Key concepts

Question 1

Define ‘Primary research’

Answer 1

Data collected by a singular researcher

Question 2

Define ‘Secondary research’

Answer 2

Data used that already exists

Question 3

what is an ‘unstructured interview’ ?

Answer 3

Informal interview -

Advantage of this type of interview is the increased building of rapport between the research subject and the interviewer

Question 4

What is a ‘structured interview’ ?

Answer 4

Formal interview -

A form of interview that has set questions by the researcher for the subject to answer - does not have room for deviation

Question 5

What is meant by the term ‘going native’ ?

Question 6

Define ‘Validity’

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Define ‘generalisability’

Question 8

What is ‘informed consent’ ?

Answer 8

Consent from the subject to be involved in the experiment - no matter the method

Question 9

What is ‘Anonymity’ ?

Question 10

Define ‘covert’ - in terms observations

Answer 10

Where the group being studied does not know they are being observed - Where the researcher is ‘undercover’

Question 11

Define ‘Overt’ - in terms of observations

Answer 11

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 .

Question 12

What is the ‘response rate’ ?

Answer 12

The rate at which the subjects of a research methods respond to the researcher

Question 13

What is ‘social desirability’ ?

Answer 13

• Link to the Hawthorne effect

. Its the idea that

Question 14

What is the ‘Hawthorne effort’ ?

Answer 14

When the behaviour of individuals or a group may change because they are being observed

Question 15

What is ‘Qualitative data’ ?

Answer 15

Information presented in a variety of forms that is descriptive

Question 16

What is ‘Quantitative data’ ?

Answer 16

Information that is in numerical form

Question 17

Positivists

Answer 17

Researchers who use research methods that are based on scientific methods - prefer Quantitive data

Question 18

intepretivists

Answer 18

Researchers who use research methods which enable them to understand the motives and meanings behind behaviour - prefer qualitative data

Question 19

what is ‘interviewer bias’ ?

Question 20

What is the ‘Interviewer Effect’ ?

Question 21

What is ‘reliability’ ?

Answer 21

Measure of the stability or consistency of data
- Data is reliable if it can be repeated and produce similar results every time

Question 22

What are the ‘practical issues’ of research methods ?

Answer 22

. Time
. Access
. Cost
. Subject Matter

Question 23

What are the ‘Ethical issues’ of research methods ?

Answer 23

. Anonymity
. Privacy / Confidentiality
. Consent
. Protection from harm -
/ Right to withdraw
. honest reporting

Question 24

what are the ‘theoretical issues’ of research methods ?

Answer 24

. Validity
. Reliability
. Representativeness
. Theoretical Perspective - Positivism / intepretivist

Question 25

What is ‘Anthropology’ ?

Answer 25

The scientific study of the origins and development of human society

Question 26

What is ‘Ethnography’ ?

Answer 26

The scientific study of different people and cultures

Question 27

Define ‘Methodological pluralism’

Answer 27

Where a range of methods are used in the same price of research

Question 28

Define ‘Mixdd method approach’

Answer 28

Where a range of methods are used in the same piece of research

Question 29

Define ‘objective approach’

Answer 29

Sociologists who attempt to study the social world without allowing their personal values to influence the outcome of the research

Question 30

Define ‘non-participant observation’

Answer 30

when judgements are not influenced by personal opinions

Question 31

What is a ‘observation schedule’ ?

Answer 31

A form used to record observations using predetermined categories

Question 32

Define ‘verstehen’

Answer 32

Empathic understanding of human behaviour

Question 33

Define ‘Triangulation’

Answer 33

The accuracy of data gathered using one method can be compared with data gathered using alterantive data

Question 34

What is ‘subjectivity’ ?

Answer 34

When judgements are made on personal opinions

Question 35

What is a ‘Representative sample’ ?

Answer 35

When a sample is not biased but accurately reflects the wider population

Question 36

Define ‘Rapport’

Answer 36

The relationship between the researcher and the subject - Rapport being built typically causes an increase in reliability