research

Question 1

Social surveys give ___ data

Answer 1

Social surveys give quantitative data

• social surveys tend to be used by positivists
• the data can be analysed to see a pattern
• they’re reliable so government agencies and research companies use them.

Question 2

Social survey limiting factors:

Answer 2

• It could be too expensive
• It can take a long time to gather information from an entire population.
• Some people may not be representative of the target population so it may be invalid
• Accuracy of generalisation

Question 3

Questionnaires mainly give __ data

Answer 3

Quantitative data

- The reliability and validity depends on how the questionnaire is structured

Question 4

What data do closed questions give

Answer 4

Quantitative data (positivists prefer this data)

Question 5

What data do open-ended questions give

Answer 5

Qualitative data (interpretivists prefer this data)

Question 6

Questionnaires should…

Answer 6

• Use simple and clear questions
• Give clear instructions and be easy for respondent
• Give a range of options on multiple-choice questions
• Measure what you want to measure

Question 7

Questionnaires shouldn’t…

Answer 7

• Ask embarrassing questions
• Ask two questions instead of one
• Be too long
• Use sociological terms that people may not understand
• Manipulate the respondent’s answer

Question 8

Advantages of Questionnaires

Answer 8

• Easy to administer and lots of data can be collected fast.
• Reliable.
• Anonymous and makes them suitable for sensitive questions.
• They produce representative data

Question 9

limitations of questionnaires

Answer 9

• Respondents may not be telling the truth
• Questions may be misleading
• Respondents can’t give extra information
• Postal questionnaires are a small sample therefore, not always representative of a population.

Question 10

What is an interview?

Answer 10

An interview is a conversation between a researcher and an interviewee where the interviewer asks a set of questions.

Question 11

Structured interviews give __ data

Answer 11

Quantitative

Question 12

Unstructured interviews give __ data

Answer 12

Qualitative

Question 13

Experiments let you find…

Answer 13

Cause and effect

Question 14

kinds of experiments:

Answer 14

Lab experiments and field experiments

Question 15

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 15

Lab experiments are done in controlled environments. The researcher changes the independent variable and observes the effect on the dependent variable. This method is used by positivists

Question 16

what is a field experiment?

Answer 16

Field experiments are a response to the criticisms of lab experiments. They take place outside of a lab in real social settings, also those involved are normally unaware. This method is used by interpretivists

Question 17

Observations are…

Answer 17

An observation is watching behaviour in real life settings.

Question 18

Covert Observations

Answer 18

Covert observations are observations where the researcher does not tell the group that they are being observed.

Question 19

Example of when covert observations have been used

Answer 19

Nigel fielding’s experiment in 1981 when he observed the National Front ( a far-right political party)

Question 20

Overt observations

Answer 20

An Overt observation is when the researcher tells the group that they are being observed

Question 21

Example of when overt observations have been used

Answer 21

Beverley Skeggs in 1991 when studying female sexuality among students in college

Question 22

Participant observation

Answer 22

Participant observation is when a researcher becomes a part of a group to gain a better understanding on a subject

Question 23

Non-participant observation

Answer 23

Non-participant observation is when a researcher observes a group but does not become a part of the group and does not partake in the activities that the group may be involved with