case & longitudinal studies, life histories and triangulation Flashcards
briefly explain what a case study is and the data produced and type of observation used
a detailed examination of a single case (e.g. a singular person or group)
- qualitative
- participant observations
give 2 advantages of case studies
can be used to study exceptional cases as they provide detailed insight into a particular group
can be used in early stages of research to provide hypotheses
give 2 disadvantages of case studies
small scale = unrepresentative
results may have lower levels of reliability as research is often based on subjective interpretation of the researcher (making i difficult to replicate)
longitudinal studies and give 4 example methods of longitudinal studies
following the same sample or group for an extended period of time in research which helps to show how people develop and change
- participant observations, questionnaires, interviews and documents
give 3 advantages of longitudinal studies
extremely in-depth detailed account of how people develop and change over time
high in validity
can compare them and find how nature/nurture influence an individual
give 3 disadvantages of longitudinal studies
- extensive time, money and commitment
- low in reliability
- people may drop out or pass away (sample attrition)
life histories
often used in case studies of individuals
qualitative method used by interpretivists to understand how people construct and interpret the world
what are the 2 ways life histories collect and record individuals experiences?
- by autobiographies
- by a semi-structured or unstructured interview which the researcher writes up as a life story
what does Hitchcock (1995) suggest about life histories?
life history adds a historical dimension to our understanding of individuals and social structures
briefly explain why life histories are low in reliability
they only apply to one personal group
if other individuals/groups were compared against there would still be personal differences in interactions and experiences
briefly explain why life histories have high levels of validity, and what can lower the level
it is a truthful recount of an individuals life
but if someone other than the subject writes the biography then misinterpretations don’t have full exaggeration for selective memory
give 2 strengths and weaknesses of life histories
strengths:
- provides first hand account of peoples experiences
- can provide detail on how peoples lives changed over time
weaknesses
- heavily dependent on memory which can be selective
- can be biased source as person recounting may not be objective
triangulation
combining different types of research methods
(qualitative/quantitative, primary/secondary, positivist/intepretivist)
give 2 advantages and disadvantages of using triangulation
advantages:
- get more in-depth data
- increases validity as can check data from different sources
disadvantages:
- time consuming
- have to be skillful in more than 1 method
