Research Methods

Question 1

what is validity? give examples

Answer 1

research provides a true picture of social reality e.g. observation, unstructures interviews, documents that capture a period of time

Question 2

what is reliability?

Answer 2

if someone else repeats the same research with the same population, they should achieve the same results

Question 3

what is representativeness?

Answer 3

sample reflects characteristics of the wider target population that is being studied

Question 4

what are some strengths and weaknesses of secondary data?

Answer 4

strengths
* accessible
* wide range of topics
* cheap/ free
* usually up to date
weaknesses
* not always specific- gathered by a different person for a different purpose
* no depth
* doesn’t explain why trends presented occur
* could be biased

Question 5

advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires/ surveys

Answer 5

advantages
* lots of quantitative data- can be analysed
* representative
* cost-effective
disadvantages
* questionable validity
* large amounts of data- time consuming and difficult to interpret
* no depth or detail
* dishonesty

Question 6

name the 6 types of sampling

Answer 6

• opportunity
• random
• quota
• stratified
• snowball
• systematic

Question 7

describe and evaluate opportunity sampling

Answer 7

• researcher chooses who they first see and who is most available to them
• unrepresentative, no sampling frame, biases (participants are like the researcher)

Question 8

describe and evaluate random sampling

Answer 8

• equal chance of selection
• unrepresentative, but unbiased

Question 9

define and evaluate quota sampling

Answer 9

• proportionate to a characteristic or trait of the wider population
• representative, not random, biased

Question 10

describe and evaluate stratified sampling

Answer 10

• made up of different layers of the population, people from different groups
• representative

Question 11

describe and evaluate snowball sampling

Answer 11

• researcher used their first participant to find other participants and then those participants do the same
• non-representative, no sampling frame

Question 12

describe and evaluate systematic sampling

Answer 12

• when there is a chosen system/ pattern to the sampling process which is then followed such as choosing every 4th person
• unrepresentative, unbiased, sample frame

Question 13

what is ethnography?

Answer 13

an in-depth study of someone’s way of life, this will involve a variety of methods (interviews, observations) and can last a long time

Question 14

what is a case study?

Answer 14

researching a single case of something using multiple methods

Question 15

advantages and disadvantages of mixed method approaches

Answer 15

advantages
* in-depth
* qualitative
* variety
* flexible
disadvantages
* difficult to generalise
* low reliability- unique- can’t replicate
* time consuming
* hawthorne effect
* difficult to get access

Question 16

what is a longitudinal study

Answer 16

when sociologists gather a group of individuals who will be studied over an extended period of time to track changes

Question 17

advantages and disadvantages of overt observation

Answer 17

• advantages- in depth, ethical
• disadvantages- hawthorne effect

Question 18

advantages and disadvantages of covert observation

Answer 18

• advantages- no risk of hawthorne effect, valid
• disadvantages- unethical (no informed consent)

Question 19

advantages and disadvantages of participant observation

Answer 19

• advantages- gained understanding of life experience, valid
• disadvantages- it it’s covert, participants may develop an innapropriate relationship with the researcher

Question 20

advantages and disadvantages of non-participant observation

Answer 20

• advantages- objectivity (researcher is detatched and neutral), reliable
• disadvantages- can oversimplify events, hawthorne effect is it is overt

Question 21

advantages and disadvantages of interviews

Answer 21

advantages
* qualitative- in depth (unstructured interviews)
* flexible- can pursue unanticipated lines of enquiry
* valid- accurate reflection of society
disadvantages
* structured interviews aren’t in depth
* unstructured interviews are time consuming
* unreliable- unstrctured interviews are inconsistent
* interviewer bias

Question 22

what is a sample frame? give examples

Answer 22

a list from which the sample will be taken (e.g. register, employee list)