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A2 Sociology > Research Methods and Concepts > Flashcards

Research Methods and Concepts Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Content analysis

A

Analysis of texts/media pieces; usually quantitative but may be qualitative
Disadv - subject to interpretation = low reliability

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2
Q

Official statistics

A

Secondary source
Some sociologists say they are socially constructive
Use normative definition of deviance
Useful as background info to inform research

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3
Q

Longitudinal

A

British Cohort Study
Longitudinal mixed methods, Positivist/Realist, methodological pluralism/triangulation
aims to uncover relationships between factors to improve social policy

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4
Q

Operationalisation

A

Breakup concepts into measurable indicators

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5
Q

Sample attrition

A

Dropout rate in a longitudinal study

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6
Q

Methodological pluralism

A

Use of two or more methods to add detail and/or range to a study

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7
Q

Triangulation

A

Use of two or more methods to check validity or improve reliability of a study

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8
Q

Documents

A

Public, personal, historical
Consider: authenticity, credibility (was it written FOR the research?), representiveness, meaning (interpretation/subjective)

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9
Q

Value freedom/laden

A

The belief that research can/cannot be separate from the researcher’s values and beliefs

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10
Q

What did Becker (interactionist) say about research?

A

He used a ‘committed approach’, asking ‘what side are we on?’. He was committed to giving powerless people a voice

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11
Q

What does reflexivity do?

A

Allow researcher to reflect on how their values impacted their research (subjective influence), make research more transparent, acknowledges that research affects both participant and researcher

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12
Q

Which approach thinks research is inevitably value laden?

A

Interpretivism

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13
Q

Name some practical issues

A 
Time and money (scale of research, employees needed)
Funding requirements (is it needed in a certain format?)
Skills/characteristics of sociologist
Subject matter (consider gender/literacy/background of participants and researcher)
Research opportunity (may limit study type options)
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14
Q

Name some ethical issues

A 
Consent
Avoidance of harm
Confidentiality
Avoidance of deception
Results (what happens to them?)
Leaving the sample
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15
Q

Name some theoretical issues

A

Methodological perspective (realist/pos/int/fem)
Val/rel. rep/gen
FItness for purpose of study

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16
Q

Same some sampling types

A

Snowball
Cluster (series of places, researcher chooses a sample at random from the ‘cluster’ of people there)
Convenience
Quota
Probability/Random
Stratified
Systemic (every nth same from sampling frame)

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17
Q

Name some things which can raise validity

A 
Researcher presence (for clarity)
Positive researcher characteristics
Well opperationalised indicators
Pilot study
Place/environment
Anonymity and confidentiality
Respondant validation
18
Q

Name some things which can lower validity

A 
Sensitive topics
Unclear questions
Leading questions
Researcher imposition (value laden research)
Social desirability (social bias)
Subjective bias of researcher
Interviewer effect/bias
Group interviews
19
Q

What is social desirability/social bias?

A

The respondant answering questions in a way that will make them seem ‘better’ due to worries about how they appear - lowers validity

20
Q

Name some things which can raise reliability

A

Pilot study
Well worded questions
Standardized environment
Lower researcher involvement

21
Q

Name some things which can lower reliability

A

Poorly worded questions
Researcher involvement
No standard environment

22
Q

What does Lyotard (postmodernist) think?

A

Research is no more than one person’s view or interpretation - he rejects this as a metanarrative

23
Q

Which Positivist believed in the scientific approach?

A

Durkheim - value free sociology - eg ‘suicide study’ (uses OCS)

24
Q

Which factors may affect the values of the research?

A

Influences of funding body
Personal opinions and experiences of sociologist
Aim of sociologist (eg career progression)

25
Q

Explain the process of research

A 
Topic choice
Literature review
Hypothesis (Pos) or Research aims (int)
Method and sample selection
Operationalizing concepts
Pilot study
Research
Collect, code and analyse
Conclusion
Evaluation
26
Q

What is respondant validation?

A

Asking the sample to check results - eg Willis with the anti-school subculture
(increases validity, checks ethical issues, reflexitivity, overcomes prac/eth issues of leaving a group)

27
Q

What is researcher imposition

A

Bias in research due to researcher’s own views, eg leading questions and non verbal cues
Overcome by pilot studies, triangulation, respondent validation

28
Q

How can subjective bias be overcome?

A

Researcher triangulation
Data triangulation (to cross check results)
Reflexivity

29
Q

What are two examples of researcher imposition?

A

Leading questions and non verbal cues

30
Q

What is an example of a case study?

A

In depth study of one individual/group

e.g. Willis; Dawn Butler

31
Q

What are some advantages/reasons to use a case study

A

Usually uses one than more method, increasing validity
High verstehen and validity
Allows voice of powerless to emerge
Can research a hard to access group

32
Q

Name some researchers who used reflexivity

A

Lumsden; Valerie Hay; Mac an Ghaill

33
Q

Name some researchers whose research was affected by access to sample

A

Hay

Mac an Ghaill

34
Q

What are trends?

A

Patterns over time

Overcomes snapshot view, can see effect of social or policy changes/factors

35
Q

What is cause and effect and who uses it?

A

A positivist data analysis technique which tries to find reasons for something - but difficult to know the direction of causation.
However may increase funding potential as preferred by government (can implement policies)

36
Q

Name some examples of people who used personal documents?

A 
Valerie Hey (notes)
Dawn Butler
37
Q

What are focus groups?

A

Group interviews but less formal.

Group dynamic may mean new ideas emerge; saves time and money; useful research starting point

38
Q

What is ethnography?

A

Observation, usually participant

39
Q

What is triangulation?

A

Using two or more methods to check and verify results
(researcher triangulation reduced bias)
Realist approach

40
Q

What is methodological pluralism?

A

Using two or more methods to add breadth, depth and deeper understanding to a study

41
Q

What is fitness for purpose?

A

When the method suits the aim of a study

A2 Sociology (49 decks)

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