Research Methods Flashcards
Define Reliability
Whether you get the same results when you repeat the experiment
Define Validity
True and accurate picture of what you are measuring
Define Ethics
Guidelines that define conduct and protect the welfare of participants
Define Primary Data
Information collected by sociologists for their own research, using experiments, observations or social surveys
Define Secondary Data
Information collected or created by someone else, which sociologists can also use in their research
Define Quantitative Data
Type of data that involves use of numbers
Define Qualitative Data
Type of data that relies on descriptions
Define Observations
A research method that involve the researcher observing people’s behaviour in their natural environment which can be either disclosed (overt) or undisclosed (covert) to participants
Define Questionnaires
A research method that involves asking people about their attitude, beliefs or experiences either in writing or verbally
Define Experiments
A research method in which researchers manipulate situations to measure differences in people’s behaviour either in controlled environment (laboratory) or natural environment (field)
List 6 Practical Factors
Requirements of funding bodies Personal skills and characteristics of the researcher Subject Matter Research Opportunity Access Harm to Researcher
List 5 Ethical Issues
Informed Consent Confidentiality and Privacy Protection from harm (participants) Vulnerable Groups Covert Research
List 4 Theoretical Issues
Validity
Reliability
Representativeness
Methodological Perspective
How is Personal skills and characteristics of researcher a practical factor?
Not all sociologists would feel comfortable infiltrating groups (Venkatesh) and may feel that they don’t have the necessary attributes to do this. They may instead prefer to use interviews/ questionnaires
How is Access a practical factor?
Some groups are harder to study using particular methods than others. For example, making use of questionnaires may not be the best method to use when researching members of society who did not complete school
How is Funding Body Requirements a practical factor?
The government may fund a piece of research into the impact of free school meals on achievement in the working class, therefore the sociologist would have to ensure the research meets the requirements of those who fund it
How is Money a practical factor?
The access to funds may limit the choices that a researcher has when choosing the method they will use to research a topic.
How is Time a practical factor?
The opportunity to carry out research can sometimes happen very quickly which could impact the length of time the researcher had to plan research. This would therefore impact on the method used.
How is the Subject Matter a practical factor?
Venkatesh in his research of a Chicago gang took years, not all sociologists have this luxury and may use other research methods.
How is Harm to Researcher a practical factor?
The researcher decides to put themselves in the position so they are aware of the risk
Define informed consent
The participant has to know the aims of the investigation
Define confidentiality and privacy
Any answers or results that come from a participant must be kept from everyone else because not everybody will want to be named or people to know their views on certain topics.
Define Protection from harm (participants)
If there is a risk that the participants are going to be harmed then this would be breaching ethical guidelines.
Define vulnerable groups
Vulnerable groups like young people or people with physical and mental illnesses may be unable to understand the aims of the research therefore they may also not be able to give informed consent.
Define covert research
If it is a covert research then the participants will be unaware that they are being researched therefore they can’t give informed consent as they don’t know the aims of the research.
Define representativeness
The research has to be representative of the target population (the sample that is being researched). If it isn’t then the research doesn’t apply to the majority.
Define methodological perspective
This is whether you are positivist or interpretivist.
What do interpretivists look for in their research?
Individuals. Verstehen (human empathy). Qualitative Data. Validity. Rich Data. Paul Willis, study of the lads
What do positivists look for in their research?
Scientific. Quantitative Data. Objective. Generalised. Reliability. Representative. Trends and patterns. Durkheim's study of suicide.
