Research Methods Key Terms Flashcards
Empirical
Relating to observation or experiment rather than theory.
Macro perspective
The overall movement of conforming or following rules.
Micro perspective
The individual response to the macro scale.
Natural Sciences
These include chemistry, biology and physics.
Positivist
The belief that knowledge must be based on observation or experiment.
Interpretivist
An approach in sociology that focuses on the meaning that social phenomena have for the people involved.
Social Phenomena
A social fact or situation that observed to exist or happen.
Social fact
External, objective and constraining.
Value Free
Uninfluenced by the personal values of the researcher.
Social Policy
Action taken by governments that has a direct effect on the welfare of the citizens of a country.
Primary Data
Data collected by researcher.
Triangulation
The use of multiple methods in research as a means of producing more reliable data than a single method could.
Multiple Methods
Another term for triangulation.
Reliability
A reliable method gives the same results when the research is repeated.
Hypothesis
An untested theory or explanation, expressed as a statement.
Operationalisation
The process of turning a sociological concept or theory into something measurable.
Pilot Study
A small scale trial run, usually of a social survey, conducted before the main study.
Representative
Typical, a cross section. A researcher may choose to study a sample of a larger group. If the sample is representative, those, those in it will be typical of the larger group.
Response Rate
The proportion of those people included in a social survey who actually reply or respond to the questions asked. A high response rate is important to help ensure that findings are representative.
Sample
A smaller group selected from a large survey population to take part in a study. It may be too costly or time consuming to study the whole population in which we are interested, so we choose a sample to study instead.
Sampling
The process of selecting a sample. The aim of sampling is usually to select a sample that is representative of the eider survey population, so as to allow the study’s findings to be generalised. There are several types of sampling, e.g. random, stratified, quota and snowball sampling.
Sampling Frame
The list of people from which a sample for a social survey is selected.
Anthropology
Originally the study of the culture of a small pre-industrial societies, its methods are now used in may contexts.
Validity
The capacity of the research method is measure what it sets out to measure; a true or genuine picture of what something is really like.
Variables
Any factor that can change or vary, such as age, gender, occupation or income. Sociologists seek to discover correlations between variables; e.g. between social class and educational achievement.
Quantitative Data
Research that concentrates on collecting statistical data.
Qualitative Data
Research where the sociologist aims to understand the meaning of social action.
Objective
This has two meanings. It can refer to ‘facts’ that exist independently of the observer, or to a researcher being free from basis.
Replication
Where research is repeated and similar findings are produced.
Discourse
A shared set assumptions and the way of thinking about a particular subject.
Independent Variable
The variable that is controlled by the experimenter.
Dependent Variable
The variable that changes as a result of the independent variable.
Control Group
The group that is not subject to an independent variable.
Case Study
The study of a single example of a phenomenon.
Primary Data
Data collected by the researcher.
Secondary Data
Refers to the data already available to the researcher.
Gate-keeping:
When an individual or group controls access to goods and services but particularly to information and people with power.
Operationalism of concepts:
the process through which social phenomena are selected as indicators of social concepts.
Methodological pluralism:
More than one method is used, but there is one main/central method that dominates a project. the other methods are just checks on the main method being carried out.
Longitudinal study:
To observe changes in life times or through generations.
Aims:
A statement that identifies what a sociologist intends to find during a research.
