Methods Glossary

Question 1

Anonymity

Answer 1

the researcher makes sure that no names or personal details are included in the research process

Question 2

Case study

Answer 2

a research technique which involves an in-depth study of a single example of whatever the sociologist is interested in in

Question 3

Closed questions

Answer 3

questions which have limited answer options (yes/no or multiple choice). the participant cannot provide their own answers in their own words

Question 4

Confidentiality

Answer 4

when the researcher keeps personal details between the researcher and respondent

Question 5

Content analysis

Answer 5

a research method that involves the researcher identifying a set of categories and counting how many each times each category occurs within a particular section of the media

Question 6

Covert observation

Answer 6

the researcher is ‘undercover’ and the group is not aware that they are being observed

Question 7

Ethical considerations

Answer 7

the researcher makes sure their research doesnt harm anyone

Question 8

Experiments (field)

Answer 8

an experiment carried out in a natural environment eg research that happens in schools/employment/prison

Question 9

Experiments (lab)

Answer 9

research conducted in a controlled environment where variables can be controlled and manipulated. to establish a casual relationship

Question 10

Hawthorne effect

Answer 10

the presence of the researcher alters the behaviour of the participants

Question 11

Hypothesis

Answer 11

an informed guess about what might be happening based on previous research and observation which can be tested in research

Question 12

Informed consent

Answer 12

the participant agrees to take part in research and they know what the research is about and what it will be used for

Question 13

Interviewer bias

Answer 13

the research may be affected by the interaction between the participant and the researcher, social characteristics of the interviewer (class, gender, age, ethnicity) may cause the participant to feel uneasy

Question 14

Longitudinal study

Answer 14

research usually interviews and sometimes questionnaires, that focus on a particular group of people over a period of years

Question 15

Non-participant observation

Answer 15

a research method where the researcher observes the participants from a distance and doesn’t join in with the activities of the group

Question 16

Official statistics

Answer 16

statistics gathered by local and central government in order to devise social policies to assess the success and to plan for future needs

Question 17

Open-ended questions

Answer 17

questions which allow the participant to give their answers in their own words

Question 18

Open system

Answer 18

(Keat & Urray) means numerous factors and variables could influence the outcome of research. this makes lab experiments unsuitable for studying social phenomena

Question 19

Overt observation

Answer 19

observation of a group/individual where they are aware that they are being watched

Question 20

Participant observation

Answer 20

a research method where the researcher observes the participants from within the group and joins in with activities of the group

Question 21

Personal documents

Answer 21

these includes diaries, letters, biographies, photographs, suicide notes, blogs etc which give the researcher an insight into the feelings of the individual

Question 22

Pilot study

Answer 22

this is a ‘dress rehearsal’ a test run of the actual research. the method is conducted with a few individuals to uncover any potential problems concerning; response rate, method design, sample, suitability and efficiency of interviewers

Question 23

Population

Answer 23

the people who the research could be conducted on from which the sample is selected

Question 24

Primary data

Answer 24

data which is collected first hand by the researcher

Question 25

Qualitative data

Answer 25

data which is presented in word format, it will use open questions to allow the participant to give their answers in their own words

Question 26

Quantitative data

Answer 26

data which is presented in numerical format, it will use closed questions and participants will choose from a limited number of answer options. it allows the researcher to turn their results into statistics/%’s and patterns of attitudes to can be spotted

Question 27

Random sampling

Answer 27

a sample selected from a sampling frame whereby everyone has an equal chance of being chosen

Question 28

Reliability

Answer 28

research that is repeated and produces the same/similar results

Question 29

Representative sample

Answer 29

the sample is not biased but the people are typical of those in the wider population

Question 30

Research aims

Answer 30

what the research intends to investigate

Question 31

Respondent

Answer 31

the particpant

Question 32

Sample

Answer 32

the group of people who have been selected to be studied

Question 33

Sampling frame

Answer 33

a complete list from which your sample is selected

Question 34

Secondary data

Answer 34

data that a researcher can use that someone else had produced

Question 35

Snowball sampling

Answer 35

a method of accessing a sample by contacting one person from the relevant population who then introduces the researcher to other appropriate people

Question 36

Stratified sampling

Answer 36

a sampling method where the sampling frame is divided into levels

Question 37

Systematic sampling

Answer 37

a common sampling method where the researcher takes a series of names from a sampling frame at random intervals

Question 38

Triangulation

Answer 38

using more than one research metho

Question 39

Validity

Answer 39

a true picture of what is being studied

Question 40

Verstehen

Answer 40

emphatic understanding of human behaviour