2.1 RESEARCH METHODS: CHOOSING

Question 1

Quantitative data:

Answer 1

-Numerical facts and statistics
-Questionnaires, structured interviews
-Positivists approach

Question 2

Qualitative data:

Answer 2

-Non-numerical (words) e.g. diaries, documents, transcripts
-looking at the feelings and experiences of people
-Interpretivist approach

Question 3

what is primary data?

Answer 3

-the researcher collects information themselves
-e.g. surveys, questionaries, focus groups, participant observations

Question 4

what is secondary data?

Answer 4

-data already collected beforehand (already exists) that is used by sociologists, easy to compare and analyse- reliable
-e.g. statistics

Question 5

field experiments:

Answer 5

-primary
-quantitative

Question 6

paintings:

Answer 6

-secondary
-qualitative

Question 7

exam league tables:

Answer 7

-secondary
-quantitative

Question 8

school reports:

Answer 8

-secondary
-qualitative

Question 9

divorce statistics:

Answer 9

-secondary
-quantitative

Question 10

factors influencing choice of methods- practical issues:

Answer 10

-time and money
-requirements of funding bodies
-personal skills & characteristics
-subject matter
-research opportunities

Question 11

time & money (practical issue)

Answer 11

-the funding necessary to conduct the research
-decide what methods take longer e.g. participant observations
-questionaries are cheap and quick

Question 12

requirements of funding bodies (practical issue)

Answer 12

-limited by those funding the research
-need different types of data e.g. Gov= statistical data

Question 13

personal skills & characteristics (practical issue)

Answer 13

-each researcher is different so each need: good memory, patience
be able to get good observations
-e.g. cover researcher has to be able to blend in

Question 14

subject matter (practical issue)

Answer 14

-requires respect of different opinions, feelings ; can affect results depending on how sensitive/ difficult the study is

Question 15

research opportunities (practical issue)

Answer 15

-some cases research opportunities may occur unexpectedly
-limited to when you can conduct the research

Question 16

factors influencing choice of methods- ethical issues

Answer 16

-informed consent
-confidentiality & privacy
-harm to research participants
-vulnerable groups
-covert research

Question 17

informed consent (ethical issue)

Answer 17

-participants should be able to refuse being researched and have a right to know what the research is about in detail
(have an open and honest researcher)

Question 18

confidentiality & privacy (ethical issue)

Answer 18

-all participant identities should be kept hidden and confidential to prevent any negative effects

Question 19

harm to research participants (ethical issue)

Answer 19

-no psychological or physical harm can happen towards any of the participants

Question 20

vulnerable groups (ethical issue)

Answer 20

-extra care/attention towards groups within age, gender, disability, ethnicity, physical/mental health needs

Question 21

covert research (ethical issue)

Answer 21

-researcher goes undercover to keep identity hidden from all participants but can create deceit, lack of consent given

Question 22

Validity:

Answer 22

-If the data provides a true and accurate picture/description which is close to real life

Question 23

Reliability:

Answer 23

-When different researchers can repeat experiments and gain the same results

Question 24

Representativeness:

Answer 24

-has to be an accurate sample which is typical to the population from which it is drawn

Question 25

methodological perspective:

Answer 25

-combining of different research methods to build up a fuller picture of what is being studied
-e.g. positivists= field experiments and interpretivists=participant observations

Question 26

factors influencing choice of topic:

Answer 26

-the sociologist’s perspective
-society’s values
-practical factors
-funding bodies

Question 27

the sociologist’s perspective

Answer 27

-based on their interests will influence them on what topic to study due to their view on society

Question 28

society’s values

Answer 28

-what society wants to focus from wider society influences e.g. the rise of feminism

Question 29

practical factors

Answer 29

-might not be able to access the area you wish to research

Question 30

funding bodies

Answer 30

-most research requires funding, so certain agencies may determine the topic to be investigated

Question 31

what is triangulation?

Answer 31

-the mixing of data or methods so that diverse viewpoints or standpoints cast light upon a topic
-what isa e.g. interviews cause pressure but questionares cancels it out (easier to complete)

Question 32

what are the advantages of a hypothesis?

Answer 32

-gives guidance to know what to look for (more understanding) to get the best evidence
-more specific
-favoured by Positivists.

Question 33

what are the what are the advantages of an aim?

Answer 33

-open-ended and flexible to research more things
-not limited to one area
-favoured by Interpretivists

Question 34

what is a pilot survey and why might sociologists use it?

Answer 34

-a small scale replica of a survey done to find out if the main survey will work
-to ensure sampling is correct
-to help train people to conduct research and fix problems with the first sample.

Question 35

what is operationalisation?

Answer 35

-the process by which a sociologist defines or measures key variables precisely e.g. social class might be measured in terms of occupation.

Question 36

what is the purpose of sampling?

Answer 36

-to ensure research is representative e.g. a balance of gender/sampling

Question 37

what is representativeness?

Answer 37

-it’s if the sample reflects the population you are researching so then it can be generalised

Question 38

what is a sampling frame?

Answer 38

-the list of members of all the population wanting to research
-e.g. a database

Question 39

what is stratified (stratified - random) sampling?

Answer 39

-split the sample down into groups (e.g. gender, class, age) and randomly select from these groups.

Question 40

what is snowball sampling?

Answer 40

• using personal contacts to build up a sample
  (researcher picks people to participate and then they invite others to join them)

Question 41

what is opportunity sampling?

Answer 41

-selecting those who are conveniently available to the researcher.

Question 42

why do interpretivists not see representativeness as important?

Answer 42

-they believe representativeness isn’t desirable and should aim for validity instead.

Question 43

what are reasons for using a non-representative sample

Answer 43

-you don’t know the characteristics of the group you want to study
-might be impossible (can’t find representative sample)
-people may refuse to participate (not representative)