Further Research Methods Flashcards
Questionnaire
A set of standard questions about a topic that is given to all the participants in the survey.
Survey
A method used for collecting information from a large number of people by asking them questions, either by using a questionnaire or in an interview.
Closed question
A question where the possible responses are fixed, often as “yes” or “no” options.
Open question
A question where the person answering can give any response they like.
Unambiguous
Something that has only one meaning.
Ecological validity
The results of the investigation can be said to apply to real-life behaviour. They are an accurate account of behaviour in the real world.
Interview
A method in which a researcher collects data by asking questions directly.
Interviewee
The person/respondent who answers the questions in an interview.
Structured interview
An interview in which all the questions are pre-set, given in a fixed order and every interviewee is asked the same questions.
Unstructured interview
An interview in which only the first question is set and all other questions are determined by the answers of the interviewee.
Natural observation
Watching the behaviour of people who are in their usual environment.
Observation study
A method of collecting information about behaviour by watching and recording peoples actions.
Categories of behaviour
The separate actions that are recorded as examples of the target behaviour.
Inter-observer reliability
When this is high, the records made by more than one observer in study are considered to be accurate because they match or are very similar to each other.
Case study
An in-depth investigation of an individual, a small group or an organisation.
