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Sociology Paper 1 - Education > Primary research methods > Flashcards

Primary research methods Flashcards

1
Q

The two types of data?

A

Quantitative data & Qualitative data

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2
Q

What is quantitative data?

A

Consists of data in a numerical form

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3
Q

What is qualitative data?

A

Any data that is not numerical

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4
Q

Three factors when evaluating data

A
  1. Reliability
  2. Validity
  3. Representativeness and generalisability
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5
Q

Research Methods and their sociologists

A
  • Experiment (Rosenthal & Jacobson)
  • Questionnaires (Douglas)
  • Interviews (Labov)
  • Observation / Participant observation (Wright)
  • Official statistics (McKnight et al.)
  • Documents (Feinstein)
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6
Q

What are the two philosophies of research?

A
  • Positivism

- Interpretivism

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7
Q

Types of sampling

A
  • Random
  • Stratified random
  • Quota
  • Multi-stage
  • Snowballing
  • Opportunity
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8
Q

How is ‘random’ sampling conducted?

A

Every individual has an equal chance of being chosen (e.g. drawn out of a hat)

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9
Q

How is ‘stratified random’ sampling conducted?

A

Population divided into groups according to important variables (e.g. class, gender, ethnicity). Sample then chosen in same proportions as found in population

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10
Q

How is ‘quota’ sampling conducted?

A

Establishes pre-determined number of people with each particular characteristics.

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11
Q

How is ‘multi-stage’ sampling conducted?

A

Involves taking a sample of a sample

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12
Q

How is ‘snowballing’ sampling conducted?

A

Members of a sample put researcher in touch with other potential members

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13
Q

How is ‘opportunity’ sampling conducted?

A

People chosen on basis of being easily accessible and willing to participate in research

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14
Q

What is a ‘pilot study’?

A

A small-scale trial study conducted before the main study in order to test the feasibility of the main study and to refine the research methods being used.

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15
Q

4 types of method of administering questionnaires

A
  1. Face-to-face
  2. Telephone
  3. Postal
  4. Internet
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16
Q

2 types of questionnaire questions

A
  1. Open-ended

2. Fixed-choice

17
Q

The advantages of questionnaires

A
  • large amounts of data can be collected quickly
  • little personal involvement by researchers
  • access to subjects is easy
  • no great ethical issues
  • easy to quantify the results
18
Q

The disadvantages of questionnaires

A
  • could be an ethical issue of confidentiality
  • the validity of the data may be undermined by deliberate lying, faulty memory or misunderstanding
  • researchers assume that they know what is important, so find it difficult to develop novel hypotheses.
19
Q

Degree of structure in interviews

A
  1. Structured (pre-set questions with no variation)
  2. Semi-structured (some fixed questions)
  3. Unstructured (no fixed questions, like a conversation)
20
Q

2 types of interview

A
  • Individual interviews

- Group interviews

21
Q

Why do ‘quantitative’ researchers prefer interviews?

A

Larger samples can be used, statistical data can be produced with the coding of answers, and the research can be replicated to increase reliability

22
Q

Why do ‘qualitative’ researchers prefer interviews?

A

Concepts can be clarified and there is more opportunity for respondents to express ideas in their own way, say what is important to them and explore issues in depth

23
Q

What are the main disadvantages of interviews?

A
  • As with questionnaires, the validity of interview data may be affected by respondents being truthful
  • Answers can be affected by faulty memory or people not fully understanding their own behaviour
24
Q

What is ‘overt’ participant observation?

A

Participant observation where the researcher is open about the fact that they are conducting research

25
Q

What is ‘covert’ participant observation?

A

Participant observation where researchers do not reveal to the people being observed that they are conducting research

26
Q

What are the main advantages of participant observation?

A
  • Researches are less likely than in other methods to impose their own concepts, structures and preconceptions on the data.
  • Gain answers to questions that had not been anticipated
  • Difficult for respondents to lie or mislead
  • Provides in-depth studies that can be useful both for developing new theories
27
Q

What are the main disadvantages of participant observation?

A
  • Time-consuming for the researcher
  • Researchers’ lives may be disrupted
  • likely to be too small for generalisations
  • interpretations are rather subjective as the researcher has to be very selective about what is reported.

Sociology Paper 1 - Education (6 decks)

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