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Sociology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Qualitative research - interpretivists

A

These methods find descriptive data about an issue. For example what people think about an issue their opinions eg unstructured interviews and observations

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2
Q

Quantitative research - positivists

A

These methods try to be more factual and objective eg questionnaires and structured interviews

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3
Q

Primary data

A

New data produced by researchers eg questionnaires, interviews and observation

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4
Q

Secondary data

A

Data which already exists which can be used by researches eg official stats ,existing resources and documents

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5
Q

Bias

A

Where the views of the researcher affect the research

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6
Q

Objectivity

A

Remaining neutral - researchers values does not affect their work - positivist

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7
Q

Reliability

A

If the same piece of research was repeated by a different sociologist then it should produce the same results (consistent) (repeatability) positivist

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8
Q

Representativeness

A

Sample shares the same characteristics as the population under study - positivist

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9
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which data gives a true picture of the subject being studied - interpretivists

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10
Q

Positivism

A

Social SCIENCE
Sociology adopts methods of natural sciences
Focus on objectivity, reliability, and representativeness
Quantitative research
Social facts
MACRO

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11
Q

Interpretivism

A 
SOCIAL science
Focus on validity 
Verstehen (empathy)
Qualitative research 
Depth, detail, opinions and meanings 
micro
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12
Q

Realism

A

Middle ground between positivist and interpretivists

Triangulation - using two or more different methods of research

Methodological pluralism - combining positivist and interpretivist approaches

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13
Q

Ethical issues DRIPP

Rights and wrongs of research

A 
Deception 
Right to withdraw 
Informed Vincent
Protection of participants 
Privacy
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14
Q

Practical issues TRAMP

A 
Time (who will fund research TRM)
Resources
Access (gatekeeper)
Money 
Personal traits (CAGEs) (class age gender ethnicity sexuality) (could cause bias)
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15
Q

Theoretical PIQQ

A

Positivist
Interpretivist
Quantitative
Qualitative

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16
Q

PERVERT - acronym

A 
Practical
Ethical
Reliability
Validity 
Example
Representativeness 
Theoretical
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17
Q

Operationalising concepts

A

Defining sociological concepts in such a way that they can be studied or measured
Without a definition to guide the research there would be no clear idea of what precisely was under study

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18
Q

Deception

A

If subjects of the research are unaware or misled about its aims then they have been deceived

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19
Q

Anonymity

A

Participants are not identified - encourages open honesty

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20
Q

Sampling frame

A

A list of names which make up a target population

21
Q

Purposive sampling

A

Participants are selected according to the needs of the study. Applicants who do not meet the profile are rejected

22
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

The researcher studies whoever is willing to and available to take part in study (convenient sampling)

23
Q

Gate keeper

A

Someone with trust and respect of the group who can ease the introduction of researcher - allows access to group

24
Q

Access

A

Before information can be collected the researcher needs to contact the group they wish to study

25
Q

Pilot study

A

A small scale trial run before the main study to iron out any problems with wording / questions / interviewer technique

26
Q

Representative

A

A sample is representative if it shares the same characteristics as the population under study which means results might enable generalisations about a wider population - positivists

27
Q

Systematic sampling

A

Every nth person is chosen from a sampling frame

Strength : used for very large samples, it provides the best chance of an unbiased representative sample

Weakness : in some situations using a system to select the participants can make the sample biased eg 10th person may be male

28
Q

Stratified sampling

A

A random sample is taken from particular social categories eg age gender race etc which make up population being studied.

Strength - deliberate effort is made to make the sampling representative of target population

Weakness - it can be time consuming as the sub-categories to be identified and participants calculated

29
Q

Quota sampling

A

Mainly used for market researchers in the street eg the may stop and interview a certain number of people eg housewives ages 25-40 y/o

Strength - deliberate effort is made to make sample representative of target population

Weakness - it can be time consuming as the subcategories have to be identified and proportions calculated. There might be bias in the sample making it unrepresentative because researchers just ask people until they have enough

30
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

Strength - quick convenient and economical. A most common type of sampling in practice

Weakness- very unrepresentative sample, often biased by researcher who will likely chose people who are ‘helpful’

31
Q

Snowball sampling

A

Strength - a useful way of finding participants with a certain attribute (eg. They are a member of a cult or a drug user who might not wish to be found otherwise)

Weakness - can be very biased, people with more friends are more likely to be selected as participants. Some people might not want to be ‘found’ by sociologists

32
Q

How many an interviewer affect research

A

Social characteristics - CAGE
Personal characteristics- body language, tone of voice, style of dress, appearance
Status differences
Leading questions

33
Q

Strengths of focus groups

A

Lots of information quickly (cheaper)
Group dynamics helps respondents relax/open up
More natural behaviour than a private interview (validity)
Can observe group interactions

34
Q

Strengths of unstructured interviews

A 
High response rate
Can build a rapport with the respondent 
Free flowing and more relaxed 
Explore new ideas (less restricted) 
High in validity 
Can probe for details
35
Q

Strengths of structured interviews

A 
High response rate
Quick to complete 
High in reliability (closed standardised Qs)
Data easy to quantify 
Lessens interviews bias 
Useful in finding factual data
36
Q

Strengths of semi structured interviews

A

Can build a rapport with respondent more easily than structured interviews
Flexible but still structured to some extent (keeps focus)
Increases both reliability and validity (open and closed Qs)
Helps find balance between objectivity and subjectivity
High response rate

37
Q

Weaknesses of unstructured interviews

A

No structure go off point less reliable
Small scale unrepresentative
Difficult to quantify qualitative responses
Interviewed needs to be highly skilled
Time consuming
Interviewer bias - leading Qs socially acceptable responses CAGE of interviewer
Highly subjective (value - laden)

38
Q

Weaknesses of semi structured interviews

A 
Difficult to compare and quantify 2 types of data (non compatible)
Time consuming compared to structured 
Still restricts responses
Never fully reliable or valid
Still chance of interviewer bias
39
Q

Weaknesses of focus groups

A

Difficult to analyse results
Difficult to build individual rapport
Each focus group is so unique so results unreliable
Small sample so unrepresentative
Group dynamics means respondents might blend in or exaggerate / lie or dominate or conform = invalid

40
Q

Weaknesses of structured interviews

A 
Interview schedule is restrictive 
Lack of probing means lack of detail
Lacks validity 
Still a chance of interviewer bias 
Imposition problem (researcher decided the Qs and responses)
41
Q

The Hawthorne effect

A

This is when people behave differently when they know they are being studied. There by undermining the validity of the study

42
Q

Observational research

A

Covert - undercover researcher
Overt - open honest researcher

Issues : 
Joining group / access 
Recording Info
Maintaining objectivity
Ethical concerns 
Grounded theory / hypothesis formation
43
Q

Strengths of covert participation observation

A

Enables sociologists to study otherwise hard to reach groups. Detailed qualitative data can be obtained

The data records what actually happens, does not rely on respondents answering questions honestly.

44
Q

Weaknesses of covert participant observation

A

Researcher has to rely on memory of events who said what, accuracy ? Biased?

Practical problem of gaining access to group

Have to be careful not to draw too much attention have to gain trust

Significant ethical issues - consent - deception

Issue of safety if involved in illegal behaviour

45
Q

Strengths of overt participation observation

A

The ethical issues of deception and obtaining consent are resolved

The researcher can ask questions openly without fear of giving the game away

Record making and note taking is easier making data more accurate

46
Q

Weaknesses of overt observation

A

The Hawthorne effect is more likely to occur if group is aware of presence and purpose of researcher

The question of how far the researcher should become involved especially in deviant activities remain

47
Q

Overt non participant observation strengths

A

Easier to make a record of what is happening

Ethical issues of deception and consent resolved

Researchers can ask questions openly

Allows collection of quantitative data as well as qualitative data

Researcher is not likely to be involved in behaving illegally

48
Q

Overt non participation observation weaknesses

A

In every day life we do it expect those we are with to be taking notes or recording events. Affects usefulness of research - Hawthorne effect

By remaining on the edge researchers are not fully experiencing the groups life - could undermine research

Sociology (5 decks)

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