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Research Methods > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

What is validity?

A

A true or genuine picture of what something is really like

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2
Q

What is reliability?

A

Research is reliable if it can be repeated in exactly the same way, and produce exactly the same results

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3
Q

What is informed consent?

A

When participants know the details and true aim of the study and give their full permission to participate

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4
Q

What is deception?

A

Where participants are lied to about some (or all) parts of the study

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5
Q

What is representativeness?

A

Research is representative if the participants mirror the target population

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6
Q

What is generalisability?

A

Research is generalisable if its results can be applied to other scenarios/populations

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7
Q

What is objectivity?

A

The opposite of subjectivity. Research is objective if it is unbiased and is not based on opinion

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8
Q

What is subjectivity?

A

The opposite of objectivity. Research is subjective if it is down to personal opinions/preferences

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9
Q

What is positivism?

A

A theoretical perspective which believes Sociology should be scientific: objective, reliable, representative, macro, and quantitative

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10
Q

What is interpretivism?

A

A theoretical perspective which believes Sociology should NOT be scientific: subjective, valid, micro, qualitative, and with verstehen/empathy

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11
Q

What is a micro approach?

A

Research focussed on small scale samples

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12
Q

What is a macro approach?

A

Research focussed on large scale samples

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13
Q

What is a sample?

A

The group of participants in a study

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14
Q

What does PET stand for?

A

Practical, Ethical, Theoretical. These are the categories for different issues which can affect research

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15
Q

What issues would be considered practical?

A

Accessibility to participants
Resources needed
Time
Requirements of funding bodies
Researchers’ skills and characteristics
Subject matter

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16
Q

What do we mean by practical issues?

A

Anything which will affect our ability to carry out the research

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17
Q

What do we mean by ethical issues?

A

Moral issues of right or wrong

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18
Q

What issues would be considered ethical?

A

Deception
Informed consent
Psychological harm
Sensitive topics
Confidentiality and privacy
Vulnerable groups
Right to withdraw

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19
Q

What do we mean by theoretical issues?

A

Anything which will affect the usefulness of the data. Positivist/interpretivist approach

20
Q

What issues would be considered theoretical?

A

Validity
Reliability
Representativeness
Objectivity
Subjectivity
Verstehen
Hawthorne effect
Positivism/interpretivism

21
Q

What does accessibility mean?

A

How easy it is for the researcher to find and contact participants

22
Q

What does “requirements of funding bodies” mean?

A

Whoever it is that funds the research may have specific requirements, e.g. what or who is researched

23
Q

What does “researcher’s skills & characteristics” mean?

A

Some research may require the researcher to have specific abilities, or be a certain person. E.g. they may need to speak a certain language, or their gender could make participants feel more/less comfortable

24
Q

What does confidentiality mean?

A

Not publishing participants’ information, e.g. keeping them anonymous

25
Q

What does privacy mean?

A

Allowing participants to keep some information to themselves, e.g. not pushing a domestic violence victim to tell you details they may not want to share

26
Q

What does right to withdraw mean?

A

All participants should be allowed to leave the research whenever they like, and should be allowed to ask their data not to be included even after the study is complete

27
Q

What does verstehen mean?

A

Empathy/putting yourself in their shoes. Understanding why your participants act and feel the way they do

28
Q

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

A

People will change their behaviour when they know they’re being observed

29
Q

What does social desirability mean?

A

People will change their answers to questions to try and fit in with what they think is socially acceptable/with what others think

Similar to right answerism

30
Q

What is a respondent?

A

A person that answers a questionnaire

31
Q

What is right answerism?

A

Where participants provide answers they feel like they should give, rather than what they actually believe

Similar to social desirability

32
Q

What is an open question?

A

A question that allows participants to respond in any way they like (e.g. what do you think about that?)

33
Q

What is a closed question?

A

A question that has a limited selection of answers (e.g. yes/no questions)

34
Q

What is a leading question?

A

A question that encourages participants to answer in a certain way (e.g. don’t you just hate British weather?)

35
Q

What is an interview schedule?

A

A set of prepared questions designed to be asked exactly as worded

36
Q

What is researcher/interviewer bias?

A

Any impact that the researcher can have on the participant, or on the data

37
Q

What is rapport?

A

A bond or connection of trust and understanding between the researcher and the interviewer

38
Q

What is going native?

A

When a researcher taking part in a participant observation decides to abandon the researcher and fully join the group they have been observing

39
Q

What is a variable?

A

A factor that changes (either by design or not)

40
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

A factor which affects an experiment that the researcher cannot control (e.g. the mood of the participant)

41
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

This represents whether or not an experiment reflects something that would happen in real life/a natural setting

42
Q

What does standardised mean?

A

Research is standardised if there are set rules/regulations/steps that the research must follow. This makes it very reliable

43
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary research?

A

Primary - the researcher collects the data themselves
Secondary - the researcher uses someone else’s work

44
Q

What is longitudinal research?

A

Research that is carried out over a long period of time, e.g. the Census is a longitudinal questionnaire which has existed since 1086, and Barker’s ‘Making a Moonie’ took place over 6 years

45
Q

What is triangulation?

A

All research methods have weaknesses, but by combining methods it is possible to use methods with strengths which cancel out these weaknesses. Triangulation is where at least 3 methods are used to study one particular issue

46
Q

What would an example of triangluation look like?

A

S = Strength, W = Weakness

Participant observation​
S: Verstehen​
W: Subjectivity/bias​

Official statistics​
S: Objectivity​
W: Less representative​

Questionnaires​
S: Highly representative​
W: Lacks verstehen​

47
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

This involves trying out your study on a trial basis in order to iron out any problems, clarify questions and their working and to give the researcher some practice

Research Methods (15 decks)

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