research methods

Question 1

QUESTIONNAIRES

Answer 1

• list of q’s (paper, online, face to face) without researcher present
• hiter - anonymous regarding women sexual behaviour 4% responses
  ✅ large sample, quick, anonymous = validity
  ❌ can lie, limited answers, low responses

Question 2

STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Answer 2

• pre planned q’s and recorded answers
• ONS - public services
  ✅standardised = reliable, quick, researcher presence = cant say no
  ❌time consuming, bias (social desirability)

Question 3

UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Answer 3

• no preplanned q’s + follow ups
• oakley - duel burden
  ✅natural setting = more detail + validity
  ❌interviewer character effects responses, bias (social desirability)

Question 4

SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Answer 4

• some pre planned q’s but allowed follow ups
  ✅follow up q’s, closed and open q’s = detailed convo
  ❌not standardised = no reliability, expensive, time consuming

Question 5

COVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Answer 5

• observing without others aware
  ✅study hard to reach groups, honest behaviour = valid
  ❌relies on memory (no notes), lack of consent + deception

Question 6

OVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Answer 6

• observing with others being aware
  ✅consent, note taking = accuracy/detail
  ❌hawthorne effect, observer bias

Question 7

OVERT NON PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Answer 7

• not participating but obvious observing
• Humphrey tea room
  ✅detailed, natural setting = validity
  ❌hawthorne effect, observer bias, lack of consent

Question 8

OFFICIAL STATS

Answer 8

• widely used secondary source
• spirit level - data from diff countries says inequality cause social problems
  ✅see trends over time, international comparisons
  ❌data changes over time = harder to compare, cant ensure no errors = less validity

Question 9

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

Answer 9

• gain insight into everyday life e.g. diaries, paintings, newspapers
• MOP - diaries during war
  ✅detailed, study those from the past
  ❌unrepresentative (not all have diaries or relate to experiences), affected by intended audience e.g. newspaper = elderly

Question 10

FOCUS GROUPS

Answer 10

• group of ppl discussing an issue with researcher as facilitator
  ✅ many opinions in detail, cheaper (several at once)
  ❌ some dominate discussion, unreliable, hard to analyse

Question 11

INTERPRETIVISTS

Answer 11

AO1 - favour qualitative data, aim to be non-scientific with natural environment
AO3 - ✅ detailed, recognises feelings and experiences ❌bias/subjective, unreliable

Question 12

POSITIVISTS

Answer 12

AO1 - favour quantitative data, aims to be scientific with natural sciences
A03- ✅ measure/count, see trends ❌ simplifies complex social issues, overlooks personal interpretation