research methods Flashcards
target populations =
the wider group of people that finding should apply to
biased sample =
a sample that does not represent the target population
representative sample =
a cross section that is typical of the target population
sampling frame =
a section of the target population from which the sample is drawn
sampling =
every person in the target population should be proportionally represented
al necessary views should be represented
if not everyone is represented it is biased
composition is more important than size
how does sampling take place (steps)
- define the pop of interest
- specify the sampling frame
- use a sampling method to choose from the sampling frame
- decide sampling size
- gather sample
- collect datas
- review
what is opportunity sampling
chosen because they are convenient
because they are present at the time or known to the researcher
strengths of opportunity sampling
less time consuming in terms of planning and don’t ned sophisticated methods of choosing participants
quick and convenient
weakness of opportunity sampling
biased sample as only certain types of people will participate
same locality s similar characteristics
bias when choosing participants
what is volunteer sampling
choosing via ads and people coming forward if they wish to
strengths of volunteer sampling
gain access to people you normally couldn’t
easy and convenient
ethical as they choose themselves
weakness of volunteer sampling
people who volunteer themselves may be similar
what is stratified sampling
sampling frame is grouped
certain number of people randomly chosen
strengths of stratified sampling
representative
identify characteristics of target pop
weaknesses of stratified sampling
time consuming
may not identify all characteristics so won’t be representative
what is random sampling
chosen mathematical by chance
equal chance of being selectwd
strengths of random sampling
avoids bias
representative
weaknesses of random sampling
time consuming
small chance that it will be unrepresentative
what is quantitative data
expressed numerically and statistically
more likely to be drawn from controlled situations
deals with what rather than why
strengths of quantitative data
easily represented in graphs and charts to analyse
operationalised variables making it easier to repeat
more scientific and objective
weaknesses of quantitative data
produces narrow unrealistic information
only focusses on a small fragment of behaviour
what is qualitative data
expressed in detailed descriptions and words
give answers in own words with no formal measure
deals with why rather than what
strengths of qualitative data
more ecologically valid when in natural circumstances
gives reasons
can be converted into quantitative data
access to emotion and feeling
weaknesses of qualitative data
harder to control as there is a lack of control in the method
less scientific
null hypotheses =
no effect or change only by chance
alternative hypotheses =
causational change
what we believe to be true when the data is analysed
what are questionnaires
self report methods which consists of a set of questions usually in a high structured written form
any form you want
shouldn’t be too long
pilot survey =
questions for clarity testing and allows the research to make sure the required information is tested
repeated measures design =
same person respond in two conditions
