Theory And Methods Flashcards
What are the 2 types of experiments
Laboratory and field
Who prefers which experiment
Positivists (laboratory) interpretivists (field)
What are 2 strengths of lab experiments
Highly reliable
Hypothesis can be tested in a controlled environment
What are 2 strengths of field experiments
High in validity
No Hawthorne effect
What are 3 weaknesses of lab experiments
Low validity
Hawthorne effect
Artificial, can’t be transferred
What are 3 weaknesses of field experiments
Less control over variables
Not ethical, consent can’t be gained
Limited application
What are questionnaires
A set list of questions asked the same way every time
Usually self completion
What are some strengths of questionnaires
Cheap and quick
Less intrusive
Familiar method (used a lot)
High in reliability
What are some weaknesses of questionnaires
Low response rate
Time consuming to analyse
Sensitive topics
Closed- lack validity
Open- lack reliability
Who prefers closed questionnaires
Positivists
Who prefers open questionnaires
Interpretivists
What is an interview
A meeting or discussion where questions are asked to extract information/ perspectives
What are structured interviews and who prefers them
A set list of questions
(Positivists)
What are unstructured interviews and who are they preferred by
No pre-set questions, flows like a conversation (interpretivists)
What are some strengths of structured interviews
Cheap
Highly reliable
Quick to conduct
Less bias
What are some strengths of unstructured interviews
Interviews can gain Verstehen
Build a rapport
More likely to open up
High validity
What are some weaknesses of structured interviews
Low validity
Objective
Pay for an interviewer
Not suitable for sensitive topics
What are some weaknesses of unstructured interviews
Low reliability
Time consuming
Costly
Interview needs to stay on track
What are observations
Watching and observing people in situations
What are the 4 types of observations
Covert
Overt
Participant
Non participant
What are participant observations
When the researcher joins in on the observation
What are non participant observations
When the researcher doesn’t take part, just observes
What is an overt observation
When the group being observed knows the researcher is a researcher and is letting them take part
What is a covert observation
When the group being observed doesn’t know they’re being watched
What are some strengths of observations
High validity
Rich qualitative data
Some have consent
Ethnography
What are some weaknesses of observations
Subjective, going native, deception, Hawthorne effect, expensive, low reliability
