Methods In Context (education)

Question 1

Practical

Answer 1

How easy or hard research is to do, in terms of time, money, access, analysing data etc

Question 1

Ethical

Answer 1

How morally correct research is, in terms of causing harm, getting consent etc

Question 2

Reliable

Answer 2

Whether research can be repeated in exactly the same way

Question 3

Representative

Answer 3

If the sample looks like the wider population

Question 4

Valid

Answer 4

A true picture of behaviour gained from a representative sample

Question 5

Generalisability

Answer 5

The ability to apply the findings to the whole group

Question 6

Representative sample

Answer 6

A small proportion of the group is selected as a representation of the larger population

Question 7

Informed Consent

Answer 7

When people know exactly what the research involves and agree to take part

Question 8

Anonymity

Answer 8

Keeping people’s names and identities secret

Question 9

Covert

Answer 9

When participants don’t know about the research

Question 10

Overt

Answer 10

When participants know research is taking place

Question 11

Response rate

Answer 11

How many people take part in the research

Question 12

Primary research

Answer 12

Research you conduct yourself

Question 13

Secondary data

Answer 13

Data that already exists that you then use

Question 14

Unstructured

Answer 14

When there are few or no set questions or things to observe for

Question 15

Structured

Answer 15

When there are set questions or things to observe for, like a check-list

Question 16

Going Native

Answer 16

When the researcher becomes so much a part of the group they’re no longer objective

Question 17

Positivism

Answer 17

A perspective on research which emphasises scientific, quantitative, reliable and representative methods

Question 18

Interpretivism

Answer 18

A perspective on research which emphasises free will, and the importance of valid, subjective methods

Question 19

Social Desirability

Answer 19

When people give answers or behave in a certain way to make themselves look good

Question 20

Qualitative

Answer 20

Descriptive data, usually about thoughts & feelings, and presented in words

Question 21

Quantitative

Answer 21

Data, usually presented in numbers, presented as statistics, graphs etc

Question 22

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 22

When people change their behaviour because they know they’re being watched

Question 23

Interviewer Bias

Answer 23

When researchers ask leading questions, or influence the respondents’ answers with their body language

Question 24

Interviewer Effect

Answer 24

When the gender, age, class, ethnicity or other characteristics of the researcher affect the respondent