Research Methods- Social Surveys

Question 1

What are the 3 types of Social Surveys?

Answer 1

-Questionnaires
-Structured Interviews
-Longitudinal Studies

Question 2

What type of data are Social Surveys mainly?

Answer 2

Quantitative

Question 3

Define questionnaires.

Answer 3

A list of questions written in advance, handed or posted to the respondent.

Question 4

What are the two types of questions in questionnaires?

Answer 4

Closed- have a choice answer (Quantitative)
Open- asked to write down feelings/experiences (Qualitative)

Question 5

Define a ‘semi-structured interview’.

Answer 5

A closed questionnaire with occasional open questions.

Question 6

What are the 2 variations of semi structured interviews?

Answer 6

• ‘Self Report’: Lists items and asks respondents to tick what they’ve experienced.
• ‘Attitudinal Questionnaires’: Ask respondents on a scale of 1-5 on a particular view.

Question 7

Name 3 positives of Questionnaires.

Answer 7

-Can reach large samples (representative)
-Cheap
-Less time consuming
-Scientific approach

Question 8

What are some negatives of Questionnaires?

Answer 8

• Respond rates of 50%> undermines validity.
• Interpretivists criticise them as real life is too complex to categorize.
• Danger of misinterpretations- cannot clarify.
• People may misrepresent them self.

Question 9

What is a Longitudinal Survey?

Answer 9

Studying the same group over a long period of time.

Question 10

How can Longitudinal Surveys be problematic?

Answer 10

-May drop out of research/could loose track.
-Researchers may get too friendly, and loose their objective.
-Expensive.

Question 11

What can Longitudinal Surveys show?

Answer 11

A clear image of changes in attitudes and behaviour over a long period.

Question 12

Define ‘Structured Interviews’.

Answer 12

Researcher reads a list of closed questions from questionnaire, and ticks boxes/ writes down answers on behalf of respondent according to pre-set-fixed categories.

Question 13

What role does the interviewer play in Structured Interviews?

Answer 13

A passive role- cannot stray from questions or interview schedule.
They have little or no flexibility.

Question 14

Name 3 strengths of Structured Interviews.

Answer 14

-Generates large amounts of quantitative data which can be easily converted.
-Can be conducted quickly in a short period. Increases the possibility of a representative sample, so generalisations can be made.

Question 15

Name 3 weaknesses of Structured Interviews.

Answer 15

• Interviewer unconsciously lead respondent by a tone or look. (Undermines validity).
• Inflexible which interpretivists argue makes it impossible for researchers to pursue leads that could emerge.
• ‘Imposition problem’.

Question 16

Define ‘Attitudinal Questionnaires’.

Answer 16

When they ask respondents on a scale of 1-5 on a particular view.