C2 Research Methods (AO2/AO3 & exam skills) Flashcards
What are some of the advantages of using questionnaires in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/124/q_image_thumb.jpg?1472803588)
Questionnaire = A list of standardised questions either on paper or increasingly online
- Coding & quantification: The use of pre-coded questions makes it easier to quantify data
- Ease of completion: A closed questionnaire is relatively quick & easy to complete
- Anonymity: May improve validity of collected data
- Sampling: Contact and question large amounts of people quickly, easily and efficiently
- Reliability: Easy to standardise - everyone answers the same question
E.I. - WHY might questionnaires be used by sociologists adopting a positivist approach? WHY might anonymous questionnaires be more valid? WHY might the use of questionnaires help sociologists to make generalisations about their target population?
What are some of the disadvantages of using questionnaires in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/125/q_image_thumb.jpg?1472806143)
Questionnaire = A list of standardised questions either on paper or increasingly online
- Validity: Difficult to examine complex issues and opinions in depth and detail
- Lacks flexibility: Cannot ask follow-up questions or ask for clarification
- Response rate: For postal questionnaires may be low
- The meaning problem: The same word can mean different things to different respondents
- Imposition problem: Where the researcher risks forcing their own views or framework on the people being researched
E.I. - WHY might questionnaires have a low response rate? WHY might the use of questionnaires create an ‘imposition problem’? WHY is it important to ‘pilot’ a questionnaire?
What examples can be used in an exam answer to illustrate the use of questionnaires?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/126/q_image_thumb.png?1472807312)
►Watch the video extract below for some examples:
Identify & explain one reason why the researchers described in the item below decided to use self completion questionnaires as a method of research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/X-UFY05Jde4?t=7m14s
Identify & explain one reason why the researchers described in the item below decided to use semi-structured interviews as a method of research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/pRH1IlesCKw?t=7m33s
Identify & Explain one reason why the researcher described in the item below decided to use participant observation as a method of research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/8woKYEHqkcE?t=6m5s
What are some of the advantages of using unstructured & semi-structured interviews in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/151/q_image_thumb.png?1472807410)
Unstructured interviews = These interviews are more like a conversation, with the questions and answers not following any fixed predetermined path
Semi-structured interviews = These interviews have less flexibility than unstructured interviews and less rigidity than structured interviews
- Give more validity and depth than structured interviews/questionnaires
- Better understanding of things from the respondent’s point of view (verstehen)
- Allows for elaboration of responses
- Greater flexibility: can lead to the development of new ideas
E.I. WHY would these methods be preferred by sociologists adopting an interpretivist approach? WHY might these methods be particularly useful for ‘exploratory’ research? WHY might these methods improve validity?
What are some of the disadvantages of using unstructured & semi-structured interviews in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/152/q_image_thumb.png?1472810084)
Unstructured interviews = These interviews are more like a conversation, with the questions and answers not following any fixed predetermined path
Semi-structured interviews = These interviews have less flexibility than unstructured interviews and less rigidity than structured interviews
- Less reliable than structured interviews/questionnaires
- Less transparent than structured interviews/questionnaires (the selection of data may lead to an imposition problem)
- More time consuming and expensive
- Samples tend to be small with non-standardised questions making generalisations and production of statistics difficult
- Interviewer bias [interviews may give ‘socially expected’ answers].
E.I. WHY are these types of interviews less reliable? WHY might the selection of interview data lead to an ‘imposition problem’? WHY are these methods time consuming and expensive?
What examples can be used in an exam answer to illustrate the use of unstructured interviews & semi-structured interviews?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/153/q_image_thumb.png?1472810329)
►Watch the video extract below for some examples:
What are the most effective ways of revising subject knowledge?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/155/q_image_thumb.png?1484409087)
Use the ANSWER method below:
- Ask ‘How’’ and ‘Why’ questions when revising and try to connect ideas (this method is called ‘elaboration’)
- No cramming. Distribute your revision over time and used a spaced system of repetition
- Switch topics regularly when revising (this is called ‘interleaving’ and it will help you to identify connections between different topics)
- Words and visuals. Combine words and visual representations to create two ways of remembering key ideas (this is called ‘dual coding’)
- Examples. Your brain will find it easier to recall abstract ideas if you can relate concepts and theories to concrete examples
- Recall what you know. Scientific evidence suggests that ‘retrieval practice’ is much more effective than rereading and highlighting. Test yourself as much as possible and complete as many practice exam questions as you can. Ask your teacher for feedback on your practice
WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE TECHNIQUES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPxSzxylRCI
Identify and explain one reason why the researchers below decided to ask the women to keep diaries
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/k6WnMPClRi8?t=1m59s
Identify & explain one reason why the researcher described in the item below decided to use an ethnographic approach in his research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/SJdemFNEkYw?t=1m26s
https://youtu.be/iiWugIylBYc?t=22s
What are some of the advantages of using structured interviews in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/158/q_image_thumb.png?1472810546)
Structured interviews = An interview where a set of identical questions are asked in exactly the same way to each interviewee. It is basically a questionnaire read out and the answers recorded by the interviewer
- Standardised data collection. (easy to compare respondents)
- High reliability (easy to replicate)
- Useful for large numbers (quick, cheap)
- The presence of the researcher can improve response rates
E.I. - WHY is this type of interview the easiest to replicate? WHY might this type of interview be the most practical to use?
What are some of the disadvantages of using structured interviews in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/159/q_image_thumb.png?1472811547)
Structured interviews = An interview where a set of identical questions are asked in exactly the same way to each interviewee. It is basically a questionnaire read out and the answers recorded by the interviewer
- May lack validity
- Lack of depth [questions may not cover respondent’s experiences]
- Lack of flexibility
- Meaning problem (the same question may beinterpreted in different ways by your interviewees)
E.I. -WHY might there be validity problems with the use of this method? WHY might it be difficult to develop rapport between the interviewer & interviewee?
What examples can be used in an exam answer to illustrate the use of structured interviews?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/161/q_image_thumb.png?1472812312)
►Watch the video extract below for some examples:
Identify & Explain one reason why the researchers described in the item below decided to use questionnaires as a method of research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/X-UFY05Jde4?t=7m14s
Identify & explain one reason why the researchers described in the item below decided to use unstructured interviews in their research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/vLvpG1oPLWg?t=6m29s
What are some of the advantages of using participant observation in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/164/q_image_thumb.gif?1472812875)
Participant observation = Involves a researcher actually joining the group she or he is observing, and taking part in their activities
- High ecological validity - see behaviour in its natural context
- Empathy - can understand individual meanings (verstehen)
- Can study non-verbal social interaction
- Useful for exploratory research of a group
- Depth, detail and richness of data collected
E.I. - HOW is this method linked to ethnography? HOW do the advantages of covert and overt participant observation compare?
What are some of the disadvantages of using participant observation in sociological research?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/165/q_image_thumb.gif?1472813635)
Participant observation = Involves a researcher actually joining the group she or he is observing, and taking part in their activities
- May be difficult getting in, staying and getting out of the group
- Resarchers may ‘go native’
- Low relaibility
- Hawthorne effect - people’s behaviour may change if they know they are being observed
- Hard to generalise
- Time consuming/labour intensive
E.I. - WHY might this be the most challenging method to carry out successfully? WHY might there be ethical problems with this method? WHY is this method extremely unreliable?
What examples can be used in an exam answer to illustrate the use of participant observation?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/brainscape-prod/system/cm/328/315/166/q_image_thumb.gif?1472818636)
►Watch the video extract below for some examples:
Identify & explain one reason why the researchers described in the item below decided to use interviews as a method of research
►Can you think of a second reason in addition to the one given below?
https://youtu.be/vLvpG1oPLWg?t=6m29s