Key concepts Flashcards
Define ‘Primary research’
Data collected by a singular researcher
Define ‘Secondary research’
Data used that already exists
what is an ‘unstructured interview’ ?
Informal interview -
Advantage of this type of interview is the increased building of rapport between the research subject and the interviewer
What is a ‘structured interview’ ?
Formal interview -
A form of interview that has set questions by the researcher for the subject to answer - does not have room for deviation
What is meant by the term ‘going native’ ?
Define ‘Validity’
A test or instrument that is accurately measuring what’s it’s supposed to be measuring
- Is the data giving an accurate or true picture of the social world
Define ‘generalisability’
What is ‘informed consent’ ?
Consent from the subject to be involved in the experiment - no matter the method
What is ‘Anonymity’ ?
Define ‘covert’ - in terms observations
Where the group being studied does not know they are being observed - Where the researcher is ‘undercover’
Define ‘Overt’ - in terms of observations
Where the group being studied is aware of the researchers role
- disadvantage of this is the chance of the Hawthorne effect / or social desirability being projected by the people being studied .
What is the ‘response rate’ ?
The rate at which the subjects of a research methods respond to the researcher
What is ‘social desirability’ ?
- Link to the Hawthorne effect
. Its the idea that
What is the ‘Hawthorne effort’ ?
When the behaviour of individuals or a group may change because they are being observed
What is ‘Qualitative data’ ?
Information presented in a variety of forms that is descriptive
What is ‘Quantitative data’ ?
Information that is in numerical form
Positivists
Researchers who use research methods that are based on scientific methods - prefer Quantitive data
intepretivists
Researchers who use research methods which enable them to understand the motives and meanings behind behaviour - prefer qualitative data
what is ‘interviewer bias’ ?
What is the ‘Interviewer Effect’ ?
What is ‘reliability’ ?
Measure of the stability or consistency of data
- Data is reliable if it can be repeated and produce similar results every time
What are the ‘practical issues’ of research methods ?
. Time
. Access
. Cost
. Subject Matter
What are the ‘Ethical issues’ of research methods ?
. Anonymity
. Privacy / Confidentiality
. Consent
. Protection from harm -
/ Right to withdraw
. honest reporting
what are the ‘theoretical issues’ of research methods ?
. Validity
. Reliability
. Representativeness
. Theoretical Perspective - Positivism / intepretivist
What is ‘Anthropology’ ?
The scientific study of the origins and development of human society
What is ‘Ethnography’ ?
The scientific study of different people and cultures
Define ‘Methodological pluralism’
Where a range of methods are used in the same price of research
Define ‘Mixdd method approach’
Where a range of methods are used in the same piece of research
Define ‘objective approach’
Sociologists who attempt to study the social world without allowing their personal values to influence the outcome of the research
Define ‘non-participant observation’
when judgements are not influenced by personal opinions
What is a ‘observation schedule’ ?
A form used to record observations using predetermined categories
Define ‘verstehen’
Empathic understanding of human behaviour
Define ‘Triangulation’
The accuracy of data gathered using one method can be compared with data gathered using alterantive data
What is ‘subjectivity’ ?
When judgements are made on personal opinions
What is a ‘Representative sample’ ?
When a sample is not biased but accurately reflects the wider population
Define ‘Rapport’
The relationship between the researcher and the subject - Rapport being built typically causes an increase in reliability
