Research Methods: Key Stages In The Process

Question 1

What are the steps of the research process?

Answer 1

1. Select topic/devise an aim
2. Conduct secondary research/operationalise concepts
3. Choose method
4. Sample and access
5. Practicalities
6. Recording and analysing data/findings
7. Evaluation of research

Question 2

What needs to be considered in a research?

Answer 2

• ethical and theoretical

Question 3

What are factors influencing choice of research topic?

Answer 3

• relationship between sociology and social policy
• the interest and values of the researcher
• current debates in the academic world
• funding
• access to research subjects

Question 4

What is operationalising concepts?

Answer 4

• defining concepts to accurately measure it

Question 5

What is operationalising concepts essential for?

Answer 5

• validity of the research

Question 6

Why do sociologists need to sample?

Answer 6

• too expensive and time consuming for sociologists to involve whole population

Question 7

Which groups are more difficult to access and which circumstances gatekeepers are required?

Answer 7

• children/students
• gang members
• prisoners
• care home residents

Question 8

Why are gatekeepers essential?

Answer 8

• ensure safeguarding of the participants and the researcher

Question 9

What are the steps to getting a sample?

Answer 9

1. List of the target population
2. Sampling frame
3. Sampling method

Question 10

What are the two categories of sampling?

Answer 10

• random
• non random

Question 11

What is random sampling?

Answer 11

• where all people in the target population have an equal chance of being picked-chosen entirely by chance.
• This reduces the risk of samples being biased by the researcher’s choice
• They can include an unrepresentative sample if respondents with similar characteristics are disproportionately chosen
• A sampling frame is needed to do this

Question 12

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 12

• every nth member of the target population is selected for the sample
• does not always guarantee a representative sample

Question 13

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 13

• different subgroups in the target population are identified; people are randomly selected from these subgroups in the proportion to their numbers in the target population
• Involves dividing the research population into a number of different sample frames and using systematic random sampling to select a group that will comprise the research sample

Question 14

Which three sampling methods are random?

Answer 14

1. Random sampling
2. Systematic sampling
3. Stratified sampling

Question 15

What is quota sampling?

Answer 15

• researcher has clear idea of the sample they want and pick participants that meet their criteria, choosing individuals or cases that fit the nature of their research
• Researcher has clear idea of the sample they want and where to find it. I.e. experience of FE students travelling to college you would give out questionnaires at the main line stations nearest the college. They will select the required population based on given criteria (a certain amount of women/men/young people to meet their quota)

Question 16

What is snowball sampling?

Answer 16

• one contact will recruit other participants to get involved in the research

Question 17

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 17

• when a sample is gathered via participants putting themselves forward to be studied
• found through advertising in a paper/shop/window/internet

Question 18

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 18

• where participants are gained by making the most of situations or opportunities in which the research population is likely to be found

Question 19

What is purposive sampling?

Answer 19

• choosing individuals or cases that fit the nature of the research
• researcher has a clear idea of the sample they want, they will pick participants to meet their criteria

Question 20

What is non random sampling?

Answer 20

• people in the target population do not have an equal chance of being picked
• A sampling frame is not needed but the sample is less likely to be representative and can be
  biased through researcher choice

Question 21

What must sampling frames consider?

Answer 21

• The sample frame must have general characteristics required for the study in question - i.e. first year sociology students - I need a list of students in first year who study sociology (not just any student!)
• The sample frame must be recent

Question 22

What are other types of sample frames?

Answer 22

• school registers
• professional membership lists
• company payrolls
• electoral roll

Question 23

Random sampling and systematic sampling strengths

Answer 23

• Everyone has the same chance (if repeated a similar sample will emerge) – Reliable
• Not biased - Representative
• Preferred by Positivists because of its
  scientific, objective nature - Reliable

Question 24

Random sampling and systematic sampling weaknesses

Answer 24

• Time consuming, people may pull out by the time research is carried out – Lowers representativeness and generalisability
• The sampling frame won’t always provide useful information (E.g. gender, class) therefore can be biased – Lowers representativeness and generalisability
• Can lack representativeness if a greater number of one type of person is picked

Question 25

Stratified sampling strengths

Answer 25

- Can ensure that each group is represented – Representative - Not biased - Representativeness - Preferred by Positivists because of its scientific, objective nature - Reliable

Question 26

Stratified sampling weaknesses

Answer 26

- Time consuming, people may pull out – Lowers representativeness and generalisability - Sampling frame may not give specific groups to include – Lowers representativeness and generalisability - If some groups have a large number of people then they are more likely to be chosen/biased – Lowers representativeness and generalisability

Question 27

Quota sampling strengths

Answer 27

- Useful when there is no sampling frame - More representative than other non-random samples – Target a range of groups - Representative - Easy to set targets

Question 28

Quota sampling weaknesses

Answer 28

- Researcher may be biased towards a certain group – Lowers representativeness - No sampling frame, less scientific, more difficult to repeat - Lowers reliability - Numbers needed may not be representative of target population.

Question 29

Snowball sampling strengths

Answer 29

- Useful when there is no sampling frame - Good to use for studies with difficult groups to access or a specific type of person - Validity and Representativeness - Easy if one person acts as a gatekeeper, allows access and can build up a rapport - Validity

Question 30

Snowball sampling weaknesses

Answer 30

- Not representative – No sampling frame - Sample will be made up of the same type of people - Lowers representativeness - Biased/Subjective – Insider researchers.

Question 31

Purposive sampling strengths

Answer 31

- Useful when there is no sampling frame - Good when there is a specific type of person needed - Easy/Quick can get a large sample - Representative

Question 32

Purposive sampling weaknesses

Answer 32

- Not representative – No sampling frame. - Sample will be made up of the same type of people - Lowers representativeness - Biased/Subjective – Chosen by the researcher

Question 33

Volunteer sampling strengths

Answer 33

- Useful when there is no sampling frame - Good when there is a specific type of person needed - Representative - Easy/Quick can get a large sample - Representative and Generalisability

Question 34

Volunteer sampling weaknesses

Answer 34

- Not representative – No sampling frame. - Sample will be made up of the same type of people - Lowers representativeness - Biased/Subjective – Chosen by the researcher