Research Methods Flashcards
Qualitative research - interpretivists
These methods find descriptive data about an issue. For example what people think about an issue their opinions eg unstructured interviews and observations
Quantitative research - positivists
These methods try to be more factual and objective eg questionnaires and structured interviews
Primary data
New data produced by researchers eg questionnaires, interviews and observation
Secondary data
Data which already exists which can be used by researches eg official stats ,existing resources and documents
Bias
Where the views of the researcher affect the research
Objectivity
Remaining neutral - researchers values does not affect their work - positivist
Reliability
If the same piece of research was repeated by a different sociologist then it should produce the same results (consistent) (repeatability) positivist
Representativeness
Sample shares the same characteristics as the population under study - positivist
Validity
The extent to which data gives a true picture of the subject being studied - interpretivists
Positivism
Social SCIENCE
Sociology adopts methods of natural sciences
Focus on objectivity, reliability, and representativeness
Quantitative research
Social facts
MACRO
Interpretivism
SOCIAL science Focus on validity Verstehen (empathy) Qualitative research Depth, detail, opinions and meanings micro
Realism
Middle ground between positivist and interpretivists
Triangulation - using two or more different methods of research
Methodological pluralism - combining positivist and interpretivist approaches
Ethical issues DRIPP
Rights and wrongs of research
Deception Right to withdraw Informed Vincent Protection of participants Privacy
Practical issues TRAMP
Time (who will fund research TRM) Resources Access (gatekeeper) Money Personal traits (CAGEs) (class age gender ethnicity sexuality) (could cause bias)
Theoretical PIQQ
Positivist
Interpretivist
Quantitative
Qualitative
PERVERT - acronym
Practical Ethical Reliability Validity Example Representativeness Theoretical
Operationalising concepts
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
Deception
If subjects of the research are unaware or misled about its aims then they have been deceived
Anonymity
Participants are not identified - encourages open honesty
Sampling frame
A list of names which make up a target population
Purposive sampling
Participants are selected according to the needs of the study. Applicants who do not meet the profile are rejected
Opportunity sampling
The researcher studies whoever is willing to and available to take part in study (convenient sampling)
Gate keeper
Someone with trust and respect of the group who can ease the introduction of researcher - allows access to group
Access
Before information can be collected the researcher needs to contact the group they wish to study
Pilot study
A small scale trial run before the main study to iron out any problems with wording / questions / interviewer technique
Representative
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
Systematic sampling
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
Stratified sampling
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
Quota sampling
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
Opportunity sampling
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’
Snowball sampling
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
How many an interviewer affect research
Social characteristics - CAGE
Personal characteristics- body language, tone of voice, style of dress, appearance
Status differences
Leading questions
Strengths of focus groups
Lots of information quickly (cheaper)
Group dynamics helps respondents relax/open up
More natural behaviour than a private interview (validity)
Can observe group interactions
Strengths of unstructured interviews
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
Strengths of structured interviews
High response rate Quick to complete High in reliability (closed standardised Qs) Data easy to quantify Lessens interviews bias Useful in finding factual data
Strengths of semi structured interviews
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
Weaknesses of unstructured interviews
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)
Weaknesses of semi structured interviews
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
Weaknesses of focus groups
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
Weaknesses of structured interviews
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)
The Hawthorne effect
This is when people behave differently when they know they are being studied. There by undermining the validity of the study
Observational research
Covert - undercover researcher
Overt - open honest researcher
Issues : Joining group / access Recording Info Maintaining objectivity Ethical concerns Grounded theory / hypothesis formation
Strengths of covert participation observation
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.
Weaknesses of covert participant observation
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
Strengths of overt participation observation
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
Weaknesses of overt observation
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
Overt non participant observation strengths
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
Overt non participation observation weaknesses
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
