Primary research methods Flashcards
The two types of data?
Quantitative data & Qualitative data
What is quantitative data?
Consists of data in a numerical form
What is qualitative data?
Any data that is not numerical
Three factors when evaluating data
- Reliability
- Validity
- Representativeness and generalisability
Research Methods and their sociologists
- Experiment (Rosenthal & Jacobson)
- Questionnaires (Douglas)
- Interviews (Labov)
- Observation / Participant observation (Wright)
- Official statistics (McKnight et al.)
- Documents (Feinstein)
What are the two philosophies of research?
- Positivism
- Interpretivism
Types of sampling
- Random
- Stratified random
- Quota
- Multi-stage
- Snowballing
- Opportunity
How is ‘random’ sampling conducted?
Every individual has an equal chance of being chosen (e.g. drawn out of a hat)
How is ‘stratified random’ sampling conducted?
Population divided into groups according to important variables (e.g. class, gender, ethnicity). Sample then chosen in same proportions as found in population
How is ‘quota’ sampling conducted?
Establishes pre-determined number of people with each particular characteristics.
How is ‘multi-stage’ sampling conducted?
Involves taking a sample of a sample
How is ‘snowballing’ sampling conducted?
Members of a sample put researcher in touch with other potential members
How is ‘opportunity’ sampling conducted?
People chosen on basis of being easily accessible and willing to participate in research
What is a ‘pilot study’?
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.
4 types of method of administering questionnaires
- Face-to-face
- Telephone
- Postal
- Internet
2 types of questionnaire questions
- Open-ended
2. Fixed-choice
The advantages of questionnaires
- 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
The disadvantages of questionnaires
- 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.
Degree of structure in interviews
- Structured (pre-set questions with no variation)
- Semi-structured (some fixed questions)
- Unstructured (no fixed questions, like a conversation)
2 types of interview
- Individual interviews
- Group interviews
Why do ‘quantitative’ researchers prefer interviews?
Larger samples can be used, statistical data can be produced with the coding of answers, and the research can be replicated to increase reliability
Why do ‘qualitative’ researchers prefer interviews?
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
What are the main disadvantages of interviews?
- 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
What is ‘overt’ participant observation?
Participant observation where the researcher is open about the fact that they are conducting research
What is ‘covert’ participant observation?
Participant observation where researchers do not reveal to the people being observed that they are conducting research
What are the main advantages of participant observation?
- 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
What are the main disadvantages of participant observation?
- 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.
