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Sociology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Process of research (6 steps)

A
  1. Aim and hypothesis
  2. Operationalise variables
  3. Choose research method
  4. Carry out a pilot study
  5. Choose sampling method
  6. Collect data
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2
Q

Practical issues ( explaination & name 3)

A

Things preventing you from actually carrying out the research or reaching participants
Time, money, funding body, personal skills and characteristics, subject matter and reaserch opportunity

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3
Q

Ethical issue (explain & name them)

A

Moral issues of right and wrong when dealing with participants
Protection from harm
Confidentiality
Deception
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Privacy

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4
Q

Theoretical issues (explain & name 4)

A

Whether accurate and truthful results are obtainable
Validity, reliability, representativeness, methodological perspective

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5
Q

Random sampling

A

Every member of target population gets an equal chance of being chosen (eg names in a hat)

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6
Q

Stratified sampling

A

Target population is divided into subgroups/ stratas based on characteristics and the participants are chosen randomly in proportion to subgroups

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7
Q

Systematic sampling

A

Every nth person of the sampling frame is selected

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8
Q

Quota sampling

A

The researcher identifies characteristics of target population and people who fit the criteria volunteer

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9
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

Participants who are accessible at the time and are willing to take part in

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10
Q

Snowball

A

Researcher finds small group who is representative of the target population and they ask others to participate

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11
Q

Random sampling advantages

A

Non bias as everyone has an equal chance

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12
Q

Random sampling disadvantages

A

Might not be representative as people with similar characteristics can be chosen by chance
Need to have access to list of whole target population

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13
Q

Stratified sampling advantages

A

Unbias target population have equal chance of selection
Most representative as sample is proportional to the whole of the target population

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14
Q

Stratified sampling disadvantages

A

Can be very time consuming to identify all subgroups then choose randomly from each
Can be difficult to choose a single charecteristics to divide target population into

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15
Q

Systematic sampling advantages

A

Non bias as long as nth number is chosen at random

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16
Q

Systematic sampling disadvantages

A

Might not be very representative
Can be time consuming

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17
Q

Quota sampling advantages

A

Non bias as researcher doesn’t choose participants
Easy

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18
Q

Quota sampling disadvantages

A

Not representative as the same kind of people are likely to volunteer

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19
Q

Opportunity sampling advantages

A

Quick and easy

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20
Q

Opportunity sampling disadvantages

A

Unrepresentative

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21
Q

Snowball sampling advantages

A

Useful for finding participants who may be hard to reach or unlikely to participate in reasearch
Find target population easily ounce you find the initial person

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22
Q

Snowball sampling disadvantages

A

Can be unrepresentative
Time consuming

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23
Q

Aim of pilot study

A

To fix any problems, give interviewers / observers practise, clarify and refine questions

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24
Q

questionnaires DISADVANTAGES

A

P - low response rate > unrepresentative
P - inflexibility (one questionnaires are finalised researchers can’t explore new areas of interest or ask follow up questions)
T - respondents can easily lie or forget information > validity
T - questions may impose researchers own opinions (close questions can be leading)
T - data tends to be limited, unable to obtain full picture of experiences and feelings
T - don’t capture how people’s attitudes and behaviours change

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25
Q

questionnaires ADVANTAGES

A

P - time and cost efficient
E - less ethical issues than most research methods
T - positivists favour bc researcher remains detached > unbiased and objective
T - reliability > can easily be replicated and produce similar results

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26
Q

Interviewer bias

A

When the interviewer’s own personal opinions influence the respondents answers

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27
Q

Focus group

A

An interview around a specific topic where participants are encouraged to discuss personal feeling opinions and experiences. The interviewer’s role is to give questions or topic ideas and keep participants on topic

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28
Q

Semi structured interviews

A

Interviewers have a set list of questions but are allowed to ask additional follow up questions
Mix of open and closed questions

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29
Q

Unstructured interviews

A

The interviewer had a list of prompts and topics to discuss but interviewers have freedom to vary questions and wording
Open ended questions

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30
Q

Structured interviews

A

Interviewer is given a list of pre prepared questions and strict instructions on how to ask them
Questions tend to be closed

31
Q

Structured interviews ADVANTAGES

A

T - reliable > same questions can be used and same results will be found
T - no interviewer bias
T - valid > no interviewer bias and all interviews are conducted in the same standardised way

32
Q

Structured interview DISADVANTAGES

A

P- time consuming > long list of questions + large sample to produce quantitive data
T - validity > can’t get detailed picture as closed Qs and no follow up questions may limit respondents

33
Q

Unstructured interview ADVANTAGES

A

T - flexibility > can ask a range of Qs and ideas can develop throughout
T - validity > detailed picture of experiences and emotions an be discussed through open ended Qs

34
Q

Unstructured interviews DISADVANTAGES

A

T - low reliability > cannot easily be replicated
T - difficult to compare responses from different interviewees

35
Q

Focus group ADVANTAGES

A

P - can be more time effective
E - can be useful for vulnerable groups as people may feel more comfortable with people who share similar experiences
T - validity > gives full picture > multiple experiences
T - can spark unique discussions unlikely to happen in a one to one interview

36
Q

Focus group DISADVANTAGES

A

T - people may conform to group opinions / distort or exaggerate personal experiences
T - difficult to maintain accurate, generalisable data due to a conflict in opinions

37
Q

Overt observations

A

The group know they are being observed

38
Q

Covert observation

A

The group don’t know they are being observed / researched

39
Q

Participants observation

A

Researcher joins in with the group they are studying observing from within the group

40
Q

Non participants observation

A

Watching the group you are studying from outside

41
Q

Problems with participant observations GETTING IN

A

Need to share similar characteristics as group, may be seen as a threat, have to be good at acting as per of the group

42
Q

Problems with participant observations STAYING IN

A

Gaining trust, risk of danger, taking notes + collecting data without being suspicious

43
Q

Problems with participant observations GETTING OUT

A

Facing threats to personal safety, becoming detached to write an impartial acurate account

44
Q

Going native (observations)

A

Becoming too involved in research group and no longer looking at research from a objective perspective decreasing validity

45
Q

Examples of problematic participant observations

A

-John Howard griffin black like me (getting in)
- paunch 1979 ( staying in) became police officer and became native + abused powers
- Humphreys 1970 the tearoom trade ethical issues
- James Patrick 1960 Glasgow hand study (getting out)

46
Q

Overt observation ADVANTAGES

A

P- are able to take notes / record data without causing suspicion
E - can gain informed consent > ethical
T- replicability > reliability

47
Q

Overt observation DISADVANTAGES

A

P - time consuming often years
T - Hawthorne / observer effect > participants change behaviour as they know they are being observed
T - gaining entry may be difficult as group may not want to be observed (esp. deviant groups)

48
Q

Covert observations ADVANTAGES

A

P - may be the only way to observe certain groups / behaviours (eg deviant groups who are in unlikely to participate in research)
T - no Hawthorne effect > valid - participants can’t change behaviour as they don’t know they are being observed

49
Q

Covert observations DISADVANTAGES

A

P - may be difficult to take notes and ask questions without seeming suspicious
Researcher characteristic could make it difficult to get into the group and gain trust
E - deception and unable to get informed consent
T - observer may find it difficult detaching from the group and providing a non bias report > decrease validity

50
Q

Non participant observation ADVANTAGES

A

P - easier access as you do not need to untergrabe as part of the group
T - more reliable as it is objective as personal feelings, opinions and experiences of the researcher are not involved

51
Q

Non participant observation DISADVANTAGES

A

P - can’t observe hard to reach groups such as deviant groups
T - validity - can’t get as acurate oof a picture and as detailed information from outside the group
- observer effect

52
Q

Aim of an experiment

A

Measure the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable

53
Q

Independent vs dependent variable

A

Independent = changed / manipulated
Dependent = measured

54
Q

Lab experiment
(Environment, control over IV + example)

A
  • controlled, artificial environment
  • high control over independent variable , extraneous variables minimised
  • eg milgrams shock experiment
55
Q

Field experiments
(Environment, control over IV + example)

A
  • real life setting
  • some control over IV but possible extraneous variables
  • eg Rosenthal and Jacobson’s pygmalion in the classroom
56
Q

Natural experiment
(Environment, control over IV + example)

A
  • natural real life environment
  • IV cannot be manipulated as it is naturally occurring and often unethical to manipulate it
  • eg. Durkheims study of suicide
57
Q

Primary data

A

Data collected by the researcher for the purpose of the study

58
Q

Secondary data

A

Data collected by someone else for a different purpose

59
Q

Official statistics

A

Quantitative data collated by the government or other official boards
Collected through registration or official surveys

60
Q

Dark figure of crime

A

Claimed that are not represented in official statistics because the you unreported, unrecorded or unnoticed

61
Q

Hard statistics

A

Factual statistics as there is a legal obligation the report them eg. Birth rate

62
Q

Soft statistics

A

Open to interpretation as they only represent as present age of the social issue they are looking at

63
Q

Documents

A

Write texts including sounds and images

64
Q

Official statistics STRENGTHS

A

P - easily acceded large amounts of data for free > secondary data
Shows patterns over time
E - avoids all ethical issues
T - favoured by positivist > quantitative
Reliable > same data available to everyone
Large sample > representative of national population > generalisable, valid

65
Q

Official statistics WEAKNESSES

A

T - validity > dark figure of crime and soft statistics not representative of the truth
Doesn’t provide qualitative data > interpretivists

66
Q

Field experiment STRENGTHS

A

T - generalisability > research is conducted in a real life environment
Ecological validity > results can be applied to real life situations
Avoids Hawthorne effect > participants are unaware they are part of an experiment

67
Q

Field experiment WEAKNESSES

A

E - informed consent is often not given to avoid Hawthorne effect
T - extraneous and confounding variables are difficult to control > difficult to establish cause and effect

68
Q

Lab experiment WEAKNESSES

A

E - often deception occurs to avoid Hawthorne effect / incomplete consent forms
T - Hawthorne effect > if participants know they are being studied they may change their behaviour in favour or against the experiment
Lacks ecological validity > artificial environment

69
Q

Lab experiment STRENGTHS

A

T - reliability > easily replicated
Controlled environment > easily established cause + effect

70
Q

Natural experiment STRENGTHS

A

P - allows sociologists to study the past
Only way some groups can be studied as the IV is naturally occurring

71
Q

Natural experiment WEAKNESSES

A

P - sometimes participants can be hard to reach

72
Q

Documents ADVANTAGES

A

P - allows us to study past events
Saves time and money > secondary data
T - validity > authentic statement of the authors views / experiences

73
Q

Documents DISADVANTAGES

A

T - reliability > unstandardised as open to interpretation
Not generalisable > lacks populations validity > only a single groups / persons experience

Sociology (3 decks)

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