Research methods

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  • Created by: Jessie58
  • Created on: 12-05-20 16:04
primary research methods
researcher collects data first hand. for example, interview, questionnaire, observation
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secondary research methods
research has already been done. for example, internet, books, newspapers and ratios
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qualitative data
looked at by interpretivists (always want to know how and why) it is a richer picture, written
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quantitative data
only used by positivists (interested in how many) it is numeral
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RRVO
representative, reliable, valid, objective
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representative
is the method true for everyone?
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reliable
if the method was replicated, would the results be the same/consistent?
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valid
is the method an accurate measure of the truth?
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objective
is the method biased/one sided?
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structured/ formal interview definition
questionnaire that is delivered face to face, a set list of questions given to the respondent. quantitative and positivist
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unstructured/ informal interview definition
an interview in which the questions are not prearranged. qualitative and interpretivist
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group interview definition
when an interviewer directly asks questions to more than one interviewee. qualitative and interpretivist
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structured/ closed questionnaire definition
the respondents are forced to tick an answer. quantitative and positivist
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unstructured/ open questionnaire definition
the respondents answer open ended questions such as how and why. qualitative and interpretivist
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postal questionnaire definition
researcher posts questionnaires to geographical areas. quantitative and positivist
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overt observation definition
the person knows that they are being watched. qualitative and interpretivist
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covert observation definition
the person doesn’t know that they are being watched. qualitative and interpretivist
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participant observation definition
type of research that involves a researcher joining a group of people and participating in the everyday activities of them. qualitative and interpretivist
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non participant observation definition
type of research which involves observing participants without actively participating. qualitative and interpretivist
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structured/ formal interview adv + disadv
adv- reliable as results can be standardised, representative if given to larger sample size, easy to make comparisons. disadv- leading questions mean bias, pressure on respondents makes invalid, expensive so less representative
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unstructured/ informal interview adv + disadv
adv- less pressure on respondent means more valid, interviewees have opportunity to talk in depth, better understanding of respondent. disadv- respondent can go off topic making invalid, time consuming, not representative as can’t ask everyone
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group interview adv + disadv
adv- no pressure on respondent as everyone can input, quicker than one on one, respondents can bounce ideas off one another. disadv- socially desirable answers, domination and being scared to open up all make invalid, unrepresentative as small scale
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structured/closed questionnaire adv + disadv
adv- reliable as one set of qu and answers, easy to make comparisons, cheap quick easy way to obtain large amount of info from large numbers making representative. disadv- could be rushed make invalid, lack of validity due to truthfulness, lack depth
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unstructured/open questionnaire adv + disadv
adv- cheap so can be given to large pop making representative, more detailed responses, no pressure making more valid. disadv- time consuming, could be rushed making invalid, hard to replicate making less reliable
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postal questionnaire adv + disadv
adv- reliable as is a closed questionnaire, quick, representative as from large sample range. disadv- could be rushed making invalid, expensive, response rate is low making invalid and unrepresentative
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overt observation adv + disadv
adv- higher level of reliability, no deception, can ask questions. disadv- time consuming, not reliable as difficult to repeat, could be biased as from the researchers point of view, hawthorne effect (invalid)
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covert observation adv + disadv
adv- avoid observer effect problems meaning higher in validity, allows to expand knowledge on social groups that wouldnt normally give consent to be watched, no hawthorne effect. disadv- difficult to gain access, invalid as rely on memory, expensive
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participant observation adv + disadv
adv- natural behaviour can be studied, understand feelings of participants better than an outsider, no deception. disadv- close association could bring biased opinions, hawthorne effect (invalid), unrepresentative as small scale
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non participant observation adv + disadv
adv- detached, unbiased view given, members of group will cooperate with their duty, more likely to disclose personal info with stranger. disadv- presence of researcher may influence actions, never capture everything, interpreting whatseen (invalid)
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diaries definition
personal account. qualitative and interpretivist
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textbooks definition
a book containing information on a particular subject, qualitative and interpretivist
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documents definition
a written official paper that provides information or as a record. qualitative and interpretivist
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newspapers definition
a paper booklet that contains news, articles and advertisements. qualitative and interpretivist
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internet definition
the world wide web. qualitative and interpretivist
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statistics definition
numerical data published by the government home office. quantitative and positivist
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diaries adv + disadv
adv- allow us to find info from deep in the past that we may not have found out otherwise, authentic, richer picture. disadv- biased, not reliable as no two are the same, not valid as info could be exaggerated or forgotten
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textbooks adv + disadv
adv- representative as everyone can access them, widely available, lots of info. disadv- not valid as info could have been exaggerated or manipulated, different textbooks could say different info, biased as written from authors perspective
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documents adv + disadv
adv- representative as accessible to most, low cost and detailed, not biased. disadv- not valid as could have been changed or manipulated, can be time consuming,
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newspapers adv + disadv
adv- representative as cheap and lots can access them and are a wide source of info, low cost and detailed, lots of info. disadv- not truthful making invalid, not reliable as different newspapers have different opinions, report could be biased
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internet adv + disadv
adv- accessible to most people, can compare lots of different sources, representative as contain lots of info pages and sources. disadv- biased, not representative as not all pages are true, not valid as opinion can be stated as fact (untruthful)
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statistics adv + disadv
adv- representative as lots of people involved, cover wider sample and cheap, easily accessible, quick. disadv- not representative as don’t know how many people took part, invalid as could have been changed/manipulated, biased as may show partial pic
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pilot study
small scale test to see if your research method will work. saves time and money as you can find and eliminate problems
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PET considerations
practical, ethical and theoretical
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practical considerations
time, money, gaining access
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ethical considerations
informed consent, privacy (is it confidential), protection from harm, ethics and research process (is it morally right or wrong)
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theoretical considerations
positivism or interpretivism
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random sampling
fair and unbiased. for example, pulling names out of a hat
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systematic sampling
choosing every nth person from the sample frame
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stratified random sampling
breaking down a population using different categories. for example, age or gender
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quota sampling
a sample in proportion to that of the full population and given to anyone who fits the category. for example, 20 males and 20 females.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

research has already been done. for example, internet, books, newspapers and ratios

Back

secondary research methods

Card 3

Front

looked at by interpretivists (always want to know how and why) it is a richer picture, written

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

only used by positivists (interested in how many) it is numeral

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

representative, reliable, valid, objective

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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