Key Terms

Question 1

Validity

Answer 1

Truthfulness and meaning

Question 2

Reliability

Answer 2

Can it be repeated with the same results?

Question 3

Quantitative Data

Answer 3

Numerical & statistical data

Question 4

Qualitative Data

Answer 4

Non-numerical (words and text)

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

Scientific prediction on what a researcher thinks will happen

Question 6

Operationalisation

Answer 6

The process of turning a sociological concept or theory into something measurable

Question 7

Triangulation

Answer 7

The use of multiple methods to study one research question- to strengthen the argument by counteracting weaknesses of one method. Triangles are the strongest shape.

Question 8

Pilot Study

Answer 8

A small-scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, with a view to making improvements.

Question 9

Primary Source

Answer 9

Collected by the researcher from the participants.
The method will be chosen by the researcher so will fit the study well.
Can be time-consuming and expensive. Ethical issues can also arise.

Question 10

Secondary Source

Answer 10

Sources used that are collected by other people.
Can be cheap and save time as the data already exists.
The methods/type of data may be limited or not suit the study as it wasn’t chosen by the researcher. Ethical issues could still arise (e.g. reading a diary never intended for public use) but are less.

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

Whole group you want to study

Question 12

Sampling Frame

Answer 12

A list of those individuals in the population, from which the sample is drawn

Question 13

Sample

Answer 13

Those who take part

Question 14

Random Sampling

Answer 14

Every person in the sampling frame has equal chance of being chosen.
More representative than some other methods, but randomness doesn’t ensure this.

Question 15

Systematic Sampling

Answer 15

A method is devised to enable selection of participants.
Avoids researcher bias is choosing, but generally more biased than random sampling as not all members have an equal chance at selection.

Question 16

Stratified Sampling

Answer 16

Population divided into groups based on social characteristics. Sample then chosen in the same proportions.
Produces a more representative sample. The grouping cannot reflect all the ways people are different, so it can’t be completely representative.

Question 17

Quota Sampling

Answer 17

Quotas are established to determine how many people with characteristics are needed. Quotas are then filled.
Researcher can identify groups of people they are interested in and administer the method easily. Not as unbiased as natural selection - not equal chances.

Question 18

Snowballing Sampling

Answer 18

A member of the sample submits data together with another potential member for the sample.
Particularly useful if sampling from secretive groups (e.g. gangs). Samples will be biased as someone else is picking the next sample member - this creates issues when generalising up to the whole population

Question 19

P.E.R.V.E.R.T

Answer 19

Practical
Ethical
Representativeness
Validity
Evidence
Reliability
Theory

Question 20

Longitudinal Study

Answer 20

A research approach that follows a group of people over time, goes against traditional criticisms of methods in that they provide more than just a ‘snapshot’ of life. They can be very useful, but very impractical, which also effects their reliability.

Question 21

Social Facts

Answer 21

External Forces that make up a society’s social structure which influence/cause people’s ideas and action.

Question 22

Official Statistics

Answer 22

• Part of Secondary Sources. Quantitative data gathered by the government or other official bodies.
• Collected by Registration (e.g. births) or Official Surveys (e.g. Census).

Question 23

Documents

Answer 23

• A form of Secondary Sources - written text.
• There are 3 main types: Personal (Diaries, letters, photographs), Public (produced by agencies like Governments, Schools etc.), and Historical

Question 24

Field Experiment

Answer 24

Carried out in a real-world setting.
Higher validity due to the natural environment which leads to easier generalising. Having less control decreases the validity.

Question 25

Lab Experiment

Answer 25

Conducted in a controlled environment. Independent Variable is manipulated and the DV measured.
Precise control makes it easier to replicate and more reliable. Artificial situation makes it difficult to generalise to other settings (less ecologically valid).

Question 26

Non-Participant Observation

Answer 26

• The researcher remains separate from the group they are studying, access is easier, methods are available to increase reliability.
• More objective data is also more scientific, but the Hawthorne effect is more likely and there is less verstehen

Question 27

Participant Observation

Answer 27

• The researcher becomes part of the group they are studying.
• More likely to obtain valid results as they have gained the trust of the people, more able to study hidden groups.
• Data is likely to be subjective and biased to that group, it is also harder to record in the moment and is less repeatable - but more verstehen given.

Question 28

Covert Observation

Answer 28

• Participants are not aware they are being studied.
• Researchers can access forbidden areas, become immersed in groups and see more ‘normal’ behaviour. But is unethical in deception and creates a danger of discovery (also hard to record the data).

Question 29

Overt Observation

Answer 29

• Participants are aware they are being studied.
• Researcher can be honest (less ethical issues), but participants may change their behaviour as they know they are being watched - Hawthorne.
• Allows for other methods to be used to triangulate data

Question 30

Enthography

Answer 30

The scientific description of the customs, cultures, etc of individual peoples and cultures - favoured by Positivists.
‘Research that is conducted in the natural environment of the research subject and describes their way of life’

Question 31

Observations

Answer 31

Particular groups of people are closely observed and their activities noted.

Question 32

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 32

Presence of the researcher affects results

Question 33

Interviewer Bias

Answer 33

When the interviewer affects the responses of the respondents so they are different to what they’d otherwise be. Can result from many things, e.g. Social Characteristics, Leading the Interviewee, Misunderstandings.

Question 34

Group Interviews (AKA Focus Groups)

Answer 34

Participants questioned in groups.
Interviewer can observe interactions in groups, encouraging deeper thoughts and more developed answers. Respondents may want to conform to the views of others in the group, reducing validity.

Question 35

Unstructured Interviews

Answer 35

Informal - similar to conversation. Interviewer freedom and varied questions. Lengthy - able to probe. Able to follow up on points.
Allows respondents to direct the interview and provide more opportunity to develop hypothesis. Little reliability and time-consuming. Can lead to lots of irrelevant data.

Question 36

Semi-Structured Interviews

Answer 36

Lists the topics to be covered - maybe some fixed questions.
Provides some opportunity for respondents to lead the interviews while ensuring main topics are covered. Lacks the specific benefits of both Structured and Unstructured interviews.

Question 37

Structured Interviews

Answer 37

Formal - similar to a questionnaire. Interviewer restricted to agreed questions. Open/Closed questions, organised and timely.
Better reliability and less interviewer bias. But no opportunity to ask further questions - less chance of unexpected results.

Question 38

Interviews

Answer 38

One or more interviewer asking questions in person to one or more respondents.

Question 39

Open Questions

Answer 39

-No answers to choose, in their own words.
-More in depth data is produced and feelings, meanings, and motives are better understood.
-Data needs to be interpreted before understanding - difficult and time consuming.
-Less responses as it takes longer to fill and requires more thought.

Question 40

Closed Questions

Answer 40

-List of possible responses are given to the respondents.
-Makes it easier to produce statistics and creating reliable data.
-No opportunity for respondents to clarify views.
-Poor when collecting data on feelings, meaning or motives.

Question 41

Questionnaire

Answer 41

List of standardised questions given to participants.