Research Methods AS Flashcards
What are 2 strengths of closed questions?
Easy analyse More objective
What are 2 strengths of open questions?
Rich detail May have unexpected findings
What are 2 weaknesses of closed questions?
May Pidgeon hole people Oversimplifies
What are 2 weaknesses of open questions?
more difficult to draw conclusions difficult to interpret
What are 2 weaknesses of ranked scale?
may prefer to respond the same way regardless of context Social desirability
What are 2 strengths of ranked scale?
Objective Produces quantitative data
What is random sampling?
everyone in the population has an equal chance of being studied
What is stratified sampling?
process that allows a researcher to ensure that the sample represents the population on some criteria
What is volunteer sampling?
Involves participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample
What is opportunity sampling?
Taking the sample from people who are available at the time
2 strengths of random sampling
unbiased possible to choose a specific subgroup first
2 weaknesses of random sampling
takes more time and effort not always random as not everyone agrees to take part
2 strengths of stratified sampling
most representative increases control over extraneous variables
2 strengths of volunteer sampling
convenient can find specific people through where placed eg. medical students from ad on notice board in medical school
2 strengths of opportunity sampling
convenient only technique available due to not being able to list whole population
2 weaknesses of stratified sampling
subgroup selection may be biased lengthy process
2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling
Biased- volunteer bias more responsive to demand characteristics
2 weaknesses of opportunity sampling
biased may refuse to take part
measures of central tendency
mean, median, mode
measures of dispersion
range and standard deviation
strength of mean
reflects all values of all the data
strength of median
not effected by extreme scores
strength of mode
useful when data is in categories
weakness of mean
unrepresentative if data has extreme values
weakness of median
not as sensitive as mean as not all values are reflected
weakness of mode
not useful when more than one mode
2 weaknesses of range
affected by extreme values fails to take account for distribution
2 weaknesses of standard deviation
might hide extreme values cannot be quickly determined
2 strengths of range
convenient easy to calculate
2 strengths of standard deviation
precise measure of dispersion not difficult to calculate if you use a calculator
Strengths of quantitative data
easy to analyse more objective
Strengths of qualitative data
represents humans true complexities rich details
weaknesses of quantitative data
may not express participants precise thoughts/feelings oversimplifies reality and human thought
weaknesses of qualitative data
more difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions interpreting is subjective
thematic analysis
A method for analysing qualitative data which involves identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within the data. Themes.
grounded theory
for qualitative data. When theoretical explanations emerge during the course of the investigation.
confidentiality
the assurance that messages and information are available only to those who are authorized to view them
deception
misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire
informed consent
an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
privacy
the right of people not to reveal information about themselves
right to withdraw
A participant’s right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.
protection from harm
the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm
structured interview
An interview that consists of a predetermined set of questions for the interviewer to ask and doesn’t probe beyond those questions.
Semi-structured interview
An interview in which questions are decided before however new questions are decided as the interview proceeds
unstructured interview
no questions are decided in advanced
2 strengths of a structured interview
easily repeated easier to analyse data
2 strengths of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more detailed information can be obtained access information which might not have been revealed otherwise
2 weaknesses of a structured interview
interviewers expectations may influence the answers pp may feel reluctant to reveal information
2 weaknesses of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more affected by interviewer bias requires well trained interviewers
2 Strengths of questionnaires
can be given out to lots of people more willing to reveal confidential information