research methods T1/2 Flashcards
what are the two SOURCES of data?
primary and secondary.
what are the two TYPES of data?
quantitative data and qualitative data.
what is QUANtitative data?
information in numerical form.
what is qualitative data?
information that gives you a feel of what something is like.
what are some examples of QUANtitative data?
lab experiments
official statistics
STRUCTURED interviews
what are some examples of QUALitative data?
observations
diaries
UNSTRUCTURED interviews
field experiments
who likes QUANtitative data?
positivists
who likes QUALitative data?
interprativists
what are the 3 factors influencing choice of methods?
practical
ethical
theoretical
what are the 5 things that effect the practical factor on influencing choice of methods?
time and money
requirements of funding bodies
personal skills and characteristics
subject matter
research opportunities
what are the 5 things that effect the ethical factor on influencing choice of methods
informed consent
confidentiality and anonymity
harm to participants
vulnerable groups
covert to research
what are the 3 things that effect the theoretical factor on influencing choice of methods?
validity
reliability
representativeness
what are the two factors that influence the methodological perspective?
positivists view
interpretivists view
what is the positivists view on the methodological perspective?
prefer QUANtitative data and seek to discover patterns of behaviour. also see sociology as a science.
what is the interpretivists view on the methodological perspective?
prefer QUALitative data because they seek to understand social actors meaning. reject the idea sociology is a science.
what do positivists like their research to be like?
reliable and representative
what do interpretivists like their research to be like?
valid
what are the 4 factors influencing choice of topic?
sociologist perspective
society’s values
practical factors
funding bodies
what is the process of gathering research
1: formulating an aim/hypothesis
2: choosing a research method
3: pilot study
4: choosing a sample
5: taking out the research
6: analysing data
what are some sampling techniques?
random sampling
stratified random sampling
quota sampling
snowball sampling
opportunity sampling
what are the 3 ways of studying human behaviour?
laboratory experiments
field experiments
comparative method
what are the two groups in the laboratory experiments?
the experimental group
control group
who like lab experiments?
positivism
what are some practical advantages of laboratory experiments?
funding bodies
personal characteristics
easy and step by step
what are some ethical advantages of laboratory experiments?
informed consent
legality
benefits society
what are some theoretical advantages of laboratory experiments?
reliability
able to specify the precise steps
very detached method
what are some practical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?
society is a very complex issue
time
money
what are some ethical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?
lack of informed consent
deception
harm
what are some theoretical disadvantages to laboratory experiments?
validity
representativeness
what are the two main differences between field experiments and laboratory experiments?
they take place in a natural surrounding
those involved are typically not aware they are part of the experiment.
what are some practical advantages of field experiments?
pre-existing setting
money
what are some ethical advantages of field experiments?
confidentiality and privacy
unintrusive
what are some theoretical advantages of field experiments?
validity
what are some practical disadvantages to field experiments?
time
can’t control all variables and environment as it is real
what are some ethical disadvantages to field experiments?
consent
covert
what are some theoretical disadvantages to field experiments?
unreliable
unrepresentative
what are the two steps in the comparative method?
step 1: identify two groups of people which are alike in all major respects except for the one variable we are interested in
step 2: compare the two groups to see if the difference between them has any effect.
what are the main three advantages of the comparative method
it avoids artificiality
it can be used to study past events
poses no ethical problems
what are some practical advantages to the comparative method?
money
time
what are some ethical advantages to the comparative method
limited as there are no people involved
what are some theoretical advantages of the comparative method?
reliable
representativeness
what are some practical disadvantages to the comparative method?
access
there may be a language barrier or misunderstanding of data
what are some ethical disadvantages to the comparative method?
limited as no people involved
what are some theoretical disadvantages to the comparative method?
validity
what is a structured interview?
interviewer has strict instructions. the interview is conducted in the same way each time, same questions, in the same order and voice. close-ended questions.
what is a group interview?
number of people interviewed together. can also include focus groups to discuss certain topics and record their views.
what is a unstructured interview
like a conversation. doesn’t follow a specific question pattern
what is a semi structured interview?
like a unstructured interview but push the person being interviewed a slight bit further than normal by asking follow up questions.
unstructured interview sociologist
Dobash and Dobash
