Methodology key concepts

Question 1

What is an independent variable

Answer 1

The independent variables are what the researcher varies to see how they effect the dependent variable.

Question 2

What is a dependent variable ?

Answer 2

Dependent variable is the object under study in an experiment.

Question 3

What is a field diary ?

Answer 3

Field diary – A notebook in which a researcher records observation during the research process. One of the key tools of Participant Observation.

Question 4

What does going native mean ? What is lost if this happens ?

Answer 4

Going native – where a researcher becomes biased or sympathetic towards the group he is studying, such that he or she loses their objectivity.

Question 5

What is the Hawthorne effect ?

Answer 5

Hawthorne effect – where respondents alter their behaviour because they know they are being observed. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of overt laboratory and field experiments.

Question 6

What is a Hypothesis

Answer 6

Hypothesis – a theory or explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

Question 7

What is meant by Ethnography ?

Answer 7

Ethnography – an in-depth study of the way of life of a group of people in their natural setting.

Question 8

What is the theory of interpretivism ?

Answer 8

approach to social research which tries to understand human action through the eyes of those acting. Interpretivists want to know the meanings actors give to their own actions

Question 9

What is interview bias

Answer 9

Interviewer bias – where the values and beliefs of the researcher influence the responses of the interviewee

Question 10

What is a pilot study ?

Answer 10

ot study – a test study carried out before the main research study and on a smaller scale, this uncovers potential problem

Question 11

What is meant by primary data ?

Answer 11

Primary data – data collected first hand by the researcher herself. Include social surveys (normally using questionnaire), interviews, experiments and observations.

Question 12

What is qualitative data ?

Answer 12

Qualitative data – refers to information that appears in written, visual or audio form, such as transcripts of interviews, newspapers and web sites

Question 13

What is quantitative data ?

Answer 13

Quantitative data – refers to information that appears in numerical form, or in the form of statistics.

Question 14

What is a Rapport ?

Answer 14

Rapport – a close and harmonious relationship between researcher and respondents,

Question 15

What does it mean when research is reliable ?

Answer 15

Reliability – if research is reliable, it means if someone else repeats the same research

Question 16

What does it mean when research is valid ?

Answer 16

Validity – research is valid if it provides a true picture of what is really ‘out there’ in the world

Question 17

What does verstehen mean ?

Answer 17

understand in a deep way’ – in order to achieve ‘Verstehen’ a researcher aims to understand another person’s experience by putting themselves in the other person’s shoes.

Question 18

What does sampling mean

Answer 18

Sampling – the process of selection a section of the population to take part in social research.

Question 19

What is the theory of positivism

Answer 19

an approach to social research which aims to be as close to the natural sciences as possible. Positivists emphasise the use of quantitative data in order to remain detached from the research process and to uncover social trends and correlations