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Education- Research Methods In Context Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Wjat are questionaires

A

Questionaires are a written list of questions that are answered by respondants. These queations can be open or closed, depending on the type of data required by tge sociologist

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2
Q

Conductimg questionnaires

A

The researcher needs to consider how to administer the questionnaire. A key consideration will be what type of response rate is required; what proportion of questionaires need to be completed and returned.

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3
Q

Methods of administrating questionaires include:

A 
Methods of administrating questionaires include: 
face-face
Telephone
Postal
Internet
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4
Q

Advantages of face to face questionnaire’s

A

Relativley high response rate

Interviewer can clarify questions

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5
Q

Disadvantages of face to face questionnaires

A

Interviewer may influence response (interviewer bias)

Time consuming for the interviewer and interviewee

Potentially expensive

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6
Q

Advantages of internet method of questionnaires

A

Internet questionaires:

Very cheap
Cheap to send to a widley dispersed sample

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7
Q

Disadvantages of internet questionaires

A

Disadvantages of internet questionaires:

Repsonse rate likely to be low

Limited to those with internet access and not inclined to delete spam

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8
Q

What are fixed choice questions

A

Fixed choice questions give respondants a restricted range of options to choose from, eg: agree/disagree, or are asked ratings scale

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9
Q

Advantages of fixed choice questions

A

Fixed choice questions make it easy to produce statistical data and analyse answers

Also good for testing existing theories and producing reliable data which can be checked

Positivists see answers as social fact

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10
Q

What are questionnaires

A

Questionaires are a written list of questions that are answered by respondants

Can be open or closed depending on the type of data required by the sociologist

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11
Q

Practical issues using questionaires in education

A

Practical issues: questionnaires make it possible to access large numbers of respondents concentrated in one place; eg a school. However, researchers need to consider the questions they can ask you g children or those with poor research skills

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12
Q

Ethical issues using questionaires in education

A

Ethical issues using questionaires in education:

Respondants need to remain anonymous. There may be a problem with getting truly informed consent from young children

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13
Q

Theoretical issues using questionaires in education

A

Theoretical issues using questionaires in education:
The dominance of peer groups may influence the types of answers that pupils give; it may be difficult to prevent discussion among pupils so they collaborate on responses, potentially misleading answers

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14
Q

What are official statistics

A

Official statistics are numerical data produced by government agencies, which can be analysed by sociologists to draw conclusions about social institutions, such as education

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15
Q

Topics government statistics could cover

A 
Topics government statistics could cover: 
Demography
Crime
Unemployment
Educational achievement 
Births
Deaths
Marriages 
Divorces
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16
Q

Positivists view on official statiatics

A

Positivists view official satatistics as valid and reliable despite others tjinking they may be unreliable

Believe it is possible to use them to produce reliable and valid data, if they conduct their own research to supplement them

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17
Q

Interprevists view on official statistics

A

Interprevists view official statistics as an interpretation produced by government agencies; not the facts

They argue it is impossible to produce objective, reliable and valid statistics. Thwy point out that all data requires classification and interpretation eg- has crime actually taken place

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18
Q

Practicial issues of official statistics

A

Data achievement is usually broken down into ghe performance of males and females, but data on class backgrounds or the ethnicity of pupils and their achievement is less often available

Do not always use the categories that sociologists use, eg official definition of social class does not always match sociological definitions

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19
Q

Ethical issues using official statistics

A

No real ethical issues using official statistics since they are publically available and using them is unlikely to cause harm

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20
Q

Theoretical advantages of using official statistics

A

Official statistics tend to be comprehensive since it is often mandatory for state funded organisations to produce them; they are also generally reliable since the government imposes definitions and categories on educational institutions and stipulates that data is produced using standardised procedures

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21
Q

Theoretical issues of using official statistics

A

The validity of statistics may be open to question. Eg- schools may diliberatley manipulate data in order to secure funding, a favourable inspection report or success in league tables.

Two examples of this is when schools do not accuratley record absences or lateness, or they exclude or fail to enter poorly performing pupils for exams to enhnace league table performance

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22
Q

What are secondary sources of data

A

Secondary sources of data is data that already exists. These can include documents such as any physical artefact that contains meaningful material.

Also includes images, sounds, and digital data, as well as printed documents with words and statistics

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23
Q

What are public documents

A

Public documents are produced by the government, research bodies or companies

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24
Q

What are private documents

A

Private documents are produced by individuals

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25
Q

Uses of secondary sorces

A

Saves money and time

Can include data that are beyond the scope of sociologists to collect (eg census data)

Allows the study of historical societies, impossible to produce primary sources

Allows insight into aspects of social life which arnet accessible to researchers (eg family life)

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26
Q

Dosadvantages of secondary sources

A

Produced by non sociologists for their own purposss. Therefore they may not include specific data that sociologists are interested in, or the data may be collected without the rigour that sociologists use

May use categories or concepts that do not fit with sociological theories

Categories change, which makes comparison difficult (eg- government changed definitions of poverty and unemployment)

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27
Q

Criticisms of historical sources

A

Historical sources are vital for studying long term social changes, however there is no guarentee that these sources are representitive

There also tends to be few surviving documents produced by individuals, so that often the data that sociologists would like is not available

Qualitative sources reflect the subjective views of those who produced them

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28
Q

What are life documents

A

Life documents are private documents created by individuals, which record subjective states. They include diarie, letters, photos, biographies, memoirs, suicide notes, films and pictures

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29
Q

Plummer Criticisms of life documents

A

Surviving documents may not be representative

They are open to interpretation and highly subjective

The content may be influenced by the identity of the person, or the intended readers

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30
Q

Plummer view on life documents

A

Plummer still sees them as useful because they allow insights into people subjective states, and symbolic interactionists see them as revealing the personal meanings and self concepts which they see as shaping behaviour

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31
Q

Pros of The mass media and content analysis

A

Content analysis (analysing content by the meida) tends to be relatively cheap as media is easy accessible

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32
Q

What is Formal content analysis (mass media)

A

Formal content analysis is content classified and counted, allowing patterns to be discovered. However this is a subjective process and may not reveal the meaning behind the content

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33
Q

What is Thematic analysis (mass media and content analysis)

A

Thematic analysis examines the messages behind the portrayal of a particular topic, making it impossible to look at the messages behind media coverage. However the messages are open to interpretation; readers may not interpret in the same way as researchers

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34
Q

What is Textual analysis (mass media and content analysis)

A

Textual analysis involves detailed analysis of small pieces of text, providing an in depth interpretation of media content, but not an overall understanding. Can be subjective

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35
Q

What are structured interviews

A

Structured i terviews are pre set questions asked in the same order without variation

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36
Q

Advantages of structured interviews

A

Structured interviews are favoured by quantitative researchers.

Easier to replicate and compare results

Less chance of interviewer bias

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37
Q

Disadvantages of structured interviews

A

Structured interviews offer no opportunity for deeper questioning

Less chance of dicovering new hypothesis

Harder to discover what is important to the interviewees

38
Q

What are semi structured interviews

A

Semi structured interviews are some fixed questions with a list of topics to be covered

39
Q

Advantages of semi structured interviews

A

Semi structured interviews provide some opportunity for respondents to lead the interview, while covering the main topics

40
Q

Disadvantages of structured interviews

A

Steuctured interviews lack specific advantages of both structured and un interviews

41
Q

What afe unstructured interviews

A

Unstructured interviews are few or no fixed questions, more like a conversation

42
Q

Advantages of unstructured interviews

A

Unstructured interviews are favoured by qualitative researchers

Allows respondants to direct the interview

More opportunity for developing new hypothesis

43
Q

Advantages of individual interviews

A

Individual interviews prevents respondents being influenced by others

Less time consuming

44
Q

Disadvantages of individual jnterviews

A

Individual interviews give mo opportunity to observe interactions

45
Q

Advantages of group interviews

A

Group interviews enable interaction to be observed

Encourages deeper thoughf about issues, and more developed answers

Closer to normal social life

46
Q

Disadvantages of group interviews

A

Group interviews mean respondants may be influenced by the desire to conform to the view of others

Dominant memebers of a group can sway opinion of others

47
Q

Practical issues of interviews in education

A

Interviewing children in school requires consent from headteachers and parents, which can limit acces; those in authority may wish to limit the scope of the interview

Interviewers may also need to undergo a disclosure and barring service check

Interviews need to be carefully designed to take into account childrens less developed language skills and shorter attention span- questions need to be shorter and phrased simpler

48
Q

Ethical issues on interviewing in education

A

Interviews with children must be carefully deaigned to not cause distress or fatigue. Therefore sensitive issues should be avoided

Confidentiality of interviews need to be assured, although if the interview reveals evidence of abuse, interviewers have a duty to report it, thus compromising confidentiality

49
Q

Theoretical issues on interviews in education

A

The validity of the interview respondents may be affected by the way in which the interview is conducted and by interview bias

Interviewees may see the interviewer as an authority figure, like a teacher, and therefore may be unwilling to give full and truthfull answers

Group interviews risk the responses being influenced by peer group pressure, although may be useful for finding shared values of pupils which they may be reluctant to give in an individual interview

50
Q

What is random sampling

A

Random sampling means every sampling unit has an equal chance of being chosen, eg- pulling names out of a hat or a computer generated list.

51
Q

Advantages of random sampling

A

Random sampling means it is free from researcher bias as researchers cannot choose the people who they think may support their hypothesis

Usually failrly representative as it relies on statistical odds- meaning we are able to generalise to the wider population

52
Q

Disadvantages of random sampling

A

Random sampling is difficult and time consuming

Can still be unrepresentative- large sample needed to make sure

Selected participants may refuse to take part

53
Q

What is stratified random sampling

A

Stratified random sampling means population is divided into groups according to important variables (class, gender and ethnicity)

Sample is then chosen in the same proportions as is found in the population

54
Q

Advantages of stratified random sampling

A

Random sampling is free from researcher bias, as researchers cannot choose people who they think may support their hypothesis

Fairly representative, even with a small sample, meaning that we are able to generalise to the wider population

55
Q

Disadvantages of stratified random sampling

A

Stratified random sampling is difficult and time consuming

Requires sampling frame which include details of significant characteristics of population being studied

Complete representation is not possible, as the identified strata cannot reflect all the ways that people are different

56
Q

What is quota sampling

A

Quota sampling establishes a pre determined number of people with each particular characteristic. Once quota is filled, no more people in that category are included

57
Q

Advantages pf quota sampling

A

Quota sampling can be conducted without variables being available from sampling frame

usually fairly representative even with a small sample

Able to generalise to the wider population

58
Q

Disadvantages of quota sampling

A

Quota sampling is difficult and time consuming

Complete representation is not possible; the identified strata cannot reflect all fhe ways that people are different

59
Q

What is snowballing sampling

A

Snowballing sampling is where members of a sample put researcher in touch with other potential member.

Used mainly with groups who are hard to identify or access (eg- criminals)

60
Q

Disadvantages of snowballing sampling

A

Snowballing sampling is very unlikely to be truly representative since its based on people who have contact with one another

61
Q

What is opportunity sampling

A

Opportunity sampling is when people are chosen on the basis of being easily accessible and willing to participate in research

62
Q

Advantages of opportunity sampling

A

Opportunity sampling =
easiest
Quickest cheapest
May lead to a good response rate

63
Q

Disadvantages of opportunity sampling

A

Opportunity samplinv makes no attempt to be truly representative- cannot generalise from the findings

64
Q

What is positivism

A

Positivism suggests sociology can be scientific

To be scientific you should only study what can be observed, not emotions, meanings or motives

Objective social facts which can be expressed quantitatively

Look for correlations, which can represent represent causual relationships

Possible to discover laws of human behaviour

Human behaviour is shaped by external rather than internal stimuli

65
Q

What is interpretivism

A

Interpretivism is an advocate for the use of quaLitative data, with a focus on meanings and motives

Prefered methods include in depth interviews ans participant ovservations

Understanding of peoples subjective states is required, and cannot be reduced to statistical data

66
Q

What is quantitative data

A

Quantitative data uses quantities, ammounts or ranges

67
Q

Advantages of using quaNtitative data

A

QuaNtitative data is easy to analyse and spot trends. Can be used to create general laws

68
Q

Limitations of using quaNtitative data

A

QuaNtitative data doesnt reveal motives/meanings of behaviour

69
Q

What is quaLitative data

A

QuaLitative data is not easily reduced to numbers. Qualitative data tends to answer questions about the ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ of a phenomenon, rather than questions of ‘how many’ or “how much”

70
Q

Advantages of quaLitative data

A

QuaLitative data reveals motives/meanings of behaviour- more detailed info

71
Q

Limitations of quaLitative data

A

QuaLitative data is difficult and time consuming to analyse

72
Q

What is primary data

A

Primary data is straight from the researcher themselves

73
Q

Strengths of primary data

A

Primary data can be tailored to your own research, more specific

74
Q

Limitations of primary data

A

Primary data is time consuming and expensive to conduct your own study

75
Q

What is secondary data

A

Secondary data is gathered from other researchers

76
Q

Advantages pf secondary data

A

Using secondary data saves time and money

77
Q

Limitations of secondary data

A

Secondary data may not be completely appropriate for your research study

78
Q

What are experiments

A

Experiments are when researchers set up an artificial situation and manipulate it to test their theory/hypothesis.

They will try to control extraneous variables and follow ethical guidelines for their research

79
Q

Advantages of experiments

A

Experiments allow them to investigate the influence of different variables under a controlled environment- offers more control than other research methods

80
Q

Disadvantages of experiments

A

Experiments can sometimes lack validity due to the artificial environment (unless its a field experiment- in a natural environment)

81
Q

Criticisms of official statistics

A

Goverment reported crime dropped by 13% but the office for mational statistics said this is not true- the stats excluded fraud and tech crimes. Real figure increased by 15%

82
Q

What can case study’s be used for

A

Case studys can be used for:

Another highly unrepresentative form of sampling is to use a particular case study.
Case studies can be used for:

  • To develop a comprehensive understanding of something by studying it in depth
  • To develop a general theoretical approach by falsifying a theory/proving it wrong
  • To develop typologies, e.g. different school subcultures
  • To generate new hypotheses or theories
83
Q

Problems with case studies

A

Case studies cannot be generalised

BRYMAN suggests that this can be overcome through using multiple case studies, however, it can be difficult to compare the findings of case studies carried out by different researchers

84
Q

What are pilot studies

A

Pilot studies are small scaled trial study conducted before the main study in order to test the feasibility of the main study, and to refine the research methods being used

85
Q

What can pilot studys be used for

A

Pilot studies can be used to:

-Test how useful and unambiguous interview questions are

  • develop ways to gain the cooperation of respondents
  • develop the research skills of the researchers
  • decide whether or not to proceed with research
86
Q

What are longitudinal studies

A

Longitudinal studies involve the study of a group of people over an extended period of time

87
Q

How is data from longitudinal studies collected

A

Data from Longitudinal studies is usually collected periodically, with respondents being asked to provide information every few months or years

88
Q

Types of research Methods used in longitudinal studies

A

Longitudinal research can use a wide variety of methods, for example, periodic focus groups or group interviews.

Most common method is the use of questionaires

89
Q

Advantages of longitudinal studies

A

Longitudinal studies allow the researcher to loom af processes over time
does not require respondants to recall information retrospectively = data may be more valid, and it is invaluable for studying topics that look at long term changes over an individuals life course

90
Q

What is multi stage sampling

A

Taking a sample of a sample; eg a sample of voters in a sample of constituencies. This allows a broad base sampling while saving time and money

91
Q

Advantages of multi stage sampling

A

Multi stage sampling allows a broad based sample while saving money and time

92
Q

Disadvantages of multi stage sampling

A

Doesn’t include all potential sources. Less representative than other methods, as many members of the population have no chance of being selected

Sociology (14 decks)

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