Key terms (b)

Question 1

Ethical issues

Answer 1

Issues that take on a moral dimension, such as when harm is caused to participants

Question 2

Social surveys

Answer 2

The systematic collection of information from a sample, , usually involving a questionnaire or structured interview

Question 3

Quantitative data

Answer 3

Numerical data that can be presented in tables, graphs, bar charts, pie charts, etc.

Question 4

Qualitative data

Answer 4

Information and facts based on the words and opinions of people

Question 5

Closed/pre-coded questions

Answer 5

The researcher provides a set of answers and the respondent can choose one or sometimes more. Each answer is coded by being given a value that is then used for analysing the responses

Question 6

Open questions

Answer 6

The respondent replies freely in their own words to give a response

Question 7

Scaled question

Answer 7

A type of closed question where the respondent rates what they think on e.g. strongly agree/ agree/ disagree/strongly disagree

Question 8

Response rate

Answer 8

The proportion of responses obtained from a sample

Question 9

Structured interview

Answer 9

An interview in which the questions are standardised (same questions asked in same order) and replies codified to produce quantitative data

Question 10

Laboratory experiments

Answer 10

Experiments taking in an artificial setting for research where external variables are excluded as much as possible

Question 11

Hawthorne/ observer effect

Answer 11

When participants change their behaviour because the researcher is present and they know they are being observed and studied

Question 12

Content analysis

Answer 12

A method of studying communication and the media involving defining a set of categories classifying the content by counting how frequently it appears in the different categories

Question 13

Examples of content analysis

Answer 13

• Counting the number of times certain words are used
• Measuring the time given to a particular type of story
• Has been used to show that disabled people are underrepresented in almost every genre of television programmes

Question 14

Unstructured interview

Answer 14

An interview without set questions that involves probing into emotions and attitudes to produce qualitative data

Question 15

Semi-structured interview

Answer 15

An interview with some standardised questions but allowing the researcher some flexibility on what is asked and in what order. An interview guide with a list of questions to cover is used

Question 16

Focus group interviews

Answer 16

When a group is brought together to be interviewed on a particular topic

Question 17

Interviewer bias

Answer 17

The intentional or unintentional effect of the way the interviewer asks questions or interprets answers

Question 18

Interviewer effect

Answer 18

When an interviewer affects participants’ responses due to their social characteristics, appearance or verbal cues like facial expression or tone

Question 19

Subjectivity

Answer 19

The researcher’s views influence the approach taken

Question 20

Case study

Answer 20

A detailed in-depth study of one person, group or event

Question 21

Field experiments

Answer 21

Experiments taking place in the natural setting of the real world rather than in a laboratory

Question 22

Triangulation

Answer 22

Using two or more methods in the same research project

Question 23

Longitudinal survey

Answer 23

A survey taking place at intervals over a long period