LT1-Research Methods Flashcards
Aim
what you intend to study
Hypothesis
A predication made that can be tested
Operationalisation
A process that is used to define or measure key variables in a study
Pilot study
A trial study done on a smaller sample to test for any problems within the process
Sample
A group of participants from a target population
Sampling frame
A group of people that can be used drawn for a sample
Sampling
A process used to select a sample
Primary data
Information found by the researcher
Secondary data
Information collected by someone else
Quantitative data
Information in number form
Qualitative data
Information in written form
Triangulation
where sociologist use 2 or more methods normally combining quantitative and qualitative
Positivism
a philosophical view that believes that sociology can
and should be a science
Interpretivists
a philosophical view that believes that sociology
cannot and should not be a science.
Validity
The extent of which the study presents the true picture of what is being studied
Reliability
The extent to which results stand up to re-testing
Objectivity
The extent to which research is free from personal bias or opinion
Subjectivity
The extent to which research contains an individual’s personal views and opinions about the subject of the research method
Representativeness
Refers to if the sample of people represents everyone in the group you’re interested in
Practical issues
factors that can potentially create obstacles or problems in carrying out research eg money and time
Ethics
Matters related to moral issues of right and
wrong when carrying out research
