Research methods Flashcards
Triangulation
Triangulation means using more than one research method to improve the validity of the study
Open Questionnaires
A self complete form with questions which allow the respondent to answer in as much detail as they want.
P+ Easy Cheap Lack of researcher effect Quick to analyse and reach conclusions
P- Low response rate Misunderstand the question Leading questions
E+ Informed consent given by completeing Anonymous
E- Questions may be sensitive
T+ Detailed data (Open) Reliable Large sample Detachment and objectivity
T- Ppt may lie Someone other than the intended ppt may respond Right answerism Lack of rapport
Web based Questionnaire
A self complete form which is sent out via the internet or by using a site such as survey monkey..
P+ Easy Cheap Lack of researcher effect Quick to analyse and reach conclusions
P- Low response rate Misunderstand the question Answers may not fit those given (closed) Leading questions
E+ Informed consent given by completeing Anonymous
E- Questions may be sensitive
T+ Detailed data (Open) Reliable Large sample easy to quantigy and analyse (Close) Detachment and objectivity
T- Ppt may lie Someone other than the intended ppt may respond Right answerism Lack of rapport
Closed Questionaires
A self complete form with questions which give a set of responses that the respondent can choose from
P+ Easy Cheap Lack of researcher effect Quick to analyse and reach conclusions
P- Low response rate Misunderstand the question Answers may not fit those given (closed) Leading questions
E+ Informed consent given by completeing Anonymous
E- Questions may be sensitive
T+ Detailed data (Open) Reliable Large sample easy to quantigy and analyse (Close) Detachment and objectivity
T- Ppt may lie Someone other than the intended ppt may respond Right answerism Lack of rapport
Unstructured Interview
a conversation between the researcher and the participant where the questions are based on the responses given.
P+ Allows researcher to build rapport with the participants Flexibility (US) Allows for clarification of the questions
P- Time Cost and Training of interviewers
E+ Good for sensitive topic (US)
E- Questions could cause harm if of a sensitive nature.
T+ In depth detailed data Reliable (S) Hard to Quantify
T- Demand Characteristics Unreliable (US) Small sample Peer group influence (G)
Structured Interview
A conversation between the researcher and the participant where the questions are set in advance.
P+ Allows researcher to build rapport with the participants Flexibility (US) Allows for clarification of the questions
P- Time Cost and Training of interviewers
E+ Good for sensitive topic (US)
E- Questions could cause harm if of a sensitive nature.
T+ In depth detailed data Reliable (S) Hard to Quantify
T- Demand Characteristics Unreliable (US) Small sample Peer group influence (G)
Group Interview
Where the interview can be structured or unstructured but involves more than one participant
P+ Allows researcher to build rapport with the participants Flexibility (US) Allows for clarification of the questions
P- Time Cost and Training of interviewers
E+ Good for sensitive topic (US)
E- Questions could cause harm if of a sensitive nature.
T+ In depth detailed data Reliable (S) Hard to Quantify
T- Demand Characteristics Unreliable (US) Small sample Peer group influence (G)
Overt Observation
Where a researcher tells the participants that they are being observed and what they are being observed for.
P+ Flexible, [O] Researcher can ask questions ,Only option with some groups.
P- Time, Cost ,Researcher effect ,Requires a certain skill set not all researchers will have, [C] Relies on memory, Some groups can be
hard to access
E- [C] lacks informed consent. Privacy can be breached. [P] Going Native
T+ In depth detailed data, Allows for Verstehen
T- Hawthorne Effect, Hard to Quantify, Small Sample, Unreliable
Covert Observation
Where the researcher doesn’t tell the participants that they are being observed until after the study is complete
P+ Flexible, [O] Researcher can ask questions ,Only option with some groups.
P- Time, Cost ,Researcher effect ,Requires a certain skill set not all researchers will have, [C] Relies on memory, Some groups can be
hard to access
E- [C] lacks informed consent. Privacy can be breached. [P] Going Native
T+ In depth detailed data, Allows for Verstehen
T- Hawthorne Effect, Hard to Quantify, Small Sample, Unreliable
Participant Observation
Where the researcher becomes a member of the group they are researching.
P+ Flexible, [O] Researcher can ask questions ,Only option with some groups.
P- Time, Cost ,Researcher effect ,Requires a certain skill set not all researchers will have, [C] Relies on memory, Some groups can be
hard to access
E- [C] lacks informed consent. Privacy can be breached. [P] Going Native
T+ In depth detailed data, Allows for Verstehen
T- Hawthorne Effect, Hard to Quantify, Small Sample, Unreliable
Non-Participation Observation
Where the researcher watches the group from the outside without taking part.
P+ Flexible, [O] Researcher can ask questions ,Only option with some groups.
P- Time, Cost ,Researcher effect ,Requires a certain skill set not all researchers will have, [C] Relies on memory, Some groups can be
hard to access
E- [C] lacks informed consent. Privacy can be breached. [P] Going Native
T+ In depth detailed data, Allows for Verstehen
T- Hawthorne Effect, Hard to Quantify, Small Sample, Unreliable
Experiments - Lab
A study that takes place in a lab where the researcher is able to manipulate and control all the variables
P+ Variables are controlled.
P- Time, Cost
E+ Harm to participants – Stress
E- Deception in order to deal with researcher effects
T+ Highly reliable, Causation can be determined
T- Validity – not normal setting, Researcher Effects, Small Sample
Experiments – Field
Field Experiments take place in real-life settings such as a classroom, the work place or even the high street.
P+ Variables are controlled.
P- Time, Cost
E+ Harm to participants – Stress
E- Deception in order to deal with researcher effects
T+ Highly reliable, Causation can be determined
T- Validity – not normal setting, Researcher Effects, Small Sample
What does Verstehen mean and what theory supports it?
Verstehen means empathic understanding of human behaviour. Walking in someone else’s shoes.
Interpretivists
Official Statistics
Numerical data that is produced by government of government agencies.
P+Cheap, Easily accessible
P-May not ask the questions specific to the research
T+Large sample, Valid, Reliable
Unofficial Statistics
Numerical data that is collected by charities and other organisations.
P+Cheap, Easily accessible
P-May not ask the questions specific to the research
T+Large sample, Valid, Reliable
T-Could be biased to the views of the organisation.
Personal Documents
Documents such as personal diaries, letters and other personal correspondence.
P+Cheap
P- can be hard to access
E-Invasion of privacy, Informed Consent, Confidentiality
T+In depth and detailed
T-Open to interpretation, Personal view, Unreliable
Public Documents
Government documents that have been released such as OFSTED reports
P+Some can be easy to access, Cheap
P-Can take time to gain access under FOI Act
T+In depth data
T-Unreliable, Open to interpretation, Biased
Historical Documents
Original documents that contain important historical information about a person, place, or event.
P+Cheap, Time, Can be easy to access
P-May not be specific to the research being conducted
E-Confidentiality, Invasion of Privacy
T+In depth data
T-Open to interpretation, Unreliable, Personal View
Prior Research
Research that has been carried out in the same area or on the same topic.
P+Cheap, Easy to access, Time
P- May not be exactly the same in terms of research aims.
Content Analysis
Formal Content Analysis is a quantitative approach to analysing mass media content and involves developing a system of classification to analyse the key features of media sources.
P+Cheap, Easy to access
P- Time
T+ Reliable
T- Open to interpretation
Examples of Primary Research
Questionnaire, Interviews, Observations and Experiments
Examples of Secondary research
Statistics, Documents, Prior Research and Content Analysis
What methods do interpretivists prefer?
Qualitative data
Methods such as:
* Unstructured Interviews
* Observations
* Open Questionnaires
