Topic 1 - Introduction to Research Methods Flashcards
1
Q
Primary data
A
- Information collected by sociologists themselves for their own purpose
2
Q
Strengths of primary data
A
- Can be gathered precisely for the needs of the study
3
Q
Criticisms of primary data
A
- Time consuming
4
Q
Examples of primary data
A
- Surveys
- Observations
- Experiments
5
Q
Secondary data
A
- Created by someone else and used by an external factor
6
Q
Examples of secondary data
A
- Official statistics
- Documents
7
Q
Strengths of secondary data
A
- Quick
- Cheap
8
Q
Criticisms of secondary data
A
- Original researcher may not have researched exactly what is needed
9
Q
Quantitative data
A
- Numerical
- e.g., official statistics: how many people pass 5 or more GCSE’s
10
Q
Qualitative data
A
- Word form
- Insight into a persons attitudes and opinions
- e.g., participant observations
11
Q
Factors influencing choice of methods
A
- Practical
- Ethical
- Theoretical
12
Q
Practical methods
A
- Time and money
- Requirements of funding bodies
- Personal skills and characteristics
- Subject matter
- Research opportunity
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
14
Q
Requirements of funding bodies
A
- Access to a research institute that is funding the research
15
Q
Personal skills and characteristics
A
- The skills and characteristics of the researcher impacting the method that they will use
16
Q
Subject matter
A
- Some groups or subjects may mean that it is difficult to use certain methods
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
Validity
- Is the data a true and genuine reflection of society
- Qualitative data
26
Reliability
- How easy it is to replicate the data
- Quantitative data
27
Representativeness
- Can it be generalised to whole population
28
Methodological perspectives
- Positivist
- Interpretivists
29
Positivists
- Scientific
- Experiments
- Quantitative
- Sociology as a science
30
Interpretivists
- Unscientific
- Sociology not a science
- Qualitative data
- Insight
31
Objective
- Facts
32
Subjective
- Opinions
33
Sample
- A group of people representing the whole population
34
Random sampling
- Randomly selecting participants
35
Systematic sampling
- Every nth person chosen
36
Stratified sampling
- Division of a population into smaller sub-groups
37
Quota sampling
A sample involving individuals that represent a quota of a population
38
Snowball sampling
- A person chooses another person and so on
39
Opportunity sampling
- Selecting anyone available
40
Process of research
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
Factors influencing choice of topic
- The sociologists perspective
- Societies values
- Practical factors
- Funding bodies
