Theories and Methods Key Terms

Question 1

Comparative Study

Answer 1

Comparing two social groups

Question 1

Conflict Theory

Answer 1

The reason tensions and conflicts happen is because of the uneven distribution of resources, power, and status

Question 2

Consensus

Answer 2

Agreement

Question 3

Content analysis

Answer 3

Analysing the content of artefacts such as TV programmes or books

Question 4

Covert participant observation

Answer 4

The researcher is undercover but acts like a member of the group

Question 5

Field Experiments

Answer 5

An experiment in a natural setting

Question 6

Focus Group

Answer 6

A group interview that represents a larger population

Question 7

Generalisability

Answer 7

When the findings represent a larger population

Question 8

Group Interview

Answer 8

When the researcher asks questions to more than one participant at the same time

Question 9

Hawthorne/ Observer Effect

Answer 9

When a participant changes their behaviour/answers because they know they are being observed

Question 10

Historical Documents

Answer 10

documents from the past used to find information

Question 11

Identity

Answer 11

A social construction of who we are

Question 12

Interpretivism

Answer 12

people have their own motivations for their actions

Question 13

Interview Bias

Answer 13

When an interviewers own personal beliefs and expectations influence the structure of the questions and the responses to them

Question 14

Interviewer Effect

Answer 14

When a participant may be intimidated by the interviewer and change their answers

Question 15

Laboratory experiments

Answer 15

An artificial setting where the independent and dependent variables are manipulated

Question 16

Longitudinal survey

Answer 16

Data is collected at regular intervals over a long period of time

Question 17

Macro approaches

Answer 17

Looking at society and populations on a larger scale

Question 18

Micro approaches

Answer 18

Looking at society and populations in a more individual way

Question 19

Non-participant observation

Answer 19

When a researcher observes a group without direct involvement. Such as an OFSTED inspection

Question 20

Objectivity

Answer 20

When a researcher is unbiased and not influenced by their own emotions or personal expectations

Question 21

Official/non official statistics

Answer 21

Official - The Government releasing statistics in quantitative forms
Non official - Quantitative data released by public and private organisations

Question 22

pre-coded questions

Answer 22

Closed questions arranged before being asked. Yes/No answers

Question 23

Overt participant observation

Answer 23

The researcher makes their identity and purpose known to the group

Question 24

Perspectives

Answer 24

Delving deeper into people's actions and organisations. Includes Funtional, Marxist, Interactionalist

Question 25

Pilot Study

Answer 25

A smaller study before the actual one to test and see if there are any problems with the study

Question 26

Positivism

Answer 26

Positivists who believe that society is made up of social facts such as official statistics

Question 27

Reliability

Answer 27

Whether the study can be replicated to find the same results

Question 28

Respondent

Answer 28

Another word for the participant

Question 29

Response rate

Answer 29

The number of people given a questionnaire vs those that actually respond

Question 30

Random sampling

Answer 30

When everyone in the sampling frame has an equal chance of being selected

Question 31

Snowball sampling

Answer 31

For example when a researcher wants to study criminals they will find a handful of criminals then ask them to ask their aquaintances who are also criminals

Question 32

Quota sampling

Answer 32

When there's a list of various characteristics of the target population and each characteristic is picked

Question 33

Stratified sampling

Answer 33

When the total population is split into smaller groups based of specific characteristics

Question 34

Sampling frame

Answer 34

A list of all the members of the population that the researcher is interested in which the sample (smaller group) is chosen from

Question 35

Structuralism

Answer 35

Is a very generalised theory of culture and how human culture must be understood by their relationship with a larger system. We are all involved in the larger systems.

Question 36

Structured Interview

Answer 36

The interviewer has a pre-set list of questions that won't be changed

Question 37

Subjectivity

Answer 37

A form of bias which affects an individuals perception and judgement

Question 38

Trend

Answer 38

A pattern of data that is seen again and again and affects a wider range of people

Question 39

Triangulation

Answer 39

Using three different contrasting methods in a study to produce three different sets of data

Question 40

Validity

Answer 40

How true or accurate the findings are to reality and if they match up to what the research method intended to measure