2.1 RESEARCH METHODS: CHOOSING Flashcards
Quantitative data:
-Numerical facts and statistics
-Questionnaires, structured interviews
-Positivists approach
Qualitative data:
-Non-numerical (words) e.g. diaries, documents, transcripts
-looking at the feelings and experiences of people
-Interpretivist approach
what is primary data?
-the researcher collects information themselves
-e.g. surveys, questionaries, focus groups, participant observations
what is secondary data?
-data already collected beforehand (already exists) that is used by sociologists, easy to compare and analyse- reliable
-e.g. statistics
field experiments:
-primary
-quantitative
paintings:
-secondary
-qualitative
exam league tables:
-secondary
-quantitative
school reports:
-secondary
-qualitative
divorce statistics:
-secondary
-quantitative
factors influencing choice of methods- practical issues:
-time and money
-requirements of funding bodies
-personal skills & characteristics
-subject matter
-research opportunities
time & money (practical issue)
-the funding necessary to conduct the research
-decide what methods take longer e.g. participant observations
-questionaries are cheap and quick
requirements of funding bodies (practical issue)
-limited by those funding the research
-need different types of data e.g. Gov= statistical data
personal skills & characteristics (practical issue)
-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
subject matter (practical issue)
-requires respect of different opinions, feelings ; can affect results depending on how sensitive/ difficult the study is
research opportunities (practical issue)
-some cases research opportunities may occur unexpectedly
-limited to when you can conduct the research
factors influencing choice of methods- ethical issues
-informed consent
-confidentiality & privacy
-harm to research participants
-vulnerable groups
-covert research
informed consent (ethical issue)
-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)
confidentiality & privacy (ethical issue)
-all participant identities should be kept hidden and confidential to prevent any negative effects
harm to research participants (ethical issue)
-no psychological or physical harm can happen towards any of the participants
vulnerable groups (ethical issue)
-extra care/attention towards groups within age, gender, disability, ethnicity, physical/mental health needs
covert research (ethical issue)
-researcher goes undercover to keep identity hidden from all participants but can create deceit, lack of consent given
Validity:
-If the data provides a true and accurate picture/description which is close to real life
Reliability:
-When different researchers can repeat experiments and gain the same results
Representativeness:
-has to be an accurate sample which is typical to the population from which it is drawn
methodological perspective:
-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
factors influencing choice of topic:
-the sociologist’s perspective
-society’s values
-practical factors
-funding bodies
the sociologist’s perspective
-based on their interests will influence them on what topic to study due to their view on society
society’s values
-what society wants to focus from wider society influences e.g. the rise of feminism
practical factors
-might not be able to access the area you wish to research
funding bodies
-most research requires funding, so certain agencies may determine the topic to be investigated
what is triangulation?
-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)
what are the advantages of a hypothesis?
-gives guidance to know what to look for (more understanding) to get the best evidence
-more specific
-favoured by Positivists.
what are the what are the advantages of an aim?
-open-ended and flexible to research more things
-not limited to one area
-favoured by Interpretivists
what is a pilot survey and why might sociologists use it?
-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.
what is operationalisation?
-the process by which a sociologist defines or measures key variables precisely e.g. social class might be measured in terms of occupation.
what is the purpose of sampling?
-to ensure research is representative e.g. a balance of gender/sampling
what is representativeness?
-it’s if the sample reflects the population you are researching so then it can be generalised
what is a sampling frame?
-the list of members of all the population wanting to research
-e.g. a database
what is stratified (stratified - random) sampling?
-split the sample down into groups (e.g. gender, class, age) and randomly select from these groups.
what is snowball sampling?
- using personal contacts to build up a sample
(researcher picks people to participate and then they invite others to join them)
what is opportunity sampling?
-selecting those who are conveniently available to the researcher.
why do interpretivists not see representativeness as important?
-they believe representativeness isn’t desirable and should aim for validity instead.
what are reasons for using a non-representative sample
-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)
