Research methods

Question 1

what is a lab experiment?

Answer 1

controlled setting. likely to be overt. identifies and controls variables-identify cause and effect

Question 2

what is a field experiment?

Answer 2

natural setting e.g. school. likely to be covert.identifies and controls variables-identify cause and effect

Question 3

what is an armchair/comparative experiment?

Answer 3

compares 2 groups who differ in only one respect. e.g. divorce rates before + after divorce reform act. identifies and controls variables-identify cause and effect

Question 4

what are some advantages of lab experiments?

Answer 4

quantitative data. easy to analyse. reliable.easy to control variables

Question 5

what are some advantages of field experiments?

Answer 5

less Hawthorne effect. qualitative data. validity.

Question 6

what are some advantages of armchair/comparative experiments?

Answer 6

can be used to study past events. avoids artificiality. no ethical issues

Question 7

what are some disadvantages of lab experiments?

Answer 7

artificial-low validity. Hawthorne effect. ethical issues. small scale so unrepresentative.

Question 8

what are some disadvantages of field experiments?

Answer 8

difficult to control-lack internal validity. ethics-harder inform often involves deceit, mainly covert.

Question 9

what are some disadvantages of armchair/comparative experiments?

Answer 9

little control over variables so harder to establish cause and effect.

Question 10

what are some example of experiments?

Answer 10

LAB- Bandura (bobo doll)
FIELD- Rosenthal + Jacobson (spurters)
ARMCHAIR- Brunsma + Rockquemore (effects of school uniform)

Question 11

what are some examples of questionnaires?

Answer 11

self completion, postal, open/closed q’s

Question 12

what are some advantages of questionnaires?

Answer 12

mainly quantitative (positivists), reliable, easy to compare data, representative-easy to generalise, cheap. closed q’s easy to quantify. no interviewer effect. fewer ethical issues.

Question 13

what are some disadvantages of questionnaires?

Answer 13

low validity. postal have low response rate. misunderstanding of q’s

Question 14

what are some examples of questionnaires?

Answer 14

Chubb and moe- factors effecting educational achievement. Sullivan-cultural capital and educational achievement

Question 15

what are structured interviews?

Answer 15

usually closed, precoded q’s. set interview schedule.

Question 16

what are some advantages of structured interviews?

Answer 16

quantitative data, easy to train interviewers, quick and cheap, high response rate, reliable.

Question 17

what are some disadvantages of structured interviews?

Answer 17

expensive and time consuming, interviewer bias, less valid- closed q’s.

Question 18

what are unstructured interviews?

Answer 18

informal, open ended q’s. no interview schedule.

Question 19

what are some advantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 19

qualitative data, gain rapport easier-can go into depth e.g. sensitive topics. interviewer can explain questions/ ask for more info-increases validity.

Question 20

what are some disadvantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 20

time consuming and expensive to train interview. small scale-less representative. unreliable-can’t replicate. difficult to quantify, analyse and compare. increased interviewer effect.

Question 21

give an example of unstructured interviews.

Answer 21

Labov- black kids, informal compared formal setting (toys)

Question 22

what are group interviews?

Answer 22

asking q’s in turn or focus group- guided discussions. a group of interviewees

Question 23

what are some advantages of group interviews?

Answer 23

in education it is a more natural setting-used to be around a lot of people. validity-more confident together. ideas can be stimulated by others in the group- more insights

Question 24

what are some disadvantages of group interviews?

Answer 24

group may be dominated, peer pressure. difficult to keep focus. harder to analyse data

Question 25

what is an example of group interviews?

Answer 25

Willis and the lads

Question 26

define participant observation

Answer 26

unstructured, natural setting usually covert when the observer participates.

Question 27

what are some advantages of participant observation?

Answer 27

valid, authentic data. covert=natural behavior so valid especially on sensitive topics. new insights into hidden worlds

Question 28

what are some disadvantages of participant observation?

Answer 28

unreliable. unrepresentative. if covert it is hard to take notes which could result in invalid data and is easier to go native. being able to get into the group and stay in and getting out. need a highly trained, skilled observer. may be objectivity- observer bias so only specific recordings. ethical issues- deception, privacy, welfare.

Question 29

define non participant observation

Answer 29

may be structured or unstructured, covert or overt. observer doesn’t participate

Question 30

what are some advantages of non participant observation?

Answer 30

overt reduces moral and ethical issues, easier to record and can question openly. if covert increases natural behavior so valid. structured is quick, cheap and less training, generates quantitative data, easier to analyse and compare. unstructured is more valid and qualitative data

Question 31

what are some disadvantages of non participant observation?

Answer 31

overt=observer effect. covert= harder to record data and increased risk of going native. structured lacks validity and unstructured is time consuming, harder to analyse and compare data and unreliable.