Topic 1 Flashcards
What is Primary Data
Primary Data is first-hand information gathered for a specific experiment/study.
What is Secondary Data?
Secondary Data is second-hand information that already exists or has been created by someone else.
What is Qualitative Data?
Data expressed using words. It can be collected using research methods such as interviews and participant observations.
What is Quantitative Data?
Data expressed using statistics/numerically. It can be collected using questionnaires with rating scales, etc.
What are some Practical Considerations influencing research methods?
•Time and Money
•Requirements of funding bodies
•Personal Skills and Characteristics
•Subject Matter
•Research Opportunities
What are some Ethical Considerations influencing research methods?
•Informed Consent
•Confidentiality and Privacy
•Harm to participants
•Vulnerable groups
•Covert research
What are some Theoretical Considerations influencing research methods?
•Validity
•Reliability
•Representativeness
What does Practical factors mean?
Factors that effect your ability to carry out the research such as time and money.
What does Ethical factors mean?
Moral issues that effects the research such as right and wrong; this is to avoid harming the participants.
What does Theoretical factors mean?
Considerations about the data such as how it could play out, will there be good results or bad results?
What are features of a Positivists point of view?
•Views sociology as a science.
•Prefers quantitative data.
•Using patterns and graphs
•Likes their search to be reliable and representative
What are features of an Interpretivist’s point of view?
•Does not view sociology as a science.
•Prefers qualitative data.
•Using interviews and data that gives them deep insight into the feelings of the participant.
What is Random Sampling?
A sample is randomly selected from a subset of people. Could also be generated by computer. Everyone has an equal chance of being in the random sample.
What is Quasi-Random Sampling?
Picking every nth person to take part in the experiment; it’s still half random.
What is Stratified Sampling?
Method of sampling from a population by separating them into subgroups based on certain factors e.g ethnicity, hair colour. These can then be divided into smaller groups.
