOTA SAMPLING?
Quota sampling is defined as a non-probability sampling method in which researchers create
a sample involving individuals that represent a population (e.g. Choosing more red as more
red in the packet)
What is SNOWBALL SAMPLING?
Snowball sampling is where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances.
What is OPPORTUNITY SAMPLING?
Opportunity sampling is where a researcher selects participants based on their availability
e.g. standing on the street asking passers by to join the research. This is a quick and easy way to access a sample
