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A-LEVEL OCR Sociology > Research Methods (AVI) > Flashcards

Research Methods (AVI) Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Why do Sociologists use sampling?

A

To ensure the people we have chosen to include in the study are representative of the research population.

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2
Q

Representativeness

A

An accurate cross-section of the whole population being studied.

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3
Q

Give an example of Representativeness

A

School population. If there is 67% White British students in the school, for a sample to be representative, 67% of the participants need to be White British.

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4
Q

Population

A

is the number of people in a city or town, region, country or world

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5
Q

Sampling frame

A

A list of everyone in the target population from which a sample is drawn. Examples of this would be the electoral roll or a telephone directory.

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6
Q

Census Research

A

The census is an official survey, conducted every 10 years, which is supposed to cover every household in the UK

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7
Q

Stratified sampling

TRIGGER WORD

Sample that consists of

A

Involves identifying the subgroups in the target population. Then choosing a sample that consists of participants from each category in the same proportions as they are in the population.

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8
Q

What are the types of Non-random/Non-probability sampling?

A
  • Quota
  • Snowball
  • Purposive
  • Volunteer
  • Opportunity
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9
Q

Quota Sampling

A

The researcher will approach people in the street/shopping centres who have the characteristics that they are looking for, for example, housewives or the elderly. This sampling technique is most often used by market researchers

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10
Q

Snowball Sampling

TRIGGER WORD
makes contact with a member

A

The researcher makes contact with a member of the target population and then asks them to name one or more possible contacts.

  • Used when it is difficult to gain access to a particular group or there is no sampling frame
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11
Q

What are the 5 types of Non-random/Non-probability sampling?

A
  • Quota
  • Snowball
  • Purposive
  • Volunteer
  • Opportunity
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12
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

People volunteer to be involved with the study after seeing an advert in newspapers or on posters.

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13
Q

Snowball Sampling

A

The researcher makes contact with a member of the target population and then asks them to name one or more possible contacts.

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14
Q

When is snowball sampling used?

A

Used when it is difficult to gain access to a particular group or there is no sampling frame

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15
Q

What the 3 types of Probability/Random sampling?

A
  • Random
  • Systematic
  • Stratified
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16
Q

What are the advantages of Random sampling?

A
  • No researcher influence
  • No bias in selection
  • Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature
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17
Q

What are the advantages of Systematic sampling

2

A
  • No researcher bias

- Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature

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18
Q

What are the advantages of Stratified Sampling?

A
  • No researcher influence
  • No bias in selection
  • Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature
  • Increases the chances of attaining a representative sample
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19
Q

What are the disadvantages of Random sampling?

A
  • Doesn’t guarantee a representative sample

- This is why many sociologists break their lists down into separate categories

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20
Q

What are the disadvantages of Systematic sampling

2

A
  • Isn’t truly random but is close enough.

- This is why many sociologists break their list down into separate categories

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21
Q

What are the advantages of Stratified Sampling?

A
  • No researcher influence
  • No bias in selection
  • Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature
  • Increases the chances of attaining a representative sample
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22
Q

What are the advantages of Quota sampling?

1

A
  • Should be an accurate reflection of the population as a whole.
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23
Q

What are the advantages of Snowball sampling?

3

A
  • Don’t need to know the social characteristics of the research population
  • Good when you can’t create a sample frame
  • Can gain in-depth valid data
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24
Q

What are the advantages of Purposive sampling

3

A
  • Don’t need to know the social characteristics of the research population
  • Good when you can’t create a sample frame
  • Can gain in-depth valid data
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25
Q

What are the advantages of Volunteer sampling

3

A
  • Don’t need to know the social characteristics of the research population
  • Good when you can’t create a sample frame
  • Can gain in-depth valid data
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26
Q

What are the advantages of Opportunity sampling?

4

A
  • Don’t need to know the social characteristics of the research population
  • Good when you can’t create a sample frame
  • Can gain in-depth valid data
  • Easy access
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27
Q

Reliability

A

The degree to which a method will give the same (or very similar results) if repeated multiple times. Quantitive methods are thought to be more reliable

28
Q

What are examples of Quantitative methods?

A

Questionnaires

Structured interviews

29
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which results are a true reflection of the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that are being studied. It is generally Qualitative methods that are thought to provide more valid data

30
Q

Give examples of Qualitative methods

A
  • Observations

- Unstructured interviews

31
Q

Generalisability

A

Assuming what is true for the sample being studied, is true of the wider target population and therefore generalising your findings to this group.

32
Q

Reliability

A

The degree to which a method will give the same (or very similar results) if repeated multiple times. Quantitive methods are thought to be more reliable

33
Q

Primary Data

A

Refers to data that has been generated by the researcher themselves.

34
Q

Secondary data

A

The data that is already available to the sociologist as opposed to primary data which they produce themselves.

35
Q

Give an example of primary data

A

conducted a questionnaire or a series of interviews, or they might have carried out an observation or experiment.

36
Q

Give an example of Secondary data

A
  • censuses
  • information collected by government departments,
  • organizational records
  • Data that was originally collected for other research purposes.
37
Q

Give an example of Secondary data

A
  • Censuses
  • information collected by government departments,
  • organizational records
  • Data that was originally collected for other research purposes.
38
Q

Under what age can participants not give consent to participate in a study?

A

16

39
Q

What is an Aim

A

The overall purpose of the research. eg Is there a link between poverty or crime?

40
Q

Hypothesis

A

The prediction that you think the results are going to go in

41
Q

Operationalisation

A

The process of defining the key terms and concepts which form the basis of the research in order to ensure readers of the research understand and the sociologists know how the terms are being used.

42
Q

Pilot study

A

A practice study in order to check whether the research is likely to work and make improvements to them
- Mainly Quantitative research

43
Q

What are the strengths of a Pilot Study?

4

A
  • Used to test Validity
  • Make improvements to study
  • Identify issues with studies
  • Saves money (Practical)
44
Q

Secondary data

A

Refers to any data that the sociologist has used that they did not collect themselves. There are 2 types

45
Q

Official statistics

Government

A

The numerical data collected by the government, or state agencies such as the home office.

  • Usually gathered through surveys eg census, the labour force survey
46
Q

Non-offical statistics

A

The numerical data collected by non-goverment sources. eg trade unions, employers and charities.

47
Q

Disadvantages of non-offical statistics

A
  • More likely to be biased

- May not provide full picture of what is going on

48
Q

Advantages of official statistics

A

Favoured by positivists as:

  • They are able to look at patterns and trends.
  • Less time consuming
  • Affordable
49
Q

Access

A

Gaining access to a group of people for research purposes

50
Q

Content Analysis

A

a technique used by sociologists to analyse media reports or products.

51
Q

Examples of Content Analysis

A

newspapers, magazines, advertisements, radio, music products, posters, films, novels, the internet and computer products.

52
Q

Stengths of content analysis

A

Cheaper than other methods as all the sociologist needs to do is access the content eg. buy the magazines, watch the TV etc.

Allows for comparisons over time so trends can be established.

53
Q

Why is content analysis favoured by positivists

A
  • They are high in reliability and therefore scientific.
  • They are standardised and can be used by others to achieve similar results.
  • They produce lots of statistical data which can be easily analysed and turned into tables, charts and graphs.
54
Q

Limitations of content analysis

A

Often very time consuming as the media products might need to be checked over a long period of time.

Often very subjective as the categories used in the content analysis schedule depend on what the researcher interprets as important.

Low in validity as only tell us about the personal and political beliefs of those who produce the media products and products are often analysed out of context.

55
Q

Ethnography

A

Writing about the way of life of social groups. It involves the researcher inserting themselves into the natural setting of the social group and participating in and observing their activities

56
Q

Stength of ethnographies

A

Valid data is likely to be collected as the researcher can establish a rapport which generates trust, meaning participants are more likely to open up and say what they feel and mean.

They can often result in unexpected findings as the interviewee may tell the sociologists things they had not thought of, allowing the sociologist to learn as they go along.

The flexibility allows the researcher to formulate new hypotheses and put them to the test during the interview.

57
Q

Weaknesses of ethnographies

A

Some people may not be able to tell the truth because they are unaware they act in certain ways.

58
Q

Structured Interviews

A

involves the researcher reading out a list of closed questions from an interview schedule/questionnaire

59
Q

Unstructured interview

A

A guided conversation where the interviewer plays an active role by managing the questions to ensure the participant keeps to the subject of the research

60
Q

Semi-Structured Interviews

A

are a mix of structured and unstructured interviews

61
Q

PET

A

Practical, Ethical and Theoretical

62
Q

Practical

A
  • Cost
  • Time
  • Participant Access
  • Gate-keeping
  • Design
  • Primary Vs Secondary Data
63
Q

Ethical

A

Confidentiality, Informed Consent, Protection From Harm, Brief/Debrief, Privacy, Right to Withdraw

64
Q

Theoretical

A
65
Q

Participant Access

A

Being able to have access of art

66
Q

Design

A

Where is structured, unstructed, semi-structured

67
Q

Value Freedom

A

A-LEVEL OCR Sociology (62 decks)

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