Research Methods Flashcards
What is primary data (give three examples)
Primary data has been collected directly by the researchers themselves.
E.g:
- observation
- questionnaires/ surveys/ interviews
- first hand experience
Why is social research so important? (3)
- limits crime
- improves society
- improves education
- better understanding of the wider societies
What is secondary research (give 3 examples).
Secondary data are sources which have been used by sociologists but collected by other people.
E.g:
- TV documentaries
- personal documents, diaries, texts
- official statistics
What other name is given to the ‘monies’
The unification church
Who studied the moonies? What research method(s) did she use?
Eileen Barker; triangulation method
What is objective data?
Information gathered reflects what is really out there in the world, knowledge free from bias, opinions and values of the researcher; it can be measured.
What is subjective data?
Knowledge that only reflects the narrow opinions of researchers; based on the opinions of the individual.
What are the theories of methodology (5)
- positivism
- interpretivism
- realism
- feminist methodology
- science vs sociology
What is quantitative data? Give an example.
Information that appears in numerical form or statistics. E.g graphs, closed questions
What is qualitative data? Give an example
Information in written form, e.g. transcripts of interviews, newspapers.
What are the three factors/ issues of research methods
Ethical
Practical
Theoretical
Practical issues (8)
Personal interest Personal characteristics Cost Funding Time Access/ subject matter Opportunity Relevance
Who carried out the study ‘gang leader for a day’
Sudhir Venkatesh
Ethical factors (6)
Informed consent Confidentiality and privacy Effects on participants Vulnerable groups Covert research Lack of access
Case study: impersonal sex in public places; who carried out this study? Why?
Laud humphreys, to gain more of an objective understanding of who the men are and what motivates them to seek quick, impersonal sexual gratification.
What research methods did humphreys use?
Covert Participant observation, unstructured interviews.
Did anything come out of humphreys research?
Yes;it persuaded police to stop using their resources on arrest for this victimless crime. Social benefit..?
What research methods did venkatesh use…?
Questionnaires, observations and unstructured data interviews. Covertly collecting certain data and information. Personal experience.
What did venkatesh obtain from his study?
Housing projects in Chicago were largely controlled by street gangs who made their money by dealing drugs and extortion, gambling, prostitution and selling property. He named this ‘outlaw capitalism’ it provided society with important information on how criminal gangs were managed.
Theoretical factors (6)
- bias
- objectivity
- reliability
- representativeness
- validity
- verstehen
What is positivism
A philosophy of social science and theory of methodology which suggests social behaviour should be researched with the same principles applied to natural science.
What are Marxism and feminism sometimes referred to as…?
Committed sociology
What factors influence the sociologists choice of topic?
- the sociologists perspective
- society’s values
- practical values
- practical factors
- funding bodies
