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gcse sociology > research methods > Flashcards

research methods Flashcards

1
Q

what is overt observation

A

where the researcher makes the participants aware that theyre being observed

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2
Q

overt observation strengths

A

good detailed data, high validity as it doesnt effect/change participants day to day life, ethical as you can get informed consent,

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3
Q

overt observation weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, time consuming, hawthorne effect

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4
Q

whats the hawthorne effect

A

when people behave differently knowing theyre being watched

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5
Q

what is covert observation

A

where the researcher goes undercover and the people being observed are unaware

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6
Q

covert observation strengths

A

no hawthorne effect, good detailed data, high validity as it doesnt effect/change participants day to day life, access to secret/
unconscious behaviour of the group

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7
Q

covert observation weaknesses

A

unreliable, unethical as no informed consent has been gained, breach of privacy, time consuming, difficult

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8
Q

what is participant observation

A

when the researcher plays an active role in the group they are researching, and they become part of the group

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9
Q

participant observation strengths

A

detailed data, high validity as the research goes into the life of the group, builds rapport and trust

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10
Q

participant observation weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, time consuming, hawthorne effect, not much data

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11
Q

what is non-participant observation

A

when the researcher just watches the group without taking an active part in the activities of the group

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12
Q

non-participant observation strengths

A

detailed data, high validity as the research goes into the life of the group, builds rapport and trust

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13
Q

non-participant observation weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, hawthorne effect, time consuming, not much data

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14
Q

what are structured interviews

A

a conversation between two
people where the questions
have be set in advance and are
not deviated from

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15
Q

structured interview strengths

A

the researcher is present to explain

the questions, reliable, high response rate, builds a rapport which can help with sensitive topics

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16
Q

whats a rapport

A

a good relationship between the researcher and participant

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17
Q

structured interview weaknesses

A

time consuming, hawthorne effect, expensive to train interviewers, not anonymous

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18
Q

what are semi-structured interviews

A 
a conversation between two
people where the questions
have be set in advance but the
researcher is able to deviate
from them in response to the
participants answers
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19
Q

semi-structured interview strengths

A

researcher is present to explain

the questions, increased depth of data, verstehen: understand in a deeper way

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20
Q

semi-structured interview weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, hawthorne effect, time consuming, expensive to train interviewers, not anonymous

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21
Q

what are unstructured interviews

A 
a conversation between two
people where the initial question
may be set but all other
questions are based on the
responses from the participant
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22
Q

unstructured interview strengths

A

researcher is present to explain

the questions, increased depth of data, verstehen: understand in a deeper way

23
Q

unstructured interview weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, hawthorne effect, time consuming, expensive to train interviewers, not anonymous

24
Q

what are group interviews

A

where the researcher interviews
several people in one sitting,
these can be structured or
unstructured

25
Q

group interview strengths

A

researcher is present to explain
the questions, good to use when researching children, increased depth of data, verstehen: understand in a deeper way, participants can bounce off each other

26
Q

group interview weaknesses

A

lacks reliability, hawthorne effect, time consuming, expensive to train interviewers, not anonymous, peer group pressure

27
Q

what are open question questionnaires

A

an open question questionnaire is
a document that is handed to a
participant to complete alone, and the questions allow them to
explain their responses

28
Q

open question questionnaire strengths

A

cheap, quick, easy, anonymous, confidential, detailed in depth data, reliable access to large samples

29
Q

open question questionnaire weaknesses

A

low response rates, participant may misunderstand questions, difficult to analyse, the respondent may not be the intended participant

30
Q

what are closed question questionnaires

A

a closed question questionnaire
is a document that is handed to
a participant to complete alone, and the questions provide a selection of responses to choose from or a scale

31
Q

closed question questionnaire strengths

A

cheap, quick, easy, anonymous, confidential, reliable, access to large samples, easy to analyse

32
Q

closed question questionnaire weaknesses

A

low response rates, participant may misunderstand question, lacks validity as it lacks depth, the respondent may not be the intended participant

33
Q

what are web based questionnaires

A

questionnaires that are sent out by the internet, and can be a mixture of open and closed questions

34
Q

web based questionnaire strengths

A

cheap, quick, easy, anonymous, confidential, reliable, access to large samples, easy to analyse

35
Q

web based questionnaire weaknessed

A

low response rates as emails may go to junk mail, participants may misunderstand the question

36
Q

what are postal questionnaires

A

questionnaires that are sent out by the post, which can be open and closed questions

37
Q

postal questionnaire strengths

A

easy, anonymous, confidential, reliable, access to large samples

38
Q

postal questionnaire weaknesses

A

low response rates as people may discard the mail, time consuming waiting for delivery etc, participants may misunderstand the questions, expensive due to postage

39
Q

what are official statistics - (secondary data)

A

quantitative data that comes from governments and their agencies

40
Q

official statistic strengths

A

reliable, easy access, cheap, up to date data, can be used comparatively, allows researchers to see trends/correlations

41
Q

official statistic weaknesses

A

not much detail behind the data

42
Q

what are public and historical documents - (secondary data)

A

documents which are produced by government departments or state agencies as well as companies, charities, and other organisations

43
Q

public and historical document strengths

A

easy access, cheap, quick, avoids potential bias

44
Q

public and historical document weaknesses

A

unsure of authenticity, no guarantee of reliability, official documents may be censored

45
Q

what are personal documents - (secondary data)

A

personal documents consisting of qualitative data that show individuals or group experiences, feelings, attitudes, and motives

46
Q

personal document strengths

A

high validity as theyre detailed, ethnographic, cheap, easy access

47
Q

personal document weaknesses

A

unreliable, lack of validity as its only one persons experience

48
Q

what are laboratory experiments

A

research that takes place in an artificial setting on the variables are manipulated by the researcher

49
Q

laboratory experiment strengths

A

high reliability, can establish cause and effect, informed consent, easy to analyse data

50
Q

laboratory experiment weaknesses

A

artificial environment, may be impractical, not all variables can be controlled

51
Q

what are field experiments

A

research that takes place in a natural setting, but the researcher is manipulating the variables

52
Q

field experiment strengths

A

reliable, can establish cause and effect

53
Q

field experiment weaknesses

A

may be impractical, not all variables can be controlled

gcse sociology (2 decks)

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