Methods Glossary Flashcards
Anonymity
the researcher makes sure that no names or personal details are included in the research process
Case study
a research technique which involves an in-depth study of a single example of whatever the sociologist is interested in in
Closed questions
questions which have limited answer options (yes/no or multiple choice). the participant cannot provide their own answers in their own words
Confidentiality
when the researcher keeps personal details between the researcher and respondent
Content analysis
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
Covert observation
the researcher is ‘undercover’ and the group is not aware that they are being observed
Ethical considerations
the researcher makes sure their research doesnt harm anyone
Experiments (field)
an experiment carried out in a natural environment eg research that happens in schools/employment/prison
Experiments (lab)
research conducted in a controlled environment where variables can be controlled and manipulated. to establish a casual relationship
Hawthorne effect
the presence of the researcher alters the behaviour of the participants
Hypothesis
an informed guess about what might be happening based on previous research and observation which can be tested in research
Informed consent
the participant agrees to take part in research and they know what the research is about and what it will be used for
Interviewer bias
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
Longitudinal study
research usually interviews and sometimes questionnaires, that focus on a particular group of people over a period of years
Non-participant observation
a research method where the researcher observes the participants from a distance and doesn’t join in with the activities of the group
Official statistics
statistics gathered by local and central government in order to devise social policies to assess the success and to plan for future needs
Open-ended questions
questions which allow the participant to give their answers in their own words
Open system
(Keat & Urray) means numerous factors and variables could influence the outcome of research. this makes lab experiments unsuitable for studying social phenomena
Overt observation
observation of a group/individual where they are aware that they are being watched
Participant observation
a research method where the researcher observes the participants from within the group and joins in with activities of the group
Personal documents
these includes diaries, letters, biographies, photographs, suicide notes, blogs etc which give the researcher an insight into the feelings of the individual
Pilot study
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
Population
the people who the research could be conducted on from which the sample is selected
Primary data
data which is collected first hand by the researcher
Qualitative data
data which is presented in word format, it will use open questions to allow the participant to give their answers in their own words
Quantitative data
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
Random sampling
a sample selected from a sampling frame whereby everyone has an equal chance of being chosen
Reliability
research that is repeated and produces the same/similar results
Representative sample
the sample is not biased but the people are typical of those in the wider population
Research aims
what the research intends to investigate
Respondent
the particpant
Sample
the group of people who have been selected to be studied
Sampling frame
a complete list from which your sample is selected
Secondary data
data that a researcher can use that someone else had produced
Snowball sampling
a method of accessing a sample by contacting one person from the relevant population who then introduces the researcher to other appropriate people
Stratified sampling
a sampling method where the sampling frame is divided into levels
Systematic sampling
a common sampling method where the researcher takes a series of names from a sampling frame at random intervals
Triangulation
using more than one research metho
Validity
a true picture of what is being studied
Verstehen
emphatic understanding of human behaviour
