questionnaires

Question 1

Hypothesis

Answer 1

An untested theory or explanation, expressed as a statement

Question 2

Operationalise key concepts

Answer 2

The process of turning a sociological concept or theory into something measuring

Question 3

Pilot study

Answer 3

This is a draft version of a questionnaire or interview to test the deign of your research

Question 4

Survey population

Answer 4

Is the whole group under investigation

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

Is a smaller group drawn from the survey population

Question 6

Representative sample

Answer 6

Is a smaller drawn from the survey population, of which it contains a good cross section

Question 7

Sampling frame

Answer 7

A list of names of all those included in the survey population from which the sample is selected. A commonly used list of names is the Electoral Register, which includes names and addresses of adults over 18 in Britain who can vote in elections

Question 8

Sampling methods

Answer 8

1. Random sampling2. Systematic sampling 3. Stratified random sampling 4. Quota sampling 5. Multistage or cluster sampling

Question 9

Advantages of questionnaires

Answer 9

1. Practical advantages - quick and cheap way of gathering large quantities of data 2. Reliability 3. Hypothesis testing 4. Detachment 5. Representativeness 6. Ethical issues

Question 10

Disadvantages of questionnaires

Answer 10

1. Practical problems - limited and superficial 2. Response rate 3. Inflexibility4. Questionnaires as snapshots 5. Detachment 6. Lying, forgetting and ‘right answerism’ 7. Imposing the researcher’s meanings

Question 11

Random sampling

Answer 11

When a researcher randomly selects participants for researcher from a list, out of a hat, or randomly generated choice by computer

Question 12

Systematic sampling

Answer 12

When a researcher selects every nth person on the sampling frame to be part of the sample

Question 13

Stratified random sampling

Answer 13

Sampling frame is divided up into various social groups and then random sampling is used for each group to ensure the final sample reflects the population in terms of the representations

Question 14

Quota sampling

Answer 14

Non probability sampling technique in which researchers create a sample involving individuals thats represent a population

Question 15

Snowball sampling

Answer 15

Non probability sampling technique in which a researcher begins with a small population of known individuals and expands the same by asking those initial participants to identify others that should participate in the study

Question 16

Practical - adv

Answer 16

Quick and cheap No need to train interviewers Data easy to quantify

Question 17

Reliability - adv

Answer 17

Reliable because can be repeated Allows comparisons to be made overtime People’s answers are their own ideas

Question 18

Hypothesis - adv

Answer 18

Useful in testing hypotheses about cause and effect relationships between variables

Question 19

Detachment - adv

Answer 19

They are a detached and objective form of research

Question 20

Representativeness - adv

Answer 20

Results stand better chance of being representative of wider population due to large amount of peopleResearchers who use questionnaires lend to pay more attention to the need to obtain a representative sample

Question 21

Ethical - adv

Answer 21

Questionnaires pose fewer ethnically problems than most other research methods Informed consent guarantee respondents

Question 22

Practical - disadv

Answer 22

Limited data and superficial (brief)Researcher cannot be sure the potential respondent received the questionnaire completed by the person to whom it was addressed to Can become expensive

Question 23

Response - disadv

Answer 23

Low response rate, especially with postal questionnaires Low response rate could be due to poor research design

Question 24

Inflexibility - disadv

Answer 24

Inflexible - once questions are finalised the researcher must stick with them Contrasts to flexible methods - unstructured interviews

Question 25

Snapshot - disadv

Answer 25

Gives picture of reality at only one moment when respondent answers question Therefore questionnaire faults to produce a fully valid picture

Question 26

Detachment - disadv

Answer 26

Lacks validity Lack of contact means no opportunity to clarify what the questions mean to the respondent

Question 27

Lying - disadv

Answer 27

Depends on respondents willingness to provide accurate answers Respondents may lie, forget about answers rather than tell the truth Observer cannot see what subjects are doing

Question 28

Imposing - disadv

Answer 28

Questionnaires are more likely to impose the researchers own meanings