Research Methods

Question 1

Reliability

Answer 1

Refers to the way the data is collected- whether the same results would be produced if the method was repeated. This is important to Positivists who want to generate quantitative data.

Question 2

Validity

Answer 2

Are the results accurate? Do they give a true picture of what is being studied? This is important to Interpretivists who want to establish the meaning that people attach to their actions.

Question 3

Representative

Answer 3

Means that the group being studied is typical of the target population. The most representative sampling techniques are stratified, quota and systematic.

Question 4

Positivism

Answer 4

Society exists independent from individuals and it has an objective actual factual reality. It can be investigated scientifically using methods of the ‘natural sciences’. They look at stastics, closed question questionnaires, secondary research. They prefer unbiased, representative large scale quantifiable methodology.

Question 5

Interpretivism

Answer 5

They try to understand the world through the eyes of those being studied. They assume that society is dependent on individuals and society is a social construction. Prefer unstructured, qualitative methodology, aim to uncover and interpret meanings behind behavior and interactions. Observations, interviews, ethnographic studies. Look for meanings and valid, small-scale, in depth methodology.

Question 6

Realism

Answer 6

They see the benefit of Positivist methods but recognize that no study can be completely objective (unbiased and free from values/beliefs). People are not as predictable as plants/objects. Realism is the idea that you need quantitative methods (what’s going on) and qualitative methods (why it’s going on).

Question 7

Quantitative Methods

Answer 7

Reliable (structured questioning), representative (large scale), not valid (can’t ask questions) and objective.

Question 8

Qualitative Methods

Answer 8

Valid, verstehen, subjective, unrepresentative and unreliable.

Question 9

Primary Research

Answer 9

You conduct the research yourself.
Pros: can make sure it’s valid, and you know how you conducted the research so it’s valid and reliable.
Cons: time-consuming and so less representative, and could be biased which would make the results invalid.

Question 10

Secondary Research

Answer 10

The research is collected by other people. The research sources/data exists before the research project begins e.g books, magazines, newspapers, internet, government archives and previous researcher’s results.
Pros: it is more representative and there is less chance of bias.
Cons: you can’t check the accuracy so it’s not reliable or necessarily valid and there’s less chance of the data covering the exact topic you want to study, so might be less representative of the topic.

Question 11

Documents (Secondary Research)

e.g Valerie Hey

Answer 11

Can either be personal (letters, diaries, suicide notes, autobiographies, memoirs) or official. The advantages are that they are accurate and sometimes valid. The disadvantages are that they are not always ethical, biased so not necessarily valid (subjective) and you cannot check reliability.

Question 12

Mass Media (Secondary Research)
e.g Cohen used mass media to research the moral panic caused by Mods and Rockers.

Answer 12

Newspapers (broadsheets/tabloids), news (tv), radio and social media.
Advantages: inexpensive and representative, easy to collect.
Disadvantages: can’t check the reliability and it’s biased (so invalid).

Question 13

Official Statistics (Secondary Research)

Answer 13

Produced by local government, central government and government agencies such as the police. Hard statistics cannot be manipulated e.g birth and marriage (objective and factual) and soft statistics can be manipulate e.g poverty, crime and unemployment.
Advantages: large scale (representative) and accurate (valid).
Disadvantages: numbers could be manipulated (not valid) and data is quantitative so lacks detail (invalid).

Question 14

Methodological Pluralism

Answer 14

When research combines quantitative and qualitative methods, aiming to both measure and interpret the social world. Favoured by Realists.

Question 15

Triangulation

Answer 15

Use of two or more methods OR when two or more researchers use the same method.

Question 16

Stengths & Weaknesses of Mixed Methods

Answer 16

Strengths: valid because more methods used means more detailed data collected and more reliable.
Weaknesses: takes time and costs money so less representative and not always valid because different sociologists could interpret results differently.

Question 17

Longitudinal Studies

Answer 17

Look at development and change. Usually consisting of the same group of individuals over fairly long periods of time e.g Child of the New Century.

Question 18

Practical Issues (PET)

Answer 18

• Time and money, especially if the study is large scale and representative. Would affect Sociologist’s choice of research methods.
• Personal Skills & Characteristics, e.g participant obvs involves the ability to mix with others and interviews involves establishing a rapport with the interviewee.
• Subject Matter, written questionnaires will be useless for studying those who cannot read and it may be difficult for a male to take part in an all-female participant observation.

Question 19

Ethical Issues (PET)

Answer 19

Methods that sociologists use to study people may include a range of ethical questions:
Deception, sensitivity, confidentiality, informed consent, vulnerability, right to withdraw, anonymity, privacy and protection from harm.

Question 20

Theoretical Issues (PET)

Answer 20

Sociologists often ask the question ‘How good will my data be?’. Ideally they want data that is valid, reliable and representative.

Question 21

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 21

When you change your behavior because you know that you’re being studied or watched.