data and reports

Question 1

questionnaires features

Answer 1

allows researcher to gain a large quantity of data quickly, cheaply, efficiently

starts with easy questions, saves those that may make people feel anxious or defensive til later

researcher often not present when the participant is taking part

use filler questions that are irrelevant but distract respondent from main purpose of Qs - reduce demand characteristics

should be piloted to check k clarity and appropriateness

Question 2

open questions produce what type of data ?

Answer 2

qualitative

Question 3

closed questions produce what types of data?

Answer 3

quantitative

Question 4

interviews features

Answer 4

researcher verbally asking participants Qs, over the phone or face-to-face

starts with easy questions, saves those that may make people feel anxious or defensive til later

uses both open and closed Qs

interviews can be recorded by making notes or audio or video recorder

specialist training required

should be piloted to check clarity and appropriateness

Question 5

structured interview

Answer 5

pre-determined list of questions

all participants asked in the same order

Question 6

unstructured interview

Answer 6

new questions being developed in response to the participants answers

Question 7

semi-structured interview

Answer 7

list of questions worked out in advance but the interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions

Question 8

strengths of questionnaires

Answer 8

less researcher bias

external validity - bigger sample = can generalise

Question 9

likert closed Qs

Answer 9

respondent indicates their agreement with a statement using a scale

how much do you like chocolate
1 - strongly agree
2 - agree
3 - neutral
4 - disagree
5 - strongly disagree

Question 10

rating scaled closed Qs

Answer 10

gets respondents to identify a value that represents the strength of feeling about a particular topic

how much do you enjoy school
very enjoyable 1 2 3 4 5 not at all enjoyable

Question 11

fixed choice closed qs

Answer 11

includes a list of possible options and respondents are required to indicate those that apply to them

what is your favourite type of film
romantic
horror
comedy
tragedy

Question 12

errors that should be avoided when writing Qs

Answer 12

over use of jargon
emotive language
leading Qs
double-barrelled Qs
double-negatives

Question 13

errors to avoid when writing Qs - over use of jargon

Answer 13

avoid using technical terms that are only familiar to those inn a specialist field

Question 14

errors to avoid when writing Qs - emotive language

Answer 14

avoid using language that creates a strong emotional response in the participants that ay influence their response

Question 15

errors to avoid when writing Qs - leading Qs

Answer 15

avoid using Qs that guide the participants to respond in a certain way

Question 16

errors to avoid when writing Qs - double -barrelled Qs

Answer 16

avoid asking 2 Qs in one

Question 17

errors to avoid when writing Qs - double - negatives

Answer 17

avoid asking questions that contain a double negative - 2 negative elements that produce a positive

Question 18

quantitative data strength

Answer 18

P = ease to analyse
E = can draw graphs and calculate averages
E = so comparisons between groups can be made

Question 19

quantitative data weakness

Answer 19

P = narrower in meaning
E: expressed less detail than qualitative
E: lower external validity – may be less like ‘real life’

Question 20

qualitative data strength

Answer 20

P: richness of detail
E: much broader in scope than quantitative data
E: more meaningful – greater external validity

Question 21

qualitative data weakness

Answer 21

P: difficult to analyse
E: hard to identify patterns and made comparisons
E: leads to subjective interpretation and researcher bias

Question 22

primary data

Answer 22

‘first hand’ data collected for the purpose of the investigation

Question 23

secondary data

Answer 23

collected by someone other than the person conducting research

Question 24

meta-analysis

Answer 24

a type of secondary data that involved combining data from a large number of studies

Question 25

questionnaire strength - test reliability

Answer 25

P = findings can be replicated
E = this is because they use pre-determined, standardised questions
E = this increases reliability

Question 26

structure interview strength - test reliability

Answer 26

P = findings can be replicated
E = this is because they use pre-determined, standardised questions
E = this increases reliability

Question 27

unstructured weakness - test reliability

Answer 27

P = can’t test same person twice and expect the same answers
E = this is because each interview is unique to the person that day

Question 28

questionnaire strength - quick to carry out

Answer 28

P = can be distributed to lots of people
E = gather large amounts of data quickly and the researcher doesn’t need to be present
E = reduces effort involved and makes them cost effective

Question 29

structured interview strength - quick to carry out

Answer 29

E = because they are a pre-determined list of questions
E = less time consuming

Question 30

unstructured interview - weakness - quick to carry out

Answer 30

E = each participant must be interviews individually and the researcher also has to make responses to their answers
E = this is bad because there will take longer to gain large amounts of data and cost more money

Question 31

questionnaire weakness - misunderstandings can be clarified

Answer 31

E = can’t speak too the researcher as they aren’t done face-to-face as they are a set list of questions

Question 32

structured interview weakness - misunderstandings can be clarified

Answer 32

P = interviewers cannot elaborate
E = cannot deviate from the topic or explain their questions
E = this may limit richness of data collected

Question 33

unstructured interview strength - misunderstandings can be clarified

Answer 33

P = no predetermined list
E = good flexibility so points can be followed up
E = can collect unexpected information

Question 34

questionnaire weakness - can gain access to more detailed info

Answer 34

P = they collect quantitative data
E = this is because they are not face-to-face
E = standardised list of questions usually online

Question 35

structured weakness - can gain access to more detailed info

Answer 35

P = set list of questions
E = cannot elaborate
e = limits the chance of more detail

Question 36

unstructured strength - can gain access to more detailed info

Answer 36

p = they collect qualitative data
E = great flexibility, so points can be followed up
E = can gain access to more info

Question 37

questionnaire strength - internal validity is affected by extraneous variables

Answer 37

P = there’s no researcher
E = so not affected by social desirability

Question 38

structured weakness - internal validity is affected by extraneous variables

Answer 38

p = there is social desirability
e = contact between. the participant and researcher
E = opportunity for participants to change answers

Question 39

unstructured weakness - internal validity is affected by extraneous variables

Answer 39

p = interviewer bias
e = closer dialogue between participant and researcher
e = opportunity for unconscious cues