Research Methods

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Primary Evidence
Data collected first hand by a researcher/s
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Secondary Evidence
Data that has been collected by previous researchers or organisations
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Example of secondary data
Official Statistics
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Example of primary data
Interview
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Quantitative data
Information in numerical form
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Qualitative data
Written, visual or audio data
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Interview
A method of gathering information by asking questions orally.
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Structured interview
A structured interview has preplanned questions to ask.
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Unstructured interview
An unstructured interview is a conversation with no set questions.
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Open ended questions
Allows the participant to elaborate on point further than a yes or no.
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Semi structured interviews
Interview consisting of open ended questions
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Participant observation
Researcher joins group of people and taking an active role whilst observing.
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Covert observation
Participants are unaware they are being observed
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Overt observation
Particpants are fully aware they are being observed
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Disadvantage of covert observation
Ethically this could cause problems as participants may not be happy with being observed.
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Disadvantage of overt observation
Hawthorne effect may occur and participants may act differently to how they usually would.
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Advantage of covert observation
Get a true picture and valid data
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Advantage of overt observation
It is ethical as participants are aware they are being observed and have most likely given their consent.
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Random sampling
Like picking names out of a hat - everyone has an equal chance.
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Systematic sampling
Picking every 10th person off of a list
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Stratified sampling
This sample frame will set into groups such as ethnicity, race and social class
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Quota sampling
The sample fits with quotas for example they might be told to find 90 participants with 30 of them being unemployed.
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Cluster sampling
Random samples at various stages of the sampling process.
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Snowball sampling
Researches may ask a few participants to find participants themselves.
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Questionnaire
List of pre-set questions to which the participants are asked to answer.
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Three key issues that could arise in research methods
Reliability, Validity and Ethics
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Secondary Evidence

Back

Data that has been collected by previous researchers or organisations

Card 3

Front

Example of secondary data

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Example of primary data

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Quantitative data

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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