Primary methods in research Flashcards
What are the strengths of questionnaries(quantitative and qualitative)? What is it best for?
Weaknesses?
Strengths(Reliability/validity)? Weaknesses?
Representative strength? Weakness?
Practicality strength?
Weakness?
Ethics strength? Weakness?
-Can produce both quantitative and qualitative data. Best for quantitative.
-It’s not ideal for qualitative data- difficult to analyse.
-Mixture of open and closed questons- triangulation, producing data that is reliable and valid. Good for reliability(same questions can be used).
-However, it lacks validity.
-A representative strength is that it can access large samples.
-The weakness is it depends on the sampling method. Can have low response rates.
-Practicality strength= relatively cheap, quick and easy. Weakness= Can be expensive if using post and incentives.
-Ethics strength=Anonymous, confidential and Consential. Weakness= Stress and discomfort.
-Theory strength=Favoured by positivists. Weakness=Less useful for interpretivists.
What are the 3 types of interview used in social research?
What other research method are structured interviews similar to? How is it different in terms of contact with target group?
What advantage do structured interviews have over this other method? Disadvantage?
-Structured interviews, semi-structured interviews & unstructured interviews.
-Structured interviews are essentially questionnaires and therefore share most of the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
-The only difference is that they are completed face to face by the researcher, rather than having the option of posting or emailing questions.
-This has the advantage of ensuring a higher response rate and being able to check understanding.
-It has the disadvantage of being more time-consuming and being likely to reach smaller samples.
What are unstructured interviews? How are they conducted?
Why do feminists favour this approach? What two notable feminist examples showcase this?
-These are interviews with no preset questions. The interviewer will have some themes or topics to cover, but will allow a free-flowing conversation and will let the interviewee discuss what they want.
-Feminists favour this approach because of where the power lies.(Not with the researcher).
-Dobash and Dobash on domestic violence(1979) & Oakley (1980) childbirth.
How do observations vary(4 ways)? Describe the difference of participant/non-participant observation, with an example detailing how it would be conducted in school lessons.
-Observations can be participant or non-participant, and they can be covert or overt.
-Participant observation is where the researcher plays an active part in what is being observed. If we use the example of a lesson observation in a school or college, a participant observation would be where the observer completed the activities, answered questions, joined in discussions etc.
-Non-participant observation is where the observer simply watches without taking part. In the lesson observation for example, they might sit on a separate desk with a good view of the whole room and take no part in the lesson at all.
What is a covert observation? Who’s work on football hooligans used this method? Or Criminal gangs in Glasgow?
What are its quantitative/qualitative strengths? Weaknesses?
Strengths for reliability/validity? Weaknesses?
Strengths of its practicality? Weaknesses?
Ethical strengths? Weakness?
Who favours this method theoretically? Who does not?
-Covert observation is where the research subjects are unaware that they are being observed. This means they should act more naturally, although it is ethically very problematic.
-Used by Pearson when studying football hooligans & Patrick on criminal gangs in Glasgow.
-Rich in qualitative data, but not the best source of quantitative data.
-High in validity, ethnography, verstehen. However, it is still subjective and is considered as going native(losing objectivity).
-The strength of its practicality= it is the only way to access this type of data. Weakness= Time-consuming, expensive. Getting in staying in, getting out.
-Ethical strength=Informed consent for overt observations. Weakness= Deception, law breaking, Risk of harm.
-Useful for interpretivists. Not useful for positivists.
What form of observation do sociologists conduct to avoid the problems of covert observation?
Despite avoiding deception what other issues does this cause damaging the quality of research?
Whose ‘Gang leader of a day’ study used overt observation.
-To avoid ethical problems of covert observation, many sociologists conduct overt observations.
-Produces the Hawthorne effect(the idea that research subjects behave differently when they know they are being observed.
-Venkatesh=’ Gang leader of a day’.
How are experiments similar/different to observations?
Where do lab experiments take place?
Why are lab experiments very rare in sociology?
Give a crime example involving dolls where this method was used?
-An experiment is a form of observation where variables are controlled in order to test a hypothesis.
-A laboratory experiment takes place in a manufactured environment where most variables can be effectively controlled.
-These are very rare in sociology because it is hard to create social situations in a controlled environment.
-This method can be seen in the study of Bandura’s ‘bobo doll’.
What form of experiment is more used in sociology than lab ?
What do they contain more of? How is this method more unreliable than lab experiments?
Give a well known example where this method of research was used for teacher labelling/self fulfilling prophecy?
-Field experiments.
-They carry more validity in the data produced.
-They are more unreliable because of the problem of controlling variables.
-This method was used in the case of Rosenthal and Jacobson on teacher labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy.
What are the qualitative/quantitative strengths of field experiments? Weaknesses?
Reliability/validity strengths? Weakness?
Are they representative? What is the weakness of this?
What may cause weakness in its practicality?
Ethical strengths of this method? Weakness?
Whose theory favours this method of research?
-Qualitative/quantitative strengths= Usually quantitative in data.
-Reliability/validity strengths= Should be reliable. Weakness= The Hawthorne effect & the controlling of variables.
-NO. They have difficulty in reaching large samples & are unlikely to be generalisable.
-Practicality may be harmed by gatekeepers.
-Ethical strength=informed consent. Weakness= Deception. Stress, discomfort or harm.
-Favoured by interpretivists. Not preferred by postivists.
What is the most common form of interview in sociology? Explain this interview type.
What are they more time consuming than? What do they produce more of?
-The most common form of interview in sociology is sem-structured interviews.
-This is where the interviewer has prepared some questions but will ask subsidary questions if necessary and pursue interesting lines of inquiry.
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