Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Sociology Year 12 > Research methods (paper 2) > Flashcards

Research methods (paper 2) Flashcards

1
Q

What is meant by the term positivism

A

-Collecting information about social facts using quantitative data.
-As data is collected , trends and patterns can be identified in these statistics
- use scientific approach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is meant by the term Interpretivism

A
  • Refers to qualitative data being obtained
  • Enables the researcher to find out the participants feelings and attitudes and to find deeper meanings.
  • Do not look at trends and patterns
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is quantitative data

A

Data that can be expressed in numerical form
- official statistics
- can be expressed in graphs , tables , charts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is primary data

A

Any data collected first hand by the sociologist
examples :
surveys , interviews , participant observation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is secondary data

A

Information collected by someone else for their own purposes , but which sociologists can still use .
Examples :
• official statistics
• Documents
• Previous sociological research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is qualitative data

A

Data that can be expressed in words and focuses on people’s opinions and emotions - helps to get deeper understanding .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is validity

A

How truthful / factual the data is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is reliability

A

A method when repeated by another researcher will produce the same results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is representativeness

A

whether or not the people we study are typical of the group we are interested in.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is generalisability

A

Data from a small sample can be applied to a whole population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is objectivity

A

The researcher must always be impartial and act in a non bias way. To remain objective your values must not affect how research is gathered .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the Hawthorne effect and sociologist

A
  • Mayo
    Where the subjects of a research study know they’re being studied and begin to behave differently as a result , thereby undermining the study’s validity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is going native

A

Researcher becomes too involved in their research - lose objectivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is social desirability bias

A

In questionnaires or interviewes. Changing answers to make it socially acceptable , decreasing validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is interviewer bias

A

Changing your answer due to the characteristics of the interviewer. Reducing validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is ethnography

A

A qualitative method where researchers observe and / or interact with a study’s participants in their real life environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are close - ended questions

A

Respondents must choose from a limited range of possible answers that the researcher has decided in advance e.g. Yes , No - multiple choice questions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are open - ended questions

A

Respondents are free to give whatever answer they wish , in their own words without any pre- selected choices being offered by the researcher

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are self- completion questionnaires

A

Respondents complete the questionnaire themselves and return it directly to the researcher

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are postal questionnaires

A

Respondents complete questionnaires and then return it to the researcher by post

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are interview questionnaires

A

Questions are read out to the respondent by the researcher , who then records the respondents answers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is a sampling frame

A

List of people in a total population e.g class register

23
Q

What is a target population

A

Whole group of people you wish to find out about

24
Q

What is probability sampling and what are some examples

A

Require a sampling frame
• quantitative research
• Random stratified
• Systematic

25
What is non - probability sampling and what are some examples
- Doesn’t require sampling frame • Qualitative research • Opportunity • Purpose • Snowball • Volunteer
26
What is random sampling
The researcher selects their sample by putting all the names from the sampling frame into a hat , generator etc and selecting the number of people they wish to conduct their research on
27
What is systematic sampling
Where you select the nth person from your sample for frame . e.g. every 3rd person from a class register
28
What is snowball sampling
The researcher builds a relationship with one participant and this person then puts the researcher in contact with friends , family who agree to participate in the study
29
What is opportunity sampling
Select the people who are available at the time you are gathering your sample
30
What is volunteer sampling
The researcher asks people to come forward to take part in your research. E.g. putting up a poster and asking people to come and get interviewed
31
What is stratified sampling.
The researcher divides the research population into groups , boys and girls , then selects a number for each group that reflects the research population
32
What is quota sampling
Often used by market researchers who require a certain number of a certain group of people e.g 50 females aged 22
33
what is purposive sampling
The researcher sets out to find people that have characteristics that are relevant to the aim of the study , this saves time in approaching those who are unsuitable
34
What are structured interviews
Ask standardised questions , under strict instructions , same order and tone of voice
35
What are unstructured interviews
Guided conversation, interviewer had freedom to ask follow up questions
36
what is semi structured interviews
Lies in the middle of both , each interview has the same set of questions but can probe for more info , follow up questions can be asked
37
what are group interviews / focus groups
A dozen or so being interviewed at once
38
What does the term Verstehen mean
(weber) A deeper understanding
39
What does rapport mean
Building a relationship
40
What is participant observation
The researcher actually takes part in an event or the everyday life of a group whilst observing it
41
What is non - participant observation
The researcher observes the group without taking part
42
What is non - participant observation
The researcher observes the group without taking part
43
What are covert observations
The study is carried out undercover . Researchers identity and purpose is kept concealed from the group they’re studying .
44
What are overt observations
Researcher makes their true identity and purpose known to the group being studied
45
What is triangulation
Combining / cross referencing research methods in order to check the validity of the research
46
What is realism
Modern theory Between positivists and interprestivists - bit closer to positivism Believes sociology is a science Focus on uncovering cause and mechanisms on observable behaviour you see guided by scientific data no commitment to quantitative data or qualitative data
47
What are official statistics
Quantitative data gathered by government or offical bodies
48
What are some strengths of official statistics
- Usually up to date and cover trends over time and large populations - Allow researcher to see correlations - Can be used comparatively
49
What are some weaknesses of official statistics
- May be biased because they’ve been gathered for political purposes - Interpretivists - statistics tell us very little about people’s attitudes and feelings and experiences
50
What are some examples of personal documents
Diaries , life documents
51
what are some strengths of personal documents
- Highly valid sources of data because they document how people interpret daily life . - Usually ethnographic - Can be used alongside primary research data - Cheap - Diaries are suitable for longitudinally studies
52
What are some weaknesses of personal documents
- Permission to use particular letters and diaries may be denied because it’s confidential - Not a representative source - Unreliable because can’t be cross-checked - Authenticity may be questionable - content may lack validity because writer is only giving their version of events
53
What are some strengths of public and historical documents
- Aims to provide an objective overview of events - Allow sociologu to access the past and document historical change - Easily accessible - Saves time - Cheaper
54
What are weaknesses of public and historical documents
- Authenticity can sometimes be questioned - Difficult to check and verify the credibility of historical documents - Documents may be biased - no guarantee that documents are representative or reliable

Sociology Year 12 (32 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions