Sociology Research Methods

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  • Created by: CJKALMM
  • Created on: 09-02-16 16:23
Case Study
research that examines a single case or example, such as a single school, family or workplace, often using several methods or sources.
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Closs-ended Questions
Questions used in a social survey that allow only a limited choice of answers from a pre-set list.
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Comparative Method
A research method that compares two social groups that are alike apart from on factor. It is just a thought proccess. This method is used as an alternative to experiments.
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Content Analysis
A method of analysis the content of documents and media output to find out how often and in what ways different types of people or events appear
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Control Group
In experiments, scientist compare a control group and an experimental group that are identical in all respects. The control group are no exposed to the variable under investigation and so it can be compared to the experimental group.
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Correlation
When two or more factors/variables vary together. However, the existance of a correlation between two variables does not necessarily prove that one causes the other. May just be a coincidence.
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Documents
Public document - produced by organisations such as schools, governments, media etc. Personal Document - created by individuals, often provide first-person documents, such as diaries, letters, autobiographies etc.
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Experiments
A lab experiment is carried out in controlled conditions in an artificial setting to establish cause and effect relationship between variables. A field experiment has the same aim but is carried out in a natural setting.
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Hawthorne Effect
When the subjects of a reseach know they are being studied.
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Validity
Data which provides a true and accurate picture/description.
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Coding
Classifying answers into various categories.
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Ethnography
The study of the way of life or people.
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Generalisability
It is possible to apply findings of a sociological study to the wider population.
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Hypothesis
A statement which can be tested between two or more variables.
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Interpretivists
They prefer qualitative, valid data and seek to understand social actors' meanings.
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Interviewer Bias
When the interviewer can have an effect on the respondants answers.
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Interview Schedule
List of questions asked in an interview/questionnaire.
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Leading Question
A question which can lead respodants to a particular response.
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Operationalisation
Process of turning a sociological concept or theory into something measurable. E.G. A sociolgist studying the effect of social class on educational achievement might use parental occupation to measure social class.
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Pilot Study
A small-scale version of the real study, to identify any problems which can be fixed or changed.
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Positivists
Believe society is made of social facts that can be studied scientifically to discover cause and effect. They prefer quantitative, reliable data.
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Reliability
When different sociologists can carry out the same study and gain the same results.
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Representativeness
A researcher may choose to study a sample of a larger group. If the sample is representative, those in it will be typical of the larger group. Which allows things to be generalised to the whole group.
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Response Rate
The percentage of the participants which respond.
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Sampling Frame
A list of people from whom the sample is drawn.
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Target Population
A specified selection of society that you wish to study.
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Variables
Factors which affect behaviour
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Verstehen
The understanding of the meaning of the action from the actors point of view.
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Informed Consent
When those taking part in a study have agreed to do so and they understand the purpose of the study and the uses to which it's findings may be put to and it's possible effects.
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Interview
A method of gathering information by asking questions by mouth either face-to-face or by telephone.
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Structured Interview
An interview with an pre-set interview schedule. It uses standardised, usually clos-ended questions which produce quantitative data.
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Unstructured Interview
An interview which is informal or depth. They are more likely to be like a guided conversation and they use open-ended question which produce qualitative data.
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Semi-Structured Interview
An interview which can include both types of questions and can produce both types of data.
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Longitudinal Study
A study of a sample of people, which information is collected at regular intervals over an extended period of time.
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Official Statistics
Quantitative data which is collected by the government. They can be gathered by registration or by offical surveys.
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Open-Ended Questions
Questions in a social survey that allow respondants to answer as they wish and in their own words. These questions are harder to analyse as cannot be pre-coded.
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Paticipant Observation
A primary research method in which the sociologists studies a group by taking a role within it and participating in activities.
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Overt Participant Observation
Where the participants are aware of the researchers true identity and
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Covert Participation Observation
Where the sociolgists true identity and purpose is hidden.
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Primary Data
Information which is collected first-hand by the sociologists themselves for their own research purposes
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Qualitative Data
Information, usually expressed in words, about peoples thoughts, feelings, motivations, attitudes, values etc.
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Quantitative Data
Information in numerical form. percentages, tables, graphs etc.
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Secondary Data
Information not collected by sociologists themselves for their own research purposes but it is collected by other people not for sociological purposes.
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Social Survey
Any research method that involves systematically collecting information from a group of people by asking them questions.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Closs-ended Questions

Back

Questions used in a social survey that allow only a limited choice of answers from a pre-set list.

Card 3

Front

Comparative Method

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Content Analysis

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Control Group

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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