Research Methods (AVI) Flashcards
Why do Sociologists use sampling?
To ensure the people we have chosen to include in the study are representative of the research population.
Representativeness
An accurate cross-section of the whole population being studied.
Give an example of Representativeness
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.
Population
is the number of people in a city or town, region, country or world
Sampling frame
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.
Census Research
The census is an official survey, conducted every 10 years, which is supposed to cover every household in the UK
Stratified sampling
TRIGGER WORD
Sample that consists of
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.
What are the types of Non-random/Non-probability sampling?
- Quota
- Snowball
- Purposive
- Volunteer
- Opportunity
Quota Sampling
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
Snowball Sampling
TRIGGER WORD
makes contact with a member
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
What are the 5 types of Non-random/Non-probability sampling?
- Quota
- Snowball
- Purposive
- Volunteer
- Opportunity
Volunteer sampling
People volunteer to be involved with the study after seeing an advert in newspapers or on posters.
Snowball Sampling
The researcher makes contact with a member of the target population and then asks them to name one or more possible contacts.
When is snowball sampling used?
Used when it is difficult to gain access to a particular group or there is no sampling frame
What the 3 types of Probability/Random sampling?
- Random
- Systematic
- Stratified
What are the advantages of Random sampling?
- No researcher influence
- No bias in selection
- Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature
What are the advantages of Systematic sampling
2
- No researcher bias
- Considered to be high in representativeness and generalizability due to its scientific nature
What are the advantages of Stratified Sampling?
- 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
What are the disadvantages of Random sampling?
- Doesn’t guarantee a representative sample
- This is why many sociologists break their lists down into separate categories
What are the disadvantages of Systematic sampling
2
- Isn’t truly random but is close enough.
- This is why many sociologists break their list down into separate categories
What are the advantages of Stratified Sampling?
- 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
What are the advantages of Quota sampling?
1
- Should be an accurate reflection of the population as a whole.
What are the advantages of Snowball sampling?
3
- 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
What are the advantages of Purposive sampling
3
- 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
What are the advantages of Volunteer sampling
3
- 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
What are the advantages of Opportunity sampling?
4
- 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
Reliability
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
What are examples of Quantitative methods?
Questionnaires
Structured interviews
Validity
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
Give examples of Qualitative methods
- Observations
- Unstructured interviews
Generalisability
Assuming what is true for the sample being studied, is true of the wider target population and therefore generalising your findings to this group.
Reliability
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
Primary Data
Refers to data that has been generated by the researcher themselves.
Secondary data
The data that is already available to the sociologist as opposed to primary data which they produce themselves.
Give an example of primary data
conducted a questionnaire or a series of interviews, or they might have carried out an observation or experiment.
Give an example of Secondary data
- censuses
- information collected by government departments,
- organizational records
- Data that was originally collected for other research purposes.
Give an example of Secondary data
- Censuses
- information collected by government departments,
- organizational records
- Data that was originally collected for other research purposes.
Under what age can participants not give consent to participate in a study?
16
What is an Aim
The overall purpose of the research. eg Is there a link between poverty or crime?
Hypothesis
The prediction that you think the results are going to go in
Operationalisation
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.
Pilot study
A practice study in order to check whether the research is likely to work and make improvements to them
- Mainly Quantitative research
What are the strengths of a Pilot Study?
4
- Used to test Validity
- Make improvements to study
- Identify issues with studies
- Saves money (Practical)
Secondary data
Refers to any data that the sociologist has used that they did not collect themselves. There are 2 types
Official statistics
Government
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
Non-offical statistics
The numerical data collected by non-goverment sources. eg trade unions, employers and charities.
Disadvantages of non-offical statistics
- More likely to be biased
- May not provide full picture of what is going on
Advantages of official statistics
Favoured by positivists as:
- They are able to look at patterns and trends.
- Less time consuming
- Affordable
Access
Gaining access to a group of people for research purposes
Content Analysis
a technique used by sociologists to analyse media reports or products.
Examples of Content Analysis
newspapers, magazines, advertisements, radio, music products, posters, films, novels, the internet and computer products.
Stengths of content analysis
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.
Why is content analysis favoured by positivists
- 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.
Limitations of content analysis
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.
Ethnography
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
Stength of ethnographies
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.
Weaknesses of ethnographies
Some people may not be able to tell the truth because they are unaware they act in certain ways.
Structured Interviews
involves the researcher reading out a list of closed questions from an interview schedule/questionnaire
Unstructured interview
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
Semi-Structured Interviews
are a mix of structured and unstructured interviews
PET
Practical, Ethical and Theoretical
Practical
- Cost
- Time
- Participant Access
- Gate-keeping
- Design
- Primary Vs Secondary Data
Ethical
Confidentiality, Informed Consent, Protection From Harm, Brief/Debrief, Privacy, Right to Withdraw
Theoretical
Participant Access
Being able to have access of art
Design
Where is structured, unstructed, semi-structured
Value Freedom
