Key Concepts Flashcards
What is validity?
Data is said to be valid if it is a genuine, accurate reflection of what is being studied, and reflects the reality of the person/group being studied
(Does the data measure what it claims to measure?)
Why is demographic data usually seen as valid?
The number of births and deaths officially counted each year in England and Wales is close to the actual figure; few births or deaths go unreported or unrecorded
Why are the figures provided by crime statistics collected by the police not regarded as valid?
They only represent some of the crimes committed, as many crimes go unreported for a number of reasons
What makes data reliable?
If a research study is repeated and similar findings are recorded, then the data and the method are seen as reliable
Why are some methods easier to use in a standardised way than others?
In some methods, the person collecting the data has less impact on the process
E.g. collecting information using a questionnaire is more consistent than if an interview is used, in the same way that a thermometer measures temperature and it does not matter who is using it
What is representativeness?
The extent to which a sample mirrors a researcher’s target population and reflects its characteristics. A study is representative if the sample is a good cross section of the population being studied
What was one criticism feminists made of research carried out in the 50s and 60s in relation to representativeness?
The research was often focused on men, ignoring women, and so it was unrepresentative of society as a whole
What is generalisability?
When the researcher can say that what is true of the sample group is true of the wider population under study / data obtained can be applied to a whole population
How does the representativeness of data affect the generalisability? Give an example
If the data is not representative it can not be generalised
E.g: data from studies of educational attainment that are based solely on boys (Sewell) cannot be generalised to the education system as a whole because they do not include girls
What is objectivity?
To remain objective means that a researcher’s personal values and beliefs should not affect how the issue is approached or how the data collected in a study is interpreted
How should research aim for objectivity?
By conducting research in an impartial and unbiased way
What are ethics?
Ethics are issues of right or wrong in sociology and sociological research
What are three ways in which ethics affect sociological research?
- In research it is wrong to harm anyone and so steps should be taken to protect both subjects and researchers
- Sometimes ethical issues are complex and can affect what research is possible or how the research is carried out
- There are professional guidelines to help sociologists (British Sociological Association)
