Key Knowledge/Terms Flashcards
What is structuralism?
Human behaviour is dependent on structures in society ie religion.
What is consensus theory?
Structures/institutions in society work collectively to help society function.
What is structural differentiation?
Functions can overlap with different institutions.
What is OBjective knowledge?
Something that can be tested and proven.
What is SUBjective knowledge?
Someone’s opinion, no proof.
What is primary data?
Gathered first hand by a researcher.
What is secondary data?
Collected by someone else and then used by the researcher.
Explain how to get objective knowledge.
- Gather & analyse data.
- Find & test correlation.
- Develop & test theories.
Name the types of data.
Primary
Secondary
Qualitative
Quantitative
What is qualitative data?
Non-numerical info.
What is quantitative data?
Numerical info.
What is a positivist?
What is an Interpretivist?
Proving something with science
Proving something with social interaction & non-scientific info
Explain PET and its relevance.
P = practical E = ethical T = theoretical
It is the method for approaching 20 mark method questions.
What is the importance of the values of the researcher?
The researcher is unlikely to research something they do not deem important.
What is the importance of professional interests?
Researchers want to further their career and may choose a topic which will gain them respect.
What is the importance of funding?
Government funding is subjective to what the government prefers at that moment.
What is the importance of fashionable topics?
What is popular in the news shifts the focus to what’s ‘important’.
What is the importance of practicalities?
Whether the research is possible to do.
What do Practical Issues include? (PET)
4
Time
Funding bodies
Personal traits of researchers
Subject matter (+ what it requires)
What do Ethical Issues include? (PET)
5
Consent (inc. presumptive consent) Confidentiality Danger & harm Vulnerable groups Covert research
What is presumptive consent?
Ethical - PET
Some people need others to provide consent on their behalf.
What do Theoretical Issues include? (PET)
4
Reliability (esp. for quantitative data)
Validity
Representativeness
Methodological perspective (consist of 2 main sociological groups: interpretivists/positivists).
Explain what macro/micro is.
Macro = broad focus within society eg social groups
Micro = narrow focus within society eg individuals
What is social dysfunction?
Any social pattern that affects stability in society.
What are the main debates in sociology?
4
Structure v social action
Consensus v conflict
Macro v micro
Positivist v interactionist
What is triangulation?
Looking at something through a range of angles, likely to involve both qualitative and quantitative data.
What is covert research?
Hidden from participants, they’re unaware that you’re there.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of covert research?
A = Behaviour is natural and therefore the study is valid.
D = Could be considered unethical in certain situations.
What is overt research?
Participants are aware of the research.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of overt research?
A = Fewer ethical concerns
D = Less trust from participants leads to less opportunity and the Hawthorne effect.
What is participant research?
The researcher takes part
What is non-participant research?
The researcher does not take part
Define ethnographic.
Describing groups and differences between them.
What do the main challenges of ethnographic research include?
(4)
- Gaining acceptance from the group
- Recording in a valid and reliable way
- Being objective
- Hawthorne effect
