Research Design

Question 1

Observations:

Covert

Answer 1

The researcher doesn’t tell the participants that they are being studied.

Can cause ethical concerns.

Question 2

Observations:

Overt

Answer 2

Is when the group knows about the research and who the researcher is.

People may change their behaviour knowing they are being observed.

Question 3

Observations:

Participant observation

Answer 3

When the researcher actively involves themselves in the group.

Question 4

Observations:

Non-participant observation

Answer 4

When the researcher observes but isn’t actively involved in the group.

Question 5

Interviews:

Structured interviews.

Answer 5

They are like questionnaires but where there is an interviewer to ask the questions.
They are reliable and use close questions, as well as multiple choice.
They give quantitative data.

Question 6

Interviews:

Unstructured interviews

Answer 6

They are informal and have more open-ended questions - give qualitative data.
Usually used when researching sensitive issues.

Question 7

Questionnaires.

Answer 7

Use closed questions and multiple choice questions.

They can give qualitative data or quantitative depending on how it has been structured.

Question 8

Questionnaires advantages

Answer 8

• Easy to administer and gather a lot of data quickly.
• They are reliable.
• Quantitative data can be analysed easily.
• Anonymous and not face-to-face - easier for sensitive topics.
• Can give representative data if sample is large enough.

Question 9

Questionnaires disadvantages

Answer 9

• They aren’t valid - respondents may lie.
• May be misleading or mean different things to different people.
• Respondents can’t give any extra info.
• Low response rate - not representative.
• No-one to explain questions.

Question 10

Experiments:

Two kinds

Answer 10

Lab experiments - Done in a controlled environment.

Field experiments - Take place in real social settings, and those involved are unaware.

Question 11

Experiments:

Lab advantages + disadvantages

Answer 11

Advs:
- Researcher has control
- Give reliable quantitative data.
- The experiment can be repeated.
Disadvs:
- Hard to replicate real social settings.
- Difficult to isolate single variables.
- Moral and ethical issues.
- May feel intimidated or act differently.

Question 12

Experiments:

Field advantages + disadvantages.

Answer 12

Advs:
- Done in natural settings - like real life.
- Show hidden meanings of everyday social interactions.
Disadvs:
- Can’t control the variables.
- May change behaviour if they know it’s a study.
- Ethical issue - consent.