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Research Methods Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Primary Research

A

Research that is undertaken by the researcher firsthand e.g. interviews, observation, questionnaire

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2
Q

Secondary Research

A

Pre-existing information which has been put together by another person or organisation, which a sociologist can access and use in their own research e.g. personal documents, official statistics.

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3
Q

Quantitative research sources

A

Sources that generate numerical data e.g. questionnaires, official statistics

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4
Q

Qualitative research sources

A

Sources that generate non-numerical data to understand opinions, thoughts, feelings and experiences e.g. unstructured interviews and personal documents.

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5
Q

Positivists

A

E.g Durkheim
Reliability
Representativeness
Objectivity
Quantitative data

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6
Q

Interpretivists

A

E.g Weber
Validity
Verstehen
Subjectivity
Qualitative data

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7
Q

Practical Factors

A
  1. Time and Money
  2. Influence of funding sources
  3. Skills and characteristics of researcher
  4. Access to research population
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8
Q

Ethical Factors

A
  1. Informed consent.
  2. Deception.
  3. Privacy and confidentiality
  4. Protection from harm.
  5. Vulnerable groups.
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9
Q

Theoretical Factors

A
  1. Reliability
  2. Validity
  3. Representativeness
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10
Q

Questionnaires Bullet Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Mostly quantitative
  • Favoured by positivists
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11
Q

Questionnaires Description

A

A list of questions to a participant usually via post or email. Sometimes referred to as a self-completion survey. Mostly use closed questions, such as multiple-choice tick boxes. Some questions may have a rating scale.

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12
Q

Practical Advantage of Questionnaires

A

Quick & cheap method - data I’d easy to collect and analyse

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13
Q

Practical Limitation of Questionnaires

A

May need to offer a financial incentive to get a good response rate.

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14
Q

Ethical Advantage of Questionnaires

A

No major ethical issues – highly confidential as anonymous.

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15
Q

Ethical disadvantage of Questionnaires

A

None – although may not be useful for researching vulnerable groups.

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16
Q

Theoretical advantage of Questionnaires

A

High in reliability as can be replicated.
High in representativeness due to large sample.

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17
Q

Theoretical Disadvantage of a Questionnaire

A

Lack validity as people cannot answer in their own words & lacks detailed understanding of thoughts and feelings.

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18
Q

Structured Interviews Bulletin Points

A
  • Primary Method
    -Mostly quantitative
  • Favoured by positivists
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19
Q

Description of a Structured Interview

A

A list of questions is read out to a participant face-to-face. Mostly use closed questions, such as multiple-choice tick boxes. Some questions may have a rating scale

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20
Q

Example of Structured Interviews

A

Willmott and Young for their study on the symmetrical family.

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21
Q

Questionnaires Example

A
  • British Social Attitudes Survey
  • Crime Survey for England and Wales.
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22
Q

Practical Advantage of Structured Interviews

A

Access to group – higher response rate the questionnaires as researcher is present.

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23
Q

Practical Limitation of Structured Interviews

A

More time-consuming than a questionnaire as has to be completed one at a time.

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24
Q

Ethical Advantage of Structured Interviews

A

No major ethical issues – can explain the purpose of the interview and get informed consent.

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25
Q

Ethical Disadvantage for Structured Interviews

A

None – although may not be useful for researching vulnerable groups as cannot build up trust.

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26
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Structures Interviews

A

High in reliability as can be replicated.
High in representativeness due to large sample.

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27
Q

Theoretical Disadvantage of Structured Interviews

A

The presence of the researcher may influence the answers of the participant.

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28
Q

Unstructured Interview Bullet Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Mostly qualitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
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29
Q

Unstructured Interview Description

A

A guided conversation. The researcher will have questions and prompts, but they do not need to stick to these strictly.

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30
Q

Unstructured Interview Example

A

Dobash and Dobash to interview victims of domestic violence.

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31
Q

Practical Advantage of Unstructured Interviews

A

Access to hard-to-reach groups more likely as can build up trust and a rapport.

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32
Q

Practical Limitation of Unstructured Interview

A

Time consuming to do and to analyse.
Need to be skilled as a researcher.

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33
Q

Ethical Advantage of Unstructured Interviews

A

No ethical issues. Good for studying sensitive topics and vulnerable groups.

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34
Q

Ethical Limitation of Unstructured Interviews

A

Must be careful not to ask questions that invade a participant’s privacy.

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35
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Unstructured Interviews

A

High in validity as participants are speaking in their own words – truer, more accurate picture. Verstehen.

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36
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Unstructured Interviews

A

Likely to be a small sample as so time- consuming, so will not be representative.
Not reliable as not replicable.

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37
Q

Semi structured Interviews Key Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Quantitative & Qualitative
  • Used by positivists & interpretivists
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38
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Description

A

A combination of structured & unstructured techniques. Typically, they involve closed questions with opportunities for the participant to elaborate on the answers they give.

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39
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Practical Advantage

A

Less time consuming that a completely unstructured interview.

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40
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Practical Limitation

A

Require skills for unstructured element of the interview.

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41
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Ethical Advantage

A

No major issues – e.g. can get informed consent.

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42
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Ethical Disadvantage

A

May breach privacy

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43
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Theoretical Advantage

A

Can collect both quantitative and qualitative data.

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44
Q

Semi Structured Interviews Theoretical Disadvantage

A

Not reliable as cannot be fully replicated.

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45
Q

Group Interview Key Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Qualitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
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46
Q

Group Interview Description

A

An unstructured interview with two or more people at a time.

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47
Q

Group Interview Example

A

Paul Willis used them when researching ‘the lads’.

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48
Q

Group Interview Practical Advantage

A

Access to research population – may be easier to access in a group

49
Q

Group Interview Practical Limitation

A

Time-consuming to conduct and analyse.

50
Q

Group Interview Ethical Advantage

A

Good for vulnerable groups as may feel more confident to speak in a group setting.

51
Q

Group Interview Ethical Limitation

A

Cannot guarantee confidentiality – participants may share what was discussed.

52
Q

Group Interview Theoretical Advantage

A

Validity – people share thoughts and opinions and generate new discussion.

53
Q

Group Interview Theoretical Limitation

A

People may lie or exaggerated in a group due to the influence of peers – reducing validity.

54
Q

Non-Participant Observation Key Points

A
  • Primary Method
  • Qualitative & Quantitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
55
Q

Non-Participation Observation Description

A

The researcher watching without interacting with the group in any way. Most likely oaths

56
Q

Non-Participant Observation Example

A

Venkatesh – gang leader for a day / Paul Willis’ study with the ‘lads.’

57
Q

Practical Advantage of Non Participant Observation

A

Researcher can record observations openly if overt.

58
Q

Practical Limitation of Non Participant Observation

A

Time consuming to record and analyse data.

59
Q

Ethical Advantage of Non Participant Observation

A

If overt can get informed consent and no deception is involved.

60
Q

Ethical Limitation of Non Participation Observation

A

If covert, cannot give consent and are being deceived.

61
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Non Participant Observation

A

Validity – people share thoughts and opinions and generate new discussion.

62
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Non Participant Observation

A

If overt, may change behaviour (Hawthorn effect).
Small sample – lacks representativeness

63
Q

Participant Observation Key Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Qualitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
64
Q

Participant Observation Description

A

A researcher joining in with the activities of the group being studied. This approach is more likely to be done covertly.

65
Q

Participant Observation Example

A

James Patrick - A Glasgow Gang observed

66
Q

Practical Advantage of Participant Observation

A

Access to research population – may be the only way to access some groups e.g. criminals

67
Q

Practical Limitation of Participant Observation

A

Researcher needs correct characteristics to join the group covertly. Difficult to record observations covertly.

68
Q

Ethical Advantage of Participant Observation

A

If overt – can get informed consent, if covert are major ethical issues.

69
Q

Ethical Limitation of Participant Observation

A

If covert, cannot get informed consent and is deceiving participants. Cannot protect participants from harm.

70
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Participant Observation

A

Highly valid as seen in natural environment. Verstehen – get an understanding of their lives.

71
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Participant Observation

A

Highly valid as seen in natural environment. Verstehen – get an understanding of their lives.

72
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Participant Observation

A

Lacks reliability – cannot be replicated.
Lacks representativeness – small sample.

73
Q

Laboratory Expirements Key Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Quantitative
  • Favoured by positivists
74
Q

Laboratory Experiments Description

A

The experiment takes place in an artificial setting. The researcher manipulates (changes) something and measures the effects on the participants.

75
Q

Laboratory Experiments Example

A

Stanley Milgram’s Obedience to Authority experiment (psychologist)

76
Q

Laboratory Experiments Example

A

Stanley Milgram’s Obedience to Authority experiment (psychologist)

77
Q

Practical Advantages of Laboratory Experiments

A

None

78
Q

Practical limitation of Laboratory Experiments

A

Time consuming to conduct and expensive to set up.

79
Q

Ethical Advantage of Laboratory Experiments

A

None

80
Q

Ethical Limitation of Laboratory Experiments

A

Participants are usually not informed of the true aims of the research – involves deception.

81
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Laboratory Experiments

A

Highly controlled, so can be replicated. Therefore is reliable.

82
Q

Theoretical Limitations of Laboratory Experiments

A

Does not occur in a natural setting, so lacks validity.

83
Q

Field Experiments Key Points

A
  • Primary method
  • Qualitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
84
Q

Field Experiments Description

A

The experiment takes place in natural setting such as a street or shopping centre. The researcher manipulates something and measures the effects on the participants.

85
Q

Field Experiments Examples

A

Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study of positive labelling in schools.

86
Q

Practical Advantage of Field Experiments

A

Cheaper and easier to set up than a lab experiment, as uses the natural environment.

87
Q

Practical Limitation of Field Experiments

A

Still time consuming and difficult to record behaviours.

88
Q

Ethical Advantages of Field Experiments

A

None because they are usually covert

89
Q

Ethical Limitations of Field Experiments

A

Participants are usually not informed of the true aims of the research – involves deception. Cannot get informed consent,

90
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Field Experiments

A

Natural setting increases validity as people are more likely to behave naturally + no Hawthorn effect.

91
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Field Experiments

A

Small samples so lacks representativeness. Low in reliability as cannot be replicated.

92
Q

Official Statistics Key Points

A
  • Secondary method
  • Quantitative
  • Favoured by positivists
93
Q

Official Statistics Description

A

Numerical data sets which have been gathered by formal sources often working on behalf of the government.

94
Q

Official Statistics Examples

A
  • Official Crime Statistics from police records
  • GCSE exam results
  • Census data
95
Q

Practical Advantage of Official Statistics

A

Time and money – free and easy to access online.

96
Q

Practical Limitations of Official Statistics

A

Few practical limitations - can be time consuming if analysing very large data sets.

97
Q

Ethical Advantage of Official Statistics

A

There are no ethical issues – all ethical standards can be maintained.

98
Q

Ethical Limitation of Official Statistics

A

None

99
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Official Statistics

A

Very large samples = high representativeness. Reliable as come from trusted, replicable sources.

100
Q

Theoretical Limitation to Official Statistics

A

Lack validity – do not tell us about people’s thoughts & feelings. Official stats are socially constructed e.g. dark figure of crime

101
Q

Documents Key Points

A
  • Secondary Method
  • Qualitative
  • Favoured by interpretivists
102
Q

Documents Description

A

Personal documents - written by individual people for personal reasons. Examples: diaries, letters
Public documents – produced by public sources

103
Q

Examples of Documents

A

OFSTED reports
NHS reports

104
Q

Practical Advantage of Documents

A

Public documents are easily accessible via government websites.

105
Q

Practical Limitation of Documents

A

Personal documents if historical may be harder to access.
Time consuming to analyse personal docs.

106
Q

Ethical Advantage of Documents

A

No major ethical issues as secondary sources.

107
Q

Ethical Limitation of Documents

A

May need to get consent from families to use personal docs.

108
Q

Theoretical Advantage of Documents

A

Personal documents – high in validity as written in own words & describe thoughts and feelings.

109
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Documents

A

Author of personal docs may have exaggerated / lied.

Low representativeness as small sample.

110
Q

Media Sources Key Points

A
  • Secondary Method
  • Qualitative
  • Used by interpretivists through semiotic analysis
  • Used by positivists through content analysis
111
Q

Media Sources Description

A

Documents created by media sources

112
Q

Examples of Media Sources

A

Newspapers, TV, adverts, music videos

113
Q

Semiotic Analysis

A

Interpreting text / images.

Used by interpretivists

114
Q

Content Analysis

A

Recording the frequency of something e.g. tallying types of news stories

Used by positivists

115
Q

Practical Advantage of Media Sources

A

Easy to access as widely available

116
Q

Practical Limitation of Media Sources

A

Time consuming to do content or semiotic analysis.

117
Q

Ethics of Media Sources

A

No advantages or limitations as there isn’t any ethical issues

118
Q

Theoretical Advantages of Media Sources

A

Content analysis can be used to get quantitative data, and is replicable therefore reliable.

119
Q

Theoretical Limitation of Media Sources

A

Semiotic analysis is not reliable as it depends upon the interpretation / biases of the researcher

Sociology (2 decks)

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