Research methods Flashcards
Why do sociologists do social research?
- To find out how society works
- To influence how society is organised
- To influence government policies
What sorts of data do sociologists use?
Data is information collected by research
Primary data - research that sociologists collect themselves through asking questions or observation.
Secondary data - information that has been put together by other people, such as newspaper reports, diaries or novels.
Qualitative data - detailed written information (letters).
Quantitative data - information in statistical form (numbers). e.g. the census
What is a pilot study?
A trial run before a piece of research is conducted. This gives the sociologists a chance to check their questions to make sure that the people questioned understand them.
What are samples?
A sample is a small group taken from the target population (the people the researcher aims to study), who will be involved in the research.
The sample needs to be chosen carefully so that their views represent the whole target population. There are different sampling methods used to make a fair sample.
Representativeness is important. This is the idea that the sample should have the same mix of people as the target population
What kind of samples are there?
A sampling frame is the list where your sample is selected from. This can be the electoral register, a school register or a telephone directory.
Random sampling is when names are selected at random - such as drawing names out of a hat. An advantage of this method is that everyone has an equal chance of being chosen. A disadvantage is that it may not be representative of the population.
Systematic sampling is when every nth person is chosen from the list e.g every fifth name from the register. An advantage is that everyone has an equal chance of being chosen. A disadvantage is that it may not be representative of the population.
Quota sampling is where your sample mirrors the population. The researcher makes sure they ask a certain number of different sorts of people. For example, if 40% of the population are male, then 40% of the sample is male. An advantage is that it is more representative of the population. A disadvantage is that it is time consuming to select your sample in this way.
Snowballing is useful for outsider groups such as criminals or homeless people. It involves using a connection with one person, which leads to other members of the group being studied. An advantage is that you don’t have to ask lots of people. A disadvantage is that it is not representative.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires?
Questionnaires tend to be reliable (if you repeated the research again you would get the same results), but less valid (the results are not close to the truth)
Postal questionnaires are sent through the post. They are good as they can reach a large sample quickly; they are anonymous so people are more likely to be honest (so they are valid); and the interviewer can’t influence the answers (interviewer bias).Disadvantages are that they might not fully complete it; they might not hand it back (so low response rate) and they can’t ask for help when completing it if they don’t understand the questions.
Hand-delivered questionnaires still have no interviewer bias, and you have a higher response rate.
What are the advantages and disadvantages or interviews?
Interviews involve the researcher asking questions and the respondent replying. They either have to be recorded in writing or taped.
In structured interviews the researcher reads a list of questions to the respondent in a particular order. They typically contain closed questions and so produce largely quantitative data. Advantages: Using closed questions will allow the researcher to analyse the data a lot quicker and easier. Allows people who cannot read/write to take part in the research. Disadvantages: The use of closed questions will limit the respondent to express their true opinions. People who cannot speak the language will not be able to participate.
Unstructured interviews: these interviews are VERY different when compared to structured interviews.
Instead of having a set of pre-planned questions, the interviewer will just have some ideas and topic areas to cover. This should make the interview less formal and more like a conversation. It is also likely to take place in a relaxed environment whether the researcher tries to put the respondent at ease. Advantages: Using open questions allows the researcher to gain more detailed answers. It’s more like a conversation, the respondent may answer more honestly because he/she is more comfortable with the relaxed nature of the setting. Disadvantages: Interviewer bias – when the interviewer influences the respondents answers. Social desirability – when the respondent answers the questions in a way that pleases the interviewer BUT it may not be their true opinions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of observations?
Observation is a research method typically used by Sociologist’s who believe that the best way to understand people and their actions is to see them in their daily lives doing what they normally do.
There are 2 types:
1) Participant Observation: the RESEARCHER acts like the members of the group under study and does whatever they do.
2) Non Participant Observation: the RESEARCHER is completely separate from what is being observed and plays no part in what is going on.
These two types of observation can be carried out in TWO ways:
Covert: this is when the researcher is observing in ‘secret’. The group that is being studies is not aware that the research is taking place.
Overt: the group being studied knows that the research is happening, either because the researcher has explained what they are doing OR because the group can see the researcher.
Advantages of participant observation:
Allows the researcher to see with their own eyes;
Because the researcher is involved with the group he/she can gain more valid (accurate) data.
Disadvantages of participant observation:
Observer effect – when the presence of an observer affects the actions of the group being studied. Therefore, the results can be invalid (inaccurate);
Time consuming.
Advantages of non-participant observation:
Allows the researcher to see with their own eyes.
Because the researcher is an outsider, he/she can study people with an open mind.
Disadvantages of non-participant observation:
Observer effect
Because the researcher is watching from a distance he/she may not be able to gain accurate results.
What are reliability and validity?
Reliability means the research should be able to be repeated in a different time or place and similar results obtained. Questionnaires and structured interviews tend to have the highest reliability.
Validity is concerned with whether the research has uncovered the truth about social life. Participant observation and unstructured interviews tend to have higher levels of validity.
What are ethics in research?
Ethics are to do with whether a piece of research is morally right or wrong.
Researchers follow ethical guidelines, which are rules about how they treat their participants. These are
set out by the British Sociological Association.
• Ethical issues can arise in research and sociologists must do everything they can to address these.
The main ethical issues:
• Get informed consent (or parents’ consent for under 16s).
• Do not harm or distress the participants.
• Give participants the right to refuse to take part at any stage of the research.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Keep the research anonymous.
• Do not deceive (lie to) the participants.
