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Sociology - Research Methods > Topic 1 - Introduction to Research Methods > Flashcards

Topic 1 - Introduction to Research Methods Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Primary data

A
  • Information collected by sociologists themselves for their own purpose
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2
Q

Strengths of primary data

A
  • Can be gathered precisely for the needs of the study
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3
Q

Criticisms of primary data

A
  • Time consuming
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4
Q

Examples of primary data

A
  • Surveys
  • Observations
  • Experiments
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5
Q

Secondary data

A
  • Created by someone else and used by an external factor
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6
Q

Examples of secondary data

A
  • Official statistics
  • Documents
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7
Q

Strengths of secondary data

A
  • Quick
  • Cheap
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8
Q

Criticisms of secondary data

A
  • Original researcher may not have researched exactly what is needed
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9
Q

Quantitative data

A
  • Numerical
  • e.g., official statistics: how many people pass 5 or more GCSE’s
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10
Q

Qualitative data

A
  • Word form
  • Insight into a persons attitudes and opinions
  • e.g., participant observations
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11
Q

Factors influencing choice of methods

A
  • Practical
  • Ethical
  • Theoretical
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12
Q

Practical methods

A
  • Time and money
  • Requirements of funding bodies
  • Personal skills and characteristics
  • Subject matter
  • Research opportunity
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13
Q

Time and money

A
  • Different methods requiring different amounts of time and money
  • Researchers access to money can determine which method to use depending on expenses
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14
Q

Requirements of funding bodies

A
  • Access to a research institute that is funding the research
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15
Q

Personal skills and characteristics

A
  • The skills and characteristics of the researcher impacting the method that they will use
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16
Q

Subject matter

A
  • Some groups or subjects may mean that it is difficult to use certain methods
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17
Q

Research opportunity

A
  • Opportunities may occur unexpectedly and means it may not be possible to use a structured interview
  • Other researchers may have a lot of time to prepare and therefore are able to select methods carefully
18
Q

Ethical methods

A
  • Informed consent
  • Confidentiality and privacy
  • Harm to participants
  • Vulnerable groups
  • Covert research
19
Q

Informed consent

A
  • Participants giving permission to take part in the study
20
Q

Confidentiality and privacy

A
  • The researcher should keep all personal information private and confidential
21
Q

Harm to participants

A
  • Researcher should be fully aware of any levels of harm that may be inflicted on the participants during the course of the study
22
Q

Vulnerable groups

A
  • Special care should be given when researching participants that may be vulnerable due to external factors such as age
  • Consent granted from both parent and individual
23
Q

Covert research

A
  • Researchers identity and purpose is hidden
  • Reduced Hawthorne effect
24
Q

Theoretical methods

A
  • Validity
  • Reliability
  • Representativeness
25
Q

Validity

A
  • Is the data a true and genuine reflection of society
  • Qualitative data
26
Q

Reliability

A
  • How easy it is to replicate the data
  • Quantitative data
27
Q

Representativeness

A
  • Can it be generalised to whole population
28
Q

Methodological perspectives

A
  • Positivist
  • Interpretivists
29
Q

Positivists

A
  • Scientific
  • Experiments
  • Quantitative
  • Sociology as a science
30
Q

Interpretivists

A
  • Unscientific
  • Sociology not a science
  • Qualitative data
  • Insight
31
Q

Objective

A
  • Facts
32
Q

Subjective

A
  • Opinions
33
Q

Sample

A
  • A group of people representing the whole population
34
Q

Random sampling

A
  • Randomly selecting participants
35
Q

Systematic sampling

A
  • Every nth person chosen
36
Q

Stratified sampling

A
  • Division of a population into smaller sub-groups
37
Q

Quota sampling

A

A sample involving individuals that represent a quota of a population

38
Q

Snowball sampling

A
  • A person chooses another person and so on
39
Q

Opportunity sampling

A
  • Selecting anyone available
40
Q

Process of research

A

1 Formulating an aim
2 Choosing a research method
3 Pilot study
4 Choosing a sample
5 Taking out the research
6 Analysing data

41
Q

Factors influencing choice of topic

A
  • The sociologists perspective
  • Societies values
  • Practical factors
  • Funding bodies

Sociology - Research Methods (6 decks)

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