L3-L6.1 Flashcards
stages in the research process (10)
area of interest
background research
research question or hypothesis
choice of research method
detailed planning
pilot study
revise methods
carry out research
analysis of results
conclusion
what is operationalisation?
when a concept / key word used in research is DEFINED
- so meaning is clearly understood
- concept can be transformed into a variable that can be MEASURED
advantage of informal interviews
high in validity
- measuring exactly what they set out to measure
disadvantage of informal interviews
bias
- may lack objectivity
- researcher gets too close to participant
unreliable
- won’t get the same results if research is repeated
what is reliability
used to asses how methods of data collection can produce accurate data
- sociologists should aim to be CONSISTENT
- can be ensured by inter-researcher reliability and test retest
basically, if the research is repeated, would the same results be obtained
what is validity?
refers to whether the piece of research measure what is was supposed to
what does it mean if a sample is ‘representative’?
the group being studied represents the entire population
what is primary research?
data collected by the researcher themself
sources could include the following
- quantitative : structured questionnaires, interviews, experiments (standardised measuring instruments, so data is reliable)
- qualitative : covert participation observation, unstructured interviews
why do you want a study to be reliable?
so research can be repeated and similar results can be gained
- repeating the study means errors can be checked
- generalisations can be made to wider population
laboratory experiments
tend to use scientific equipment to measure the variables and concepts
sociologist needs to have a hypothesis
variables need to be identified (what you’re measuring and keeping constant)
results are quantified - reliable
positives of lab experiments (2)
variables can be CONTROLLED
- higher control compared to other research methods like observation
POSITIVISTS would advocate the use of experiments - used in SCIENCE
- deemed reliable
disadvantage of lab experiments
experiments aren’t suitable for studying human behaviour
- setting is usually artificial
- results aren’t a true representation of how people act normally
- (less validity)
- people may change behaviour during the experiment
field experiments
conducted in a NATURAL social situation
- eg a classroom
- behaviour can be studied directly with some form of control (not as much as lab experiments)
weaknesses of field experiments (3)
results gained can be INACCURATE
- less control in a lab experiment
hawthorne effect - ppl being studied may be AWARE they’re being studied
- affects their behaviour
- inaccurate results
experimenter bias
- characteristics of the sociologist can affect behaviour of the ppl taking part in the study
- eg age, gender, ethnicity of the sociologist could impact the people in the field study (& the results gained)
case studies
these examine one particular case or instance
- eg life history of in individual
