RM 1 Flashcards
Types of primary data
Observations, interviews, questionnaires and experiments
What is covert
Undercover researcher typically used for deviant groups
What is overt
The researcher is open about them being a researcher
What is a type of secondary data
The internet e.g social media
Non participant
Researcher doesn’t join in the group
Qualitative data
Words, meanings, opinions
Quantitative data
Numerical data- stats, tables, graphs
What is triangulation
Methodological pluralism- using more than one method
What does triangulation combine
Quantitative and qualitative data
What does triangulation gain
Valid and reliable data
What is a longitudinal study
Study conducted on same people at regular intervals
Evaluation of longitudinal studies
Identifies Trends/correlations, however, participants may drop out or move away and so may be left without sample
process of research design
Choose a topic and formulate a hypothesis/aim
What is an aim
An aim identifies what the sociologist intends to study and hopes to find out about from the research
What is a hypothesis
A more specific aim, it finds how the IV affects the DV, identifies cause and effect relationships and correlations
How is a research topic operationalised
the researcher needs to convert their concept into something measurable, this needs to be agreed before research starts so that everyone is measuring the same definition
What is a pilot study
A small scale study that tests the hypothesis and chosen research methods and makes sure questions are clarified and understood
What do pilot studies ensure
Observers are collecting relevant, valid and accurate data and that concepts have been operationalised appropriately
What happens when a hypothesis is false
We must discard it, which isn’t bad as it shows progress
What are hypotheses favored by
Positivists
What is an advantage of an aim
It’s more open-ended and doesn’t tie you to a particular hypothesis
Why are aims useful
They’re useful at the start of research when we know little about the topic
Who favors aims
Interpretivists
Sociologists operationalise differently
Can make it hard to compare findings
Why are positivists keen to operationalise concepts
Because of the importance they place on creating and testing hypotheses
Why are interpretivists not keen to operationalise
They’re more interested in actors meanings and definitions rather than the researchers
Young and willmott (1962)
Carried out over 100 pilot interviews to help them decide their study design
What can pilot studies reveal
Some questions are badly worded and hard to understand, or that answers are difficult to analyze
What do sociologists aim to do
Produce a generalization that applies to all cases of the topic they’re interested in
Why must sociologists choose a researcher
Not enough time/money to include whole population
What is a sample
A smaller sub-group drawn from the wider group that were interested in
What is the purpose of a sample
Ensures those chosen are representative or typical of the research population, including those not participating in the study
Who is attracted to samples, why?
Positivists as it makes general, law-like statements about wider social structure
What is the sampling frame
A list of all the members of the population were interested in e.g. the electoral register
What must the sampling frame be
Complete, accurate, and as up to date as possible
What is random sampling
Sample is selected purely by chance and everyone has an equal chance of selection
What should a large enough random sample do
Reflect the characteristics of the whole research population, although not all are large enough for this
What is quasi-random sampling
Every nth person is selected
What is stratified sampling
Breaks down participants in the sampling frame by age, class, gender etc and the sample is then created with the same proportions. E.g. if 20% are under 18, then 20% of sample must be under 18
What is quota sampling
Stratified as above, and then researchers are given a quota of specific characteristics that p’s must have, which they must fulfill before the study can start
Theoretical issues
Some researchers choose not to do representative sample due to methodological perspective, interpretivists
What is a snowball sample
One picks up the sample along the way. P’s asked to suggest someone who may be willing/appropriate for the study. This is particularly useful for hard to reach populations
What is a convenience sample
Taking what you can get, often volunteers
Practical issues
Social characteristics of population , may be impossible to find an accurate sampling frame, respondents may refuse to participate
