Research Methods 📝 Flashcards
Reliability
If a different researcher conducted the study, would they get the same results?
Representativeness
Does the research accurately have findings from everyone in the target population
Validity
Do you get a full picture of the researched group experiences
Target population
Everyone the research applies to
Sample
Everyone from the target population that takes part in the study
Opportunity sampling
Researcher taking advantage of naturally occurring behaviour
Snowball sampling
Having a gatekeeper to make a hard to research group accessible to them
Stratified sampling
Getting an accurately proportional representation of the target population in the sample
Types of data
Observation
Questionnaire
Interview
Focus groups
Secondary data
Official statistics
Quantitative and qualitative data
Quantitative = numerical data
Qualitative = detail and feelings
Factors to assess for methods of data
Practicality
Ethical
Reliability
Validity
Example
Representativeness
Theoretical
Observation frame
List of behaviours that can be ticked off when seen
Official statistics
Data from the government
Ethical issues
Legality
Anonymity
Informed consent
Protection from harm
Positivism
Conduct low detail but easily comparable data, quantitative
Interpretivism
Seek deep understanding in research
Hawthorne effect
Demand characteristics
Overt and covert observations
Overt- they know they’re being observed
Covert- they don’t know
Participant observation
Researcher becomes part of the observed group
Non participant observation
Researcher maintains a professional distance from researched group
Closed and open questionnaires
Closed don’t leave room for detail
Open allows detail
UK census
Legally required questionnaire given to the nation every 10 years
Rapport
Participant trusts the interviewer and is prepared to go into detail with them
Structured/ unstructured interviews
Structured- plan questions, no room for derailing, closed questions
Unstructured- allows detail, open questions
