Research Methods Flashcards
TPERVERT
Theological
Practical
Ethical
Reliability
Validity
Evaluation (advantages and disadvantages)
Representativeness
Triangulation
Theological
Positivists: Macrosociology, institutions in society Functionalists value free (objective) Scientific approach (more reliable) Quantitative data Use of statistics (make comparisons and make correlations/relationships
E.g questionnaires official stats
Interpretivists : microsociology, individual
Marxists
value laden (subjective)
Use methods that discover meaning (empathy)
Qualitative data
Argue humans can’t be measured
E.g interviews observation
Practical
Time observation/interview is time consuming depending on length
Money Interviews most expensive (skilled interviewer) Questionnaire cost effective (print loads)
Access and opportunity (Opportunity sampling e.g )
Ethical
Age consent
Right to withdraw
Confidentiality
No psychical and emotional harm
Reliability
Replication
Quantitative =high reliability
Validity
True to information
Social desirability bias (make themselves look good don’t say bad stuff)
Qualitative (high validity)
Examples
Studies using this method
Representativeness
Sample size? Representiveness to whole population. Reflect society and a whole
Triangulisation
Combine both methods
Advanatages - more valid (better detailed picture)
Cross check different sets of data if they’re in support or against eachother
Disadvantages
Time consuming and expensive
Primary data
Researched collected first hand.
Examples: questionnaires, interviews, observation
Ad:
Disad: time consuming expensive depending on method
Secondary data
Research that’s has already been conducted
E.g
Internet
Official statistics
Books
Ad: easy access, quicker
Disad: outdated
Observation
Covert - group isn’t aware
Ad: people can’t mislead researcher
Overt - group is aware they’re observed
Influence behaviour
Participant- actively involved
Ad: close up first hand insight
Non participant- observes but doesn’t take part
Ad: more objective
Interviews
Structured - ask same questions(standardised) closed questions
Ad: produce quantitative data (positivists)
Reliable
Disad: time consuming expensive
Unstructured - informal, no rigid structure
Ad: produce qualitative data (interpretivists)
Disad: small sample size
Experiments
Lab - controlled environment
High reliability
Extraneous variables are controlled
Disad: demand characteristics
Field - real social settings
Higher ecological validity (reflect real life)
Less demand characteristics (covert)
Disad: less control over extraneous variables
Hard to replicate
