researching social inequalities Flashcards
what is validity
validity - the extent to which the findings are a true picture of social reality
what is representativness
representativness - whether the sample mirrors the characteristics of the target population
what is researcher imposition
researcher imposition - where the researcher imposes bias on the research making it less valid
what is the researcher/hawthorne effect
researcher/hawthorne effect - when people know they are being researched they may alter their behaviour, answers etc which reduces validity. some features may increase this: a power imbalance, social characteristics, location, demand characteristics (clues that make participants aware of how they are expected to behave or answer,) the social desirability effect and yea-saying.
what is reliability
reliability - the extent the method produces similar results when repeated
what is generalisability
generalisability - whether the findings can be applied to the target population
what is verstehen
verstehen - when the researcher gains an empathic understanding of the participants
what is reflexivity
reflexivity - the willingness of the researcher to reflect their values have on the research and the impact on the participants
what are the aims, methods and strategies of positivists
this is linked to structural theories such as marxism and functionalism since they believe that people think and act in predictable ways because they are shaped by society. positivists therefore adopt a macro approach to look at how the organisation of society tends to affect individuals.
the aims of positivist research are to find patterns, trends and correlations to find cause and effect relationships which can establish what durkheim called social facts or social laws. they adopt a linear strategy that starts with a hypothesis which is then operationalised, they then create a series of pre determined and standardised questions or categories. large representative samples and random sampling techniques are used to increase generalisability and they then collect data using quantitative methods. methods include pre coding which gives a numerical value to data which can then be transferred onto graphs making patterns and trends more visible. quantitative methods reduce researcher imposition, allow the researcher to remain objective, creating value free research. the structure and standardisation creates high reliability. they are also cheap and quick to carry out.
what are the aims, methods and strategies of interpretivists
this is linked to social action theories who argue it is the activities and beliefs of individuals that make up the social world, they therefore research at the micro level.
the aim of interpretivist research is to develop a clear understanding of a topic and describe it fully by gaining verstehen to gain a valid picture of their reality. interpretivists usually adopt a cyclical strategy, they collect data as soon as possible and wait for common themes to emerge that may help develop a theory making it possible for unexpected insights to be revealed. there is usually a focus on one small group to explore their experience in depth. methods include building up rapport with a small group which allows the researcher to gain verstehen. participants are allowed to speak freely and direct the research, improving the validity. research therefore starts from the viewpoint of the participants with less researcher imposition.
how do different approaches try to achieve objectivity
positivists say research should be value free and so researchers should keep their distance from the people they are studying creating greater validity. however interpretivists argue validity comes from the researcher seeing it from the participants point of view and that pre determining everything in advance can lead to researcher imposition. however this could lead to going native where the researcher becomes primarily a member of the group rather than an observer. positivists also argue qualitative methods can lead to researcher imposition through selection of evidence.
many interpretivists practise reflexivity and keep research diaries to document how the researchers role may undermine the validity of the findings which allows the reader to come to their own conclusions.
respondent validation is also used to reduce researcher imposition and increase validity which can also break down the power imbalance between researcher and participants.
what is mixed methods
mixed methods is the use of more than 1 method in a single piece of research.
what is methodological pluralism
methodological pluralism is when methods are chosen on the basis of their fitness for purpose, making it a specific type of mixed methods approach.
what is triangulation and what are the different types
triangulation is where data is cross checked using either: within method triangulation where a variety of techniques within the same method are used eg open and closed questions, between method triangulation where 1 method is used to cross check another, data triangulation where data collected at different times and places and by different people and investigator triangulation where different researchers are used in carrying out the research.
what are the guidelines for ethics and who created them
the british sociological association sets out guidelines for ethics that all researchers are expected to follow.
confidentiality and anonymity: the identity of participants should be kept confidential and stored securely with regard to the data protection act eg by use of pseudonyms. if participants know the information cant be traced back to them they are more likely to open up and proved valid answers.
protection from harm: the physical,social and psychological well being of participants should not be negatively affected by the research during it or after publication especially where participants are drawn from vulnerable groups or topics are sensitive.
right to withdraw: participants should be able to withdraw from research at any stage
informed consent: sociologists should explain as fully as possible what the research is about, why it is being carried out and potential future uses of the data. in some situation a proxy or gatekeeper may be required to give additional consent eg children. sometimes covert methods are used to research powerful or deviant groups which violates informed consent, this must be justifiable i.e. of significant value and no alternative method.
