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Research methods Flashcards

1
Q

Positivism

Positivism

A

Believes sociology should be studied like a natural science, using objective methods to uncover social laws and patterns. Takes a macro approach

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2
Q

Positivism

Postitivism- research methods

A
  • Quantitative methods
  • Surveys
  • Official statistics
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3
Q

Positivism

Positivism- Strengths

A
  • Objectivity
  • Reliability
  • Identifies social trends
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4
Q

Positivism

Positivism- weaknesses

A
  • No rapport
  • Only quantitative
  • Lack depth and explanation
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5
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism

A

Human behaviour is complex and cannot be studies like the natural sciences, focuses on understanding meanings and experiences. Takes a micro approach

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6
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- research methods

A
  • Qualitative methods
  • Unstructured interviews
  • Participent observation
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7
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- strengths

A
  • In depth data
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8
Q

Interpretivism

Interpretivism- weaknesses

A
  • Low reliability
  • Small scale
  • Subjective
  • Time-consuming
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9
Q

GROVER

Generalisability

A

General statements and conclusions that apply not to the sample sudied but also to the general population

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10
Q

GROVER

Representative

A

A representative sample that reflects the characteristics of its population

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11
Q

GROVER

Objectivity

A

Absence of bias and the removal of opinions and values

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12
Q

GROVER

Validity

A

Findings are truthful and authentic

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13
Q

GROVER

Ethics

A

Morally acceptable research which protects the rights and wellbeing of research participants

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14
Q

GROVER

Reliability

A

The consistency of research findings- the same or consistent findings can be obtainted if the method is repeated

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15
Q

Data types

Primary data

A

Data collected by yourself

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16
Q

Data types

Secondary data

A

Data collected by someone else that you use

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17
Q

Data types

Quantitative data

A

Data in numerical form

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18
Q

Data types

Qualitative data

A

Data which includes words

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19
Q

Research process

Practical factors

A
  • Cost
  • Time available
  • Subject matter of the research
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20
Q

Research process

BSA rules

A
  • Legality or imorality
  • Informed consent
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Protection from harm
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21
Q

Research process

Bias

A

Results influenced by the researchers personal opinions, including political prejudice

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22
Q

Research process

Research aim

A

General focus on the study

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23
Q

Research process

Hypothosis

A

Testable statement predicting an outcome

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24
Q

Research process

Operationalisation

A

Breaking down the aims/ hypothesis into something thst can be measured

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25
Q

Research process

Pilot studies

A

Small scale trial run to test research design and fix issuess before the main study

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26
Q

Respondent validation

A

Sociologist’s interpretation of data is checked with thoes that took part to ensure that datta collected is accurate and fairly interpreted

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27
Q

Sampling methods

Population

A

A group of people who are at the focus of the researchers interest

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28
Q

Sampling methods

Sample frame

A

Group of people who take part in the research, sample is drawn from the research population

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29
Q

Demand characteristics

Demand characteristics

A

When a participant changes their characteristics because they know they are being watched

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30
Q

Demand characteristics

Screw you effect

A

Participant guesses the conclusions

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31
Q

Demand characteristics

Social desireability

A

When a particiant acts in a way deemed good by society rather than how they actually would

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32
Q

Demand characteristics

Hawthorne effect

A

Participent guessesthe conclusions the researcher wants to draw and acts/ responds in a certain way

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33
Q

Sampling methods- random

Random sampling

A

Everyone has an equal chance of selection

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34
Q

Sampling methods- random

Random sampling- positives

A
  • Fair and unbias
  • Good for large populations
  • Representative
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35
Q

Sampling methods- random

Random sampling- negatives

A
  • May not reflect population diversity
  • Can be impractical for large groups
  • Could be costly and time consuming
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36
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Quota samplin- negatives

A
  • Researcher bias as participents are chosen
  • Not random
  • Can be unreresentative
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37
Q

Sampling methods- random

Random sampling- negatives

A
  • May not reflect population diversity
  • Can be impractical
  • May be costly and take time
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38
Q

Sampling methods- random

Systematic sampling- positives

A
  • Reduces bias
  • Simple and quick
  • Representative
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39
Q

Sampling methods- random

Systematic sampling

A

Every nth person

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40
Q

Sampling methods- random

Systematic sampling- negatives

A
  • Potential for bias
  • Could be unrepresentative #
  • Not suitable for all populations
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41
Q

Sampling methods- random

Stratified sampling

A

Population divided into groups and sampled proportionally

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42
Q

Sampling methods- random

Stratified sampling- positives

A
  • More representative
  • Ensures key groups are included
  • Allows for the comparison of different groups
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43
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Quota sampling- positives

A
  • Representative
  • Less time consuming
  • Simple
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44
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Quota sampling

A

Researcher selects participents to match population proportions

45
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Snowball sampling

A

Participents recruit others

46
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Snowball sampling- positives

A
  • Good to hard to reach groups
  • Can provide detailed insights
  • Low cost
47
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Snowball sampling- negatives

A
  • Highly unrepresentative
  • Not objective
  • Hard to generalise
48
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Opportunity sampling- positives

A
  • Quick and convientent
  • Low cost
  • Useful for pilot studies
49
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Opportunity sampling

A

Using people who are readily available

50
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Opportunity sampling- negatives

A
  • Highly unrepresentative
  • Not objective
  • Hard to generalise
51
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Non-random sampling

A

Deliberatly targating specific groups rather than randomly selecting a sample from the general population

52
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Non-random sampling- positives

A
  • Cost effective
  • Time efficient
  • Targets specific groups of people
53
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Non-random sampling- negatives

A
  • Researcher bias
  • May not be generalisable
  • May not be reliable
54
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Purposive sampling

A

Researcher chooses individuals or cases that fit the nature of the research

55
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Perposive sampling- positives

A
  • Data collection is targated
  • Efficent
  • Flexible
56
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Purposive sampling- negatives

A
  • Limited generalisability
  • Researcher bias
  • May not be reliable
57
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Volunteer sampling

A

Sociologists advertise for research volunteers and participents self select

58
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

Volunteer sampling- advantages

A
  • Cost efficent
  • Wide sample frame
  • Good for hard to reach groups
59
Q

Sampling methods- non-random

volunteer sampling- negatives

A
  • May not be representative
  • Limited generalisability
  • Potential for bias
60
Q

Surveys

Longitutional surveys

A

Studying the same group of people over a long period of time

61
Q

Surveys

Questionaires

A

List of questions written down in advance that are given to the respondent, could be online or in person

62
Q

Surveys

Questionairs- positives

A
  • Large sample size making results more generalisable
  • Cost effective
  • Reliable
63
Q

Surveys

Questionairs- negatives

A
  • Low response rates
  • Social desirability
  • Lacks depth
64
Q

Interviews

Structured interviews

A

Standardised questions asked face to face or over the phone

65
Q

Interviews

Structured interviews- positives

A
  • Easy to compare
  • Quick to conduct
  • Large sample possibility
66
Q

Interviews

Structured interviews- negatives

A
  • Lacks depth
  • Researcher bias
  • May not reflect true opinions
67
Q

Interviews

Semi-structured interviews

A

Balance between unstructured and structured interviews, allows for flexibility while mantaining focus

68
Q

Interviews

Unstructured interviews

A

Informal open ended conversations for in depth understanding

69
Q

Interviews

Semi-structure interviews- positives

A
  • Rich in qualitative data
  • Adaptable
  • Builds a rapport
70
Q

Observations

Observations

A

Researcher watches participants in real-life setting

71
Q

Interviews

Group interviews- positives

A
  • Observation of group dynamics
  • Wide pool of candidates
  • Allows for comparison
72
Q

Interviews

Group interviews- negatives

A
  • Limited individual assessment
  • Difficulty recording and analysing
  • Social desirability bias
73
Q

Ethnography

Ethnography

A

Involves the researcher inserting themselves into the natural setting of the social group being studied and participating in and observing their daily activities

74
Q

Interviews

Unstructured interviews- positives

A
  • High validity
  • Builds a rapport
  • Flexible
75
Q

Interviews

Semi-structured interviews- negatives

A
  • Time consuming to analyse
  • Potential for bias
  • Subjective
76
Q

Interviews

Unstructured interviews- negatives

A
  • Time-consuming
  • Hard to replicate and compare
  • Risk of interviewer bias
77
Q

Interviews

Group interviews

A

Multiple candidates are interviewed simultaneously

78
Q

Ethnography

Ethnography- positives

A
  • Detailed data
  • Hollistic observation
  • Contextual understanding
79
Q

Ethnography

Ethnography- negatives

A
  • Time consuming
  • Not necessarily generalisable
  • Ethical considerations
80
Q

Observations

Observations- positives

A
  • High validity
  • Rich detailed data
  • Useful for studying groups in depth
81
Q

Observations

Non-participant observations- positives

A
  • Maintains objectivity
  • Reliable
  • Natural setting
82
Q

Observations

Observations- negatives

A
  • Ethical issues
  • Hard to generalise
  • Researcher may become bias
83
Q

Non-participant observations- negatives

A
  • Researcher bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Ethical concernes
84
Q

Observations

Non-participant obervations

A

Where the researcher observes a sitiation without engaging

85
Q

Observations

Participant observation

A

Researcher joins in a groups and looks at the members activities or daily lives

86
Q

Observations

Participant observations- positives

A
  • Validity
  • Insight
  • Flexibility
87
Q

Observations

Participant observations- negatives

A
  • Small sample sizes hard to generalise
  • Researcher bias
  • Time consuming
88
Q

Observations

Overt observation

A

Participants know they are being observed

89
Q

Observations

Overt observation- advantages

A
  • Ethical transparency
  • Reduces researcher bias
  • Easy access for data recording
90
Q

Observations

Overt observation- negatives

A
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Reduced validity
  • Difficult for studying sensative behaviours
91
Q

Observations

Covert observation

A

Participants are unaware they are being observed

92
Q

Observations

Covert observation- positives

A
  • Natural behaviour
  • Access to deviant groups
  • High reliability
93
Q

Observations

Covert observation- negatives

A
  • Ethical concernes
  • TIme consuming
  • Risk of harm
94
Q

Statistics

Official statistics

A

Statistics collected by governements or official bodies

95
Q

Statistics

Official statistics- positives

A
  • Large sample size
  • Trend analysis
  • Accessible
96
Q

Statistics

Official statistics- negatives

A
  • Lack of control
  • Potential for manipulation
  • Underreporting
97
Q

Statistics

Unofficial statistics

A

Statistics gathered by non-governmental sources

98
Q

Statistics

Unofficial statistics- positives

A
  • Flexibility and specificity
  • Diverse perspecives
  • Cost-effective
99
Q

Statistics

Unofficial statistics- negatives

A
  • Potential for bias
  • Reliability issues
  • Lack of generalisability
100
Q

Media

Content analysis

A

Analysing media content to identify how particular social groups or social situations are being portrayed

101
Q

Media

Content analysis- advantages

A
  • Unobtrusive data collection
  • Reliable
  • Accessable and efficient
102
Q

Media

Content analysis- disadvantages

A
  • Subjective- researcher bias
  • Context ignored
  • Limited preexisting material
103
Q

MIxed methods

Triangulation

A

Combining research methods to check or verify thr validity of the research findings

104
Q

MIxed methods

Triangulation- positives

A
  • Enhances validity and reliability
  • Reduces bias
  • Increases confidence in findings
105
Q

MIxed methods

Triangulation- disadvantages

A
  • Time and resource intensive
  • Increases conplexity in data analysis
  • Potential for conflicting findings
106
Q

MIxed methods

Methodological pluralism

A

Combining different reasearch methods to build up a fuller picture of what is happening

107
Q

MIxed methods

Methodological pluralism- advantages

A
  • Enhanced validity and reliability
  • More comprehensive understanding
  • Adresses limitations of single method
108
Q

MIxed methods

Methodological pluralism- disadvantages

A
  • Increased complexity
  • Potential for bias
  • Resource intensive

Sociology (8 decks)

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