Chapter 1-Research Methods Flashcards
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Case Study
A detailed analysis of a person or group especially as a model for medical, sociological or psychological phenomena.
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Causation
The action of causing something.
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Comparative Study
A research that aims to make comparison across different cultures, etc.
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Conflict
A disagreement or argument.
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Consensus
A general agreement
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Content Analysis
A research technique to analysis social life through interpretation of i.e. Documents, art
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Correlation
The strength between two connections of two things.
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Covert Participant Observation
Research done undercover by taking part in group activities.
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Ethical Issues
A problem or situation that requires a person or a group to choose between alternatives that are ethical or unethical.
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Field Experiments
To examine an intervention in the real world rather than in a lab.
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Focus Group
A small group sampled from a wider population for opinions about or emotional response to a particular subject.
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Generalization
An assumption made on a something specific and applying it broadly.
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Group Interview
A session of q&a between an interviewer and a group.
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Hawthorne/Observer Effect
The alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed.
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Historical Documents
Documents that contain important information about a person, place or event from a time period.
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Hypothesis
An assumption made on limited evidence prior to an investigation.
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Identity
The fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
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Individualism
A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.
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Interview Bias
Biases that appear in research findings because of the social nature of the interview i.e. Phrasing
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Interview effect
The influence an interviewer has over the response of the interviewee or results.
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Laboratory Experiments
Research conducted inside a controlled, artificial environment.
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Longitudinal Survey
Research done over a period of time.
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Macro/micro approaches.
An approach to sociology which emphasizes the analysis of social systems and population on large/small scale.
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Non-participant Observation
Observing a person or a group to obtain results without participating.
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Objectivity
To approach something with an open mind.
Official/non-official statistics.
Results obtained from published by government agencies or other public bodies/or not.
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Open
Closed
Pre-coded Questions
Open: where any response or opinion is applicable
Closed: where a set of choices have been given for the person to select
Pre-Coded: questions that have been written in such a way that the categories for answers have been decided.
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Bias
Prejudice in favour of or against one thing, person or group compared to another.
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Overt Participant Observation
Involves the researcher being open with the group they are going to a study.
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Perspectives
A particular outlook towards something or a way of regarding something.
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Pilot Study
Short pre-study of a few people. Done to see for any changes to the research.
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Positivism
Researching sociology as a science using scientific methodology.
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Primary Data
Data collected by the researcher, first hand, probably more reliable.
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Qualitative Data/Researcher
Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. Qualitative Data is descriptive, in depth.
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Quantitative Research/Data
Quantitative Research is ‘Explaining phenomena by collection numerical data that are analyses using mathematically based methods.’
Quantitative Data is numerical data.
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Questionnaires
A written survey with questions on a particular subject.
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Reliability
How much you can justify whether this information is true and whether is from a valid source.
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Representativeness
The level of how well or how accurately something reflect upon a sample; a good indication of what the whole population believes.
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Respondent
A person who replies to something, supplying information for a survey or questionnaire.
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Response Rate
How much or how quickly people have responded to a survey.
Sampling Methods: Random Snowballing Quota Stratified
- Randomly selecting individuals
- Ask the last person to suggest other people.
- Selecting people who fit into categories.
- Choosing a representative random sampling.
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Sampling Frame
The population we take the sample from to answer the survey.
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Secondary Data
Information that has been collected by someone other than the user.
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Semi-structured Interview
Takes a flexible approach and permits question to arise in response to the dialog. Needs to cover certain topics.
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Social Survey
A survey in which people are asked a number of question on the aspect of behavior which the sociologist is interested in.
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Structured Interview
An interview where there is a set list of questions to be asked.
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Subjectivity
Approaching something with preconceived ideas and opinions.
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Survey Population
The sample which is going to be taking the survey.
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Trend
A recurring pattern in something that is expected to continue for some time.
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Triangulation
Using more than one (usually 3) research methods.
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Unstructured Interview
An interview in which there is not specific set of predetermined questions, although they may have certain topics they may want to cover.
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Validity
Whether the information is useful to what you’re looking for.
