Methods in context key concepts

Question 1

Practical

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Ethical

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Representative

Answer 3

If the sample looks like the wider population

Question 4

Reliable

Answer 4

Whether research can be repeated in exactly the same way

Question 5

Valid

Answer 5

A true picture of behaviour gained from a representative sample

Question 6

Generalisability

Answer 6

The ability to apply the findings to the whole group

Question 7

Representative sample

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Informed consent

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Anonymity

Answer 9

Keeping people’s names and identities secret

Question 10

Covert

Answer 10

When participants don’t know about the research (closed)

Question 11

Overt

Answer 11

When participants know research is taking place (open)

Question 12

Response rate

Answer 12

How many people take part in the research

Question 13

Primary research

Answer 13

Research you conduct yourself

Question 14

Secondary research

Answer 14

Data that already exists that you then use

Question 15

Unstructured

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Structured

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Going Native

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Positivism

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Interpretivism

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Social desireability

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Qualitative

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Quantitative

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Hawthorne effect

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Interviewer bias

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Interviewer effect

Answer 25

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