Methods On Xollecting Datav Flashcards
Primary
Collected first hand by a researcher to perfectly suit hypothesis
Time consuming and could be bias
Secondary
Collected by other researchers applied to modern hypothesis, compares past and present society
May not be 100% suitable for modern research question and may not be reliable
Quantitative
Any data that can be represented as numbers and statistics and easily generalised o form a law of behaviour
Collected through methods including structured interviews and questionnaires
More reliable but doesn’t provide meaning behind a behaviour
Qualitative
Any verbal data involving opinions and meanings collected through methods such as unstructured interviews observations and documents good for researching sensitive topics but open to interpretation
Positivism
Assumes society has objective social fact
Society exerts influence on its members
Interpretivism
Reality constructed through meaning created through individuals
Actions are result of our own meanings not external force
Researchers should develop rapport, empathy to increase validity
Primary sources
Questionnaires structured interviews
Qualitative data
Participant observations
Unstructured interviews
Secondary sources
Official statistics
Qualitative data
Letters, newspaper articles
Ethical
Informed consent, confidentiality, privacy
Consent
Able to refuse being researched, vulnerable groups, covert research
Theoretical
Validity, representatiivenes, reliability, perspective, theoretical
Validity
True and accurate description or measurement
Genuine and authentic
Reliability
Even if using different methods same results would be generated
