Unit 2A - Research Methods Flashcards
Positivism
The application of the scientific approach to the social world, emphasising the use of quantitative data in order to remain detached from the research process
- Macro approach, large scale
- Social facts
- Detached, objective and value free
- High reliability
Primary: questionnaires, formal interviews, field, experiments, content analysis
Secondary: statistics
Interpretativism
Emphasises respondent led qualitative methods to achieve insight, in depth explanations and empathy to realise a humanistic understanding
- Micro approach, small scale
- Reveals meanings
- Should build trust and rapport and
develop empathy (verstehen) - High validity
Primary: informal interviews, observation
Secondary: documents, such as letters, diaries
Mixed Methods
2 or more methods when conducting research
strengths:
- qualative and quantative
- more accurate
weaknesses:
- requires more time and money
- can be difficult and complex
[Methological pluralism = combining research methods to build up a bigger picture at outset]
Observations
Ethnographic research (observing people in their environment), first hand insight into people’s behaviours
Participant Observations
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- being inside not outside
- accurate as shared experience of the social
reality
- can be the only way to research hard to
reach groups
Cons -
- gatekeeper may control what is observed
- time consuming
- emotional
- may act differently as they know they are
being observed
Non-partcipant Observations
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- produces facts and quantative data
- detached = less bias
- group’s behaviour not influenced by
researcher
- positivists like this
Cons -
- observer is artificial as researcher is
present
- little true insight into why they behave this
way
- objectivity difficult to achieve as they have
to judge
Interviews
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
Useful for studying topical, inaccessible topics through their methods
Cons -
Quality of the interview depends on the interviewers technique
Structured Interviews
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- comparable answers
- more generalised across the study
- quantitative data
Cons -
- participants don’t reveal as much because
of strict design
Unstructured Interviews
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- establish qualitative interactions
- generates trust therefore more likely to
open up
- valid data (honest)
Cons -
- difficult to analyse and compare
- can’t categorise
- has to be selective in material and what is
published = bias
Semi-structured Interviews
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- allows interviewers to ask follow up
questions = depth
Cons -
- each interview differs so less comparable
- lots of time and planning
Group Interviews
(Pros & Cons)
Pros -
- deeper insights ‘encourage’ eachother to
open up
- high validity
- less time consuming
Cons -
- peer pressure, conforming to the norms of
those around you so results become
invalid
- 1/2 may dominate the conversation
- hard to analyse
Pilot Studies
A trial run of a research method with a small sample to ensure it works
strengths:
- determines best research methods
- troubleshoot anything wrong
weaknesses:
- expensive and time consuming
Longitudinal Studies
Studying a group of people over a long period of time
strengths:
- clear image of changes in attitude and
behaviour
- unveils hidden patterns in social groups
- in depth knowledge
weaknesses:
- time consuming, expensive
- people drop out
- get too friendly
Questionnaires
List of questions written in advance handed out for self completion
strengths:
- very representative
- reach lots of people
- less time consuming
weaknesses:
- needs to be short and concise
- may be misinterpreted
Content Analysis
Interpret words and images from various sources of communication
strengths:
- cheap
- comparative method
weaknesses:
- time consuming
- subjective
- only beliefs of people who created
