Research revision key words

Question 1

Quantitative data

Answer 1

Data in numerical form

Question 2

Qualitative data

Answer 2

Data that gives you a feel of what something is like

Question 3

Covert research

Answer 3

When the researchers identity and purpose is hidden from participants

Question 4

Validity

Answer 4

A method that produces a genuine picture of how something is

Question 5

Reliability

Answer 5

Repeatability

Question 6

Representativeness

Answer 6

Whether or not participants are a typical cross section of a group we are studying

Question 7

Methodological perspective

Answer 7

Choice of research method dictated by their view on society

Question 8

Interpretivists

Answer 8

Believe there is no objective reality. Individuals construct their own meanings. This focuses on feelings and motivation. Mostly qualitative data

Question 9

Positivists

Answer 9

Factual objective reality. Can be measured and is changed by external forces. Mostly quantitative data

Question 10

free will

Answer 10

interpreivists argue we are different from animals because we have free will. there is no cause and effect

Question 11

operationalizing concepts

Answer 11

creating a working definition of the key concepts or terms in a hypothesis

Question 12

hypothesis

Answer 12

a possible explanation that can be tested by collecting evidence to see if something is true or false

Question 13

pilot study

Answer 13

draft version

Question 14

sample

Answer 14

a smaller subgroup drawn from a wider group we are interested in

Question 15

sampling frame

Answer 15

a list of all the members of the population we are interested in studying

Question 16

random sample

Answer 16

sample is selected by random chance

Question 17

quasi random sample

Answer 17

picking out every ??th number person from a list

Question 18

stratified random sample

Answer 18

dividing the population into gender/age/income groups and taking a % of each group

Question 19

quota sample

Answer 19

similar to stratified but researcher goes out looking for the right number of each sort of person required in each category

Question 20

detachment

Answer 20

being withdrawn or separate from the participant

Question 21

rapport

Answer 21

relationship of trust and understanding

Question 22

artificiality

Answer 22

unreal quality that undermines the validity of research

Question 23

social desirability effect

Answer 23

when the participant seeks approval from researcher