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research methods Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is data?

A
  • facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
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2
Q

what is primary data?

A
  • you collect it yourself
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3
Q

what is secondary data?

A
  • collected from elsewhere
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4
Q

what is quantitative data?

A
  • numbers and figures
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5
Q

what is qualitative data?

A
  • feelings and opinions
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6
Q

what are factors to consider in research methods?

A
  • practical
  • Ethical
  • Theoretical
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7
Q

what are types of practical issues?

A
  • time and resources
  • access
  • money and funding
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8
Q

what are types of ethical issues?

A
  • informed consent
  • confidentiality/privacy
  • effects on those taking part/danger
  • covert research=deceiving subjects
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9
Q

what is a hypothesis?

A
  • a possible explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence to prove it true or false
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10
Q

what is an aim?

A
  • identifies what we intend to study
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11
Q

Do positivists prefer an aim or hypothesis and why?

A
  • a hypothesis

- because they seek to discover cause and effect relationships

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12
Q

Do interpretivists prefer an aim or hypothesis and why?

A
  • an aim

- because they’re interested in understanding actors

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13
Q

what is operationalism?

A
  • the process of converting a sociological concept into something we can measure
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14
Q

why are positivists concerned with operationalising concepts?

A
  • because they place more importance on creating and testing hypothesises
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15
Q

what is the pilot study?

A
  • practice run
  • smaller scale
  • aim to finalise method and check issues
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16
Q

what is Young and Willmotts pilot study?

A
  • they did over 100 pilot studies
  • to decide on the design of their study
  • to iron out or refine questions
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17
Q

what is sampling?

A
  • the process of choosing your respondents and ensuring they are representative
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18
Q

what is a sampling frame?

A
  • list of all members of the population you are studying `
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19
Q

what are the 4 sampling techniques?

A
  • random
  • systematic
  • stratified
  • quota
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20
Q

what is random sampling?

A
  • sample is selected purely by chance

- everyone has a equal chance of being chosen

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21
Q

what is systematic sampling?

A
  • every Nth person in the sampling frame is selected
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22
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A
  • the researcher first stratifies the population in the sampling frame by age, class etc
  • sample is created in the same proportions
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23
Q

what is quota sampling?

A
  • population is stratified

- each interviewer is given a quota

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24
Q

what are theoretical advantages to questionnaires?

A
  • reliable/easy
  • useful for testing hypothesis
  • representative
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25
Q

what are ethical advantages of questionnaires?

A
  • limited interviewer intention or bias
  • respondents are kept anonymous
  • little danger for interviewer
26
Q

what are practical advantages of questionnaires?

A
  • quick and cheap

- easy to quantify and analyse

27
Q

what are theoretical disadvantages of questionnaires?

A
  • answers generally lack depth
  • may not by truthful
  • no room for respondents to explain
  • leading questions
28
Q

what are practical disadvantages of questionnaires?

A
  • low response rate

- respondents cannot ask for clarification of questions

29
Q

what is a study for low response rate for questionnaires?

A
  • Shire Hite’s, study of love, passions and emotional violence in America
  • sent out 100,000 questionnaires
  • only 4.5% returned
30
Q

what does Cicourel (1968) say about questionnaires?

A
  • they lack validity

- we need to get closer to subject and share meanings

31
Q

what are advantages of interviews?

A
  • allow for a personal relations = more valid
  • open answers
  • ability to gain large amounts of quantitative data
32
Q

what are disadvantages of interviews?

A
  • may lie to hide truth on sensitive subjects
  • can be time consuming
  • could be bias
33
Q

what are advantages of observations?

A
  • validity= see how they act
  • insight= gain empathy
  • flexibility= open mindness
34
Q

what does Whyte say about flexibility of participant observations?

A
  • ‘I learned answers to questions I wouldn’t have had the sense to ask if I had been using interviews’
35
Q

what are disadvantages of participant observations?

A
  • time consuming
  • deceives people in order to gain information
  • researcher needs to be trained
  • hard to replicate
  • bias
36
Q

what is a laboratory experiment?

A
  • testing behaviour in controlled lab conditions

- preferred by positivists

37
Q

what was Milgram’s study on obedience?

A
  • testes obedience by asking subjects to give eclectic shocks to a ‘leaner’ behind a door when they got a question wrong
38
Q

what did Milgram’s study find?

A
  • 65% gave shocks of 450 volts (double UK power mains)
39
Q

what is a practical disadvantage for lab experiments?

A
  • expensive (have to pay the subjects)
40
Q

what ethical disadvantages for lab experiments?

A
  • paying the participants

they feel like they’re obliged to carry out the action

41
Q

what are pros of lab experiments?

A
  • very reliable
  • scientific (variables strictly controlled)
  • great for positivists
42
Q

what are cons of lab experiments?

A
  • impossible to control al factors
  • cost
  • time consuming/must be small scale
  • lack of consent/sometimes deception
43
Q

what is a field experiment?

A
  • takes place in the natural environment of subjects

observing subjects responses to variables

44
Q

what are pros of field experiments?

A
  • more natural/valid
  • no Hawthorne effect
  • cheaper
45
Q

what are cons of field experiments ?

A
  • involve deception/lack of consent

- less control over variables

46
Q

what is a comparative method?

A

thought experiment - involves researchers comparing 2 groups based on one variable
- test data to see how they compare

47
Q

what was Durkeim’s comparative method study?

A
  • study of suicide
    tested which Christian group was more likely to commit suicide
  • Catholics or Protestants
48
Q

what are the 4 types of observations?

A
  • covert
  • overt
  • participant
  • non-participant
49
Q

what is a covert observation?

A
  • the researchers real identity + purpose are kept concealed
  • researcher takes on fake identity
50
Q

what is a non-participant observation?

A
  • the researcher simply observes the group or event without taking part in it
51
Q

what is a participant observation?

A
  • the researcher takes part in an event

- in the everyday life of the group while observing it

52
Q

what is an overt observation?

A
  • the researcher makes their true identity + purpose known to those being studied
53
Q

what are official statistics?

A
  • govt/official bodies

- e.g. divorce figures, GCSE results

54
Q

what are advantages of official statistics?

A
  • free data=more money for other factors
  • collected at intervals=shows patterns
  • representative=can be applied to a lot
  • reliable
55
Q

what are disadvantages of official statistics?

A
  • cant always find what your looking for
  • gevt definitions ay differ from sociological ones
  • definitions change over time
56
Q

what are hidden figures of crime?

A
  • crimes committed but not reported
57
Q

what is the British crime survey and what were the findings?

A
  • asked a sample if they have been victims of crime

- in 2002 42% of crimes were reported

58
Q

why do positivists like official stats?

A
  • they’re objective (no bias)

- large scale

59
Q

what are advantages of documents?

A
  • personal documents= give qualitative insights
  • best way to study the past
  • cheap and quick
60
Q

what are disadvantages of documents?

A
  • historical=not always authentic/credible

- can be difficult to access

61
Q

according to Scott, 1990 what are the 4 criteria for usefulness of documents?

A
  • credibility
  • representativeness
  • authenticity
  • meaning

sociology (11 decks)

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