Research methods Flashcards
How do Interpretivists use valid methods to get qualitative data?
You can only understand human behaviour by putting yourself in others shoes. They believe scientific methods cant tell you much about society.
Why do Interpretivists believe scientific methods are useless?
They say you cant turn meaning and opinions into statistical charts and therefore sociology can not be a science.
How do interpretives get reliable qualitative data?
They use methods such as participant observation and unstructured interviews to build a rapport with people.
What does rapport mean?
A feeling of mutual trust and understanding
What is participant observation?
Means being actively involved in the research as both participant and observer.
Interpretivits look at the individual which is called….
microsociology
What does reliable mean?
It means research can get repeated over and over again by different people and still get the same results
Is sociological research reliable?
Sociology isn’t as reliable as natural sciences such as biology and therefore has a larger error percentage
Is reliable data always valid?
No, for example if you use unemployment statistics it doesn’t include all the people who are students or unable to work.
Is quantitative reliable?
Yes as its easy to look for the cause and effect, compare statistics against past ones and look for trends over time
What’s the easiest reliable method to use?
Questionnaires and structured interviews can be repeated easily.
Quantitative methods….
Allow large samples so can represent the general population
Is qualitative data reliable?
No its difficult to repeat as it focuses on meaning and opinions so isn’t reliable
Can you get an idea of the general population
grts
