Research Methods Flashcards
Summarize ‘Positivist’ views
Positivists prefer quantitive methods such as structured interviews as they value the importance reliability, and being able to repeat their research various times to make sure they get the same results; this is also similar to the 3 sciences.
Summarize ‘Interpretivist’ view
Interpretivists prefer qualitative methods, such as unstructured interviews, as they value the importance of validity and being able get in-depth answers, as they stress the importance of how all humans are different.
What is ‘Validity’?
The research provided is depicts a true and genuine picture of what is being studied
What is ‘Sample’?
A smaller representative group drawn from the survey population for studying
What is ‘Representative’?
The information obtained from a representative sample should be the same if you were to do a study of the whole population.
What is ‘Generalize’?
Making a broad statement inferring from specific cases
What is ‘Bias’?
When you’re subjective rather than being objective; you let your opinions get in the way of your research
What is ‘Primary Data’?
Data collected by people their selves, usually obtained by surveys, interviews, etc.
What is ‘Secondary Data’?
Data collected from secondary sources (data that already exists); library, internet
What is ‘Ethical’?
Acting in a manner that’s morally right
What is ‘Quantitive Research’?
Numerical research
What is ‘Qualitative Research’?
Detailed in-depth research
What is ‘Reliable’?
research data that can be repeated and you’d still get the same results
Name 3 characteristics of Positivists
- Scientific methods
- Objective
- Reliable
- Generalize
- Macro
- Structured interviews
- Cheap and quick
Name 3 characteristics of Interprevists
- Subjective
- Unstructured Interviews
- Qualitative data
- Valid
- Expensive and time consuming
What is the ‘Hawthorne Effect’?
People acting differently depending on if they’re being watched or not
Name 3 different sampling methods
- Systematic
- Stratified
- Cluster
- Quota
- Snowball
What is ‘Covert’?
and name a pro and con
Where research participants are not entirely informed about the study going on or are just not informed at all
pro - Interview bias can be avoided
- Doesn’t disturb the normal behavior of the group
con - Ethical concerns
What is ‘Overt’?
Where research participants are informed and are aware of the study going on
What is a ‘participant observation’?
Where the research is participating in the study, this could be covert (where the other participants don’t know they’re being observed) or can be overt (where everyone knows they’re being observed).
What is a ‘non-participant observation’?
Where the research isn’t participating in the study, this could be covert (where the other participants don’t know they’re being observed) or can be overt (where everyone knows they’re being observed).
What is the ‘Imposition Problem’?
The risk that researchers might be imposing their own views and framework on the people being questioned
What are ‘Laboratory Experiments ‘?
Favoured by positivists, lab experiments occur in a controlled environment where the researcher changes the independent variable and measures the effect on the dependent variable.
What are ‘Field Experiments’?
Favoured by interprevists, field experiments take place in a real world context.
What’s a ‘Hypotheses’?
it is an idea or assumption that needs to be tested to determine its validity.
Name 1 practical pro and con of Lab Experiments
Pros
- Easy to attract funding because of the prestige of science.
- Take place in one setting so researchers can conduct research like any other day-job
Cons
- It is impractical to observe large scale social processes in a laboratory
- Time – Small samples mean you will need to conduct research many times
Name 2 Ethical pros and cons of Lab Experiments
Pros
- Legality; lab experiments rarely ask participants to do anything illegal.
- Findings benefit society
- Most laboratory experiments seek to gain informed consent
Cons
- Deception and lack of informed consent – it is often necessary to deceive subjects to avoid Hawthorne effect
- Some specific experiments have resulted in harm to respondents
Name 2 theoretical pros and cons of Lab Experiments
Pros
- Good Reliability because it is easy to replicate the exact same conditions.
- The controlled conditions of laboratory experiments allow researchers to isolate variable
- You can collect ‘objective’ knowledge
Cons
- The Hawthorne Effect may further reduce validity
- Laboratory experiments lack external validity
- human behaviour cannot be explained through simple cause and effect relationships
Name 2 pros and cons of Field Experiments
Pros
- Larger scale settings
- Better external validity
Cons
- It is not possible to control variables as closely as with laboratory experiments
- Reliability is weaker – because it’s more difficult to replicate the exact context of the research again.
- The Hawthorne Effect
What is ‘Random Sampling’?
Random sampling involves selecting participants at random from a population
What is ‘Stratified Sampling’?
Dividing the population into groups relevant characteristics and then randomly selecting participants from each group.
What is ‘Cluster Sampling’?
Selecting clusters from a population and then randomly selecting participants from within those clusters.
What is ‘Systematic Sampling’?
Every nth person is chosen from a sampling frame.
What is ‘‘Snowball Sampling’?
Involves selecting participants who then refer the researcher to other potential participants.
What is ‘Quota Sampling’?
Where researchers choose a certain number of participants from different categories, such as age or gender,
