The Nature of Social and Cultural Research Methods

Question 1

features of primary research?

Answer 1

Involves going direct to ppl’s interaction, knowledge and understanding. It can be interviewing, observation of ppl and questionnaires

Question 2

Advantages of primary research?

Answer 2

reliable, first hand info/data, ppl directly involved

Question 3

Disadvantages of primary research?

Answer 3

involved greater effort and time, difficult to get wide sample

Question 4

feature of secondary research?

Answer 4

data, info, material already collected and documented by others before you. Second hand info e.g. newspapers, magazines, internet, journals

Question 5

Advantages of Secondary research?`

Answer 5

easy to collect

Question 6

Disadvantages of secondary research?

Answer 6

less reliable as collected/document by someone else, and possibility of miss interpretation for own part
Generally accepted practice to support your primary research with secondary research

Question 7

What is quantitative research?

Answer 7

those that allow you to collect data that can be later measured and compared, resulting in a statistical report. Examples include questionnaires using closed questions, structured interviews and recorded statistics of observed behavior. Focus on WHAT and HOW MANY

Question 8

Features of quantitative research

Answer 8

• Large and randomly selected sample of respondents,
• closed ended or rating scale qs,
• researcher not necessarily known to participants,
• lack of direct contact
• > detachment of researcher -> potential bias that may be built into questions,
• tables, graphs, diagrams, numerical data

Question 9

Advantages of quantitative methods:

Answer 9

data retrieval and analysis made easy, easy to write questions, compare with other research, statistically significant

Question 10

Disadvantage of quantitative method

Answer 10

less depth in response, need large amount of participants in order to make it valid

Question 11

what is qualitative research?

Answer 11

those that focus on interpreting and evaluating the experience and attitudes of the participants. Examples include questionnaires with open ended qs, unstructured interviews, focus groups and participant observation

Question 12

Main features of qualitative:

Answer 12

• small sample,
• interactive,
• narrative report with conceptual descriptions of behavior, values, attitudes and beliefs,
• contain direct quotations,
• relied heavily on researcher’s interpretive skills to understand complexities of findings,
• provides in depth knowledge of what and how ppl think

Question 13

Advantages of qualitative:

Answer 13

first hand info, account with deep, personal responses, easier to study ppl’s belief, attitudes and feelings, wider range of response from open ended qs

Question 14

disadvantage of qualitative:

Answer 14

not suited to large scale use, more time and effort to analyze answers, harder to gain commitment from respondents

Question 15

What is interview:

Answer 15

Researchers use interviews as a research tool alone, or in combination with a questionnaire. Interviews may range from structured to unstructured and can vary tremendously in the length of time taken to administer

Question 16

What are the 2 types of interview:

Answer 16

Structured and unstructured

Question 17

what is structured interview:

Answer 17

are usually brief and fairly formal; and the wording of the questions is pre-determined and the questions should be asked in the same manner and in the same order for all respondents

Question 18

What is unstructured interview:

Answer 18

do not usually have specific questions but rather areas of discussion. A lot of information can be obtained from unstructured interviews; however, the analysis of the data collected requires a carefully constructed guide

Question 19

advantages of interview:

Answer 19

• High proportion of returns as respondents are usually willing to co-operate.
• Information obtained can provide the basis for the development of a questionnaire.
• Interviewers can judge which areas are sensitive and ask or phrase questions accordingly.
• Information obtained is usually more complete than from other methods if rapport is established between the interviewer and the interviewee.
• Misinterpretation of questions can be avoided as the opportunity is available to clarify questions.

Question 20

disadvantages of interview:

Answer 20

• Cost of interviews in terms of time and money is usually higher than for other techniques.
• Interviewer may unconsciously bias the responses through the way questions are asked or phrased.
• Questions on attitudes and opinions may reflect either what the respondent thinks the interviewer wants to hear or what he/she thinks would be an acceptable opinion.
• Age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic status and personality of the interviewer may affect the responses of the interviewee.
• Problems with coding data and drawing comparisions.

Question 21

what is focus group: disadvantage/advantage

Answer 21

A focus group is similar to an interview but you gather the information from a small discussion group (usually 3 and up to 8).
For advantages and disadvantages, refer to “Interviews”

Question 22

what is participant obser:

Answer 22

Participant observation is a broad term referring to a variety of research activities. The name itself implies the the researcher involved in the observation is also a participant. This is sometimes the case and even when the observer intends to remain removed from the social group he/she is observing, it is often very difficult to do so

Question 23

What are the problems of participant observation:

Answer 23

In all cases of participant observation there is a possibility that the observer, through interaction with others in the research setting will affect the data collected and thus the conclusions reached. This is not a major problem provided the issue is addressed in the final report

Question 24

what is Identified participant observation situation?

Answer 24

In this situation the identity of the person who is doing the observing is known to others in the social situation. The problem in this situation is that the people being observed may not act as they normally would, but rather how they think they should act

Question 25

what is Unidentified participant observation situation?

Answer 25

The identity of the observer is not known and he/she is free to interact in the situation. However, if the researcher is a stranger entering the social group, interaction may be affected and thus the observations made. If an individual is a member of a social group that he/she wishes to study, the effects on the group of his/her observations may be less, providing the members of the group are not aware that they are the subjects of research

Question 26

what is personal reflection:

Answer 26

The application of Personal reflection should come naturally in your PIP. Anything that you recall, memories or values, is part of personal reflection. The way to use this methodology effective is not only to recall specific events, but to evaluate them. Don’t overly rely on this methodology though

Question 27

what is case study?

Answer 27

Case study techniques usually involve the study of one person, one group, one family, one community etc., although sometimes they may be used to study a small group of people or families

Question 28

advantage/dis of case study:

Answer 28

Perhaps the major problem with the use of case study techniques alone is that the findings cannot really be generalised to the rest of the population.
However, case studies can provide the opportunity to analyse large social systems such as social institutions where the researcher wants to find out what is happening and why it is happening rather than to obtain information that can be generalised to the rest of the population

Question 29

What is questionnaires?

Answer 29

used to investigate a wide variety of social phenomena. They can take many forms and can be used to establish facts and assess attitudes, values, beliefs, and opinions. Questionnaires may containopen-ended questions orclosed and structuredquestions. Closed and structured questions include rating scales, or a choice of responses and alternatives from which to choose, therefore, making itquantitative. Open-ended questions, however, makes your questionnaire morequalitative

Question 30

advantages of questionnaire:

Answer 30

• Lower cost than personal interview techniques
• Provide large amount of data in a short period of time
• Self-administered questionnaire allows the respondent the opportunity to think about the questions (this can also be a disadvantage).
• Closed or structured questions may be able to be processed by computer.
• Self-administered questionnaires may provide information about sensitive issues while allowing a sense of privacy.
• Mail questionnaires provide for a wide coverage and thus a wide sample of people.
• Self-administered questionnaires may avoid interviewer bias.

Question 31

disadvantage of qs:

Answer 31

• Non-response rates are usually high.
• They do not have the same flexibility as interview techniques as there are usually limits as to how much information a respondent can include on the questionnaire.
• Only a particular type of people may respond to the questionnaire and this may produce a biased sample.
• Respondents may not respond as they should, but rather how they feel they are expected to respond.
• Questions may be misinterpreted when the questionnaire is self-administered and the meaning of questions cannot be clarified.

Question 32

What is action research:

Answer 32

Action Research is an informal, qualitative, interpretive, reflective and experimental methodology that requires all the participants to be collaborative researchers.

Question 33

What is content analysis:

Answer 33

qualitative method used to analyse and interpret themes, words and images from range of sources e.g. documents, journals, books etc. the researcher than analyse, interprets and makes judgments about meaning of the content

Question 34

statistical analysis?

Answer 34

examines and interpret statistics to make generalizations and extrapolate trends from your primary or secondary research

Question 35

ethical research:

Answer 35

Trust/honesty/confidentiality, sensitivity (don’t put participants in awkward situations), safety (don’t put in personal danger) , ask permission/gain consent, make sure content is appropriate for the people

Question 36

e.g. of ethical research:

Answer 36

don’t ask young kids about violent video games as may be disturbing and cause distress

Question 37

analysis?

Answer 37

find connections between data, discuss viewpoints and draw relationships between sources and findings

Question 38

synthesis

Answer 38

putting all your info/data together after you have analysed it to create something new – find trends/common themes for example

Question 39

interpretation?

Answer 39

explain meaning of info – what info means, make informed judgments, how your approached has changed as a result. Put info into perspective, create more realistic view of issue