Topic 1 - Choosing a Research Flashcards
Methods of primary data.
- Experiments
- Observations
- Interviews
- Questionnaires
Methods of secondary data.
- Official statistics
- Documents
Evaluation of primary and secondary data.
POSITIVES
- Control over the research: collect info they want rather than using existing info that may not be relevant
- Orignal data: often no secondary data exists on a specifc issue, leaving no choice but to undertake own research
- Quick and cheap: secondary data
- Only source available: may be the only option especially for historical ideas
NEGATIVES
- Cost and time
- Different purposes: some info may be unsuitable for what they’re trying to establish.
Positivists:
- Measurable, objective social reality that exists, like the physical world.
- Our behaviour is a result of social forces shaping what we do.
- Aim of their reserach is to discover the underlying process of our behaviour
- They use standardised methods such as questionnaires, structured interviews, structured observations and official statistics.
- They favour reliable, representitative and quantitative data.
Interpretivists:
- No objective social reality, just subjective meanings that socal actors give to events
- Research uncovers actors meanings or worldviews
- Use open ended research (unstructured interviews, participant observations, personal documents) that produces valid, qualitative data.
- Enables sociologists to gain understanding by experiencing the groups lifestyle for themselves, or individuals to explain in their own words
What is reliability?
- For a method to be reliable it must be replicable
- Use standardised forms of measurement.
- Creates data that can be used to systematically re-test hypothesis about social behaviour
- Positivists prefer a scientific approach as it emphasises the need for reliability therefore use structured research methods that can be repeated.
- Regard participant observation and unstructured interviews as unreliable because they cannot be repeated and do not use a standardised system of measurements.
What is representativeness?
- As sociologists are usually unable to study every member of the group they are interested due to large numbers, they often study a sample. This is a smaller subgroup taken from the wider target group.
- In order to be representative the characteristics of the sample need to reflect those of the wider group.
- Sociologists can make generalisations on the basis of evidence from the sample.
- Positivists emphasise the importance of representativeness because they wish to discover general patterns about social behaviour.
What is validity?
- Refers to how authentic and true data is.
- Verstehen: a term introduced by Max Weber. It means a deep, true understanding of their research objects
- Interpretivists emphasise the need to use methods such as participant observation or unstructured interviews, surveys, experiments and other research methods are rejected because they dont reveal what social actors really think or how they act.
What are the practical factors that restrict a sociologists choice of method?
- Time
- Finance
- Source of funding
- Personal factors
- Research subjects
- Research opportunities
- Personal danger
What are the ethical factors that restrict a scoiologists choice of method?
- Informed consent
- Confidentiality
- Effects on research subjects
- Vulnerable groups
- Covert research
What are the theoretical factors that restrict a scoiologists choice of method?
- Positivists = prefer quantitative data, structured reserach techniques
- Interpretivists = qualitative data, like to uncover meanings people hold. Allows them to act or speak in the ways they feel appropriate. Unstructured reserach methods.
What is random sampling?
- The researcher randomly selects a subset of participants from the population
- E.G. names could be in a hat and someone could pick them out (small population)
Advantages and limitations of random sampling?
ADVANTAGES
- Every participant has an equal chance of being selected - more representative
- Very simplistic - doesnt take too mcuh time, not complicated
LIMITATIONS
- Could lead to havign a biased sample (age, gender, ethnicity). This is because the researcher could have a sample of participants who are the same age and wont be able to generalise it = unrepresentative
What is stratified sampling?
- Large samples are divided into smaller subgroups - could be based on social class, ethnci background, age etc
- A number of people iwll randomly be selected from each subgroup; mostly in proportion to their representation in the population
Advantages and limitations of stratified sampling.
ADVANTAGES
- Free of bias as all subgroups are proportionally represented in the sample
- Captures characteristics within the sample
LIMITATIONS
- Time consuming - researchers need to organise the subgroups accurately
- Complicated to analyse
