Sociology - RESEARCH - Flashcards in A Level and IB Sociology

2 types of sociologists and what they prefer

positivists (e.g. func) prefer quantitative methods; interpretivists (e.g. interactionists) prefer qualitative

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primary methods - 2 advantages and problems with particular method

can get exactly what we want, surveys gather lots of data quickly; longitudinal studies may be expensive/subject attrition

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secondary data - pos/neg

published/official statistics; accurate and reliable, may be dated/biased if conducted by government

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content analysis - define, +/-

analyse media products to see how social groups are portrayed; cheap, can repeat to test reliability; may only show the beliefs of those who make the media

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questionnaires - +/-

quickly gathers lots of data, standardised, allows anonymity, no researcher effects; may be cultural limitations, low response rates, social desirability

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questionnaires - supporting study

Callendar and Jackson - fear of debt - low response rates = 55%; can reach large areas for lots of data = 101 schools took part; social desirability = may lie to approve uni

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field experiments - +/-

natural behaviours, social desiribility/demand characteristics reduced; ethics often broken, manipulates people and may affect their later lives

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field experiments - supporting study

Rosenhan - covert, 8pps pretended to hear voices, were admitted for 5-52 days and observed hospitals; ethics broken - deception, no right to withdraw, stressful

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interviews - 3 types

structured, unstructured, semi structured

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interviews - unstructured +/- and example

builds rapport, rich data, new topics develop; not standardised, hard to analyse, time consuming = less pps; BURGES + BROWN interviewed teen single mums

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interviews - semi structured +/- and example

both data, time consuming = less pps, may need different prompts = not standardised; OAKLEY - investigated housewives using time/motion survey, then open interviews

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interviews - 2 more types

focus group - discuss issue and sociologist doesn't get involved, unstructured, strong personalities may influence group; group interview - investigate how group works and sees altogether behaviour, less intimidating than 1:1, unstructured

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Observation - participant 4+/3-

valid, builds trust, rich data, see it from their eyes; could go native - loose objectivity and behaviours don't shock, can't be replicated, dangerous

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Observation - non pp 2+/2-

objective - detatched from group, not affecting their behaviour; can't empathise, could cause researcher effects

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Observation - covert 2+/2-

avoid social desirability, access to info couldn't get if overt; dangerous and breaks ethics

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Observation - overt 2+/2-

remain objective and don't go native, ethical; could cause researcher effects, can't empathise with pps

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observation - 3 supporting studies (1)

BOURGOIS - selling crack in el barrio - overt pp, gained trust by being lookout, dangerous - risk of attack due to suspicion of white policeman

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observation - 3 supporting studies (2)

HUMPHREY - tearoom trade - covert pp, couldn't have gained access unless covert, unethical - deception, no consent, privacy broken

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observation - 3 supporting studies (3)

BECKY FRANCIS - overt non pp of high school classrooms

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triangulation

researcher uses more than one method; improves reliability and balances out negatives of certain methods; e.g BALL - 3y longitudinal of observations, interviews and analysis of secondary; OAKLEY

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Operationalisation

break hypothesis down into observable/measurable things

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sociology and social policy - types of research + 2 points

research can be descriptive, explanatory (explain and encourage change) or evaluative (assess effectiveness of policies); sociological explanations influence policies; government doesn't always take action - have different viewpoint

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PET - P (5 examples and study)

funding, time, academic specialism, personal reasons e.g. promotion, no of pps you have affects method you use; agree = BOURGOIS - time and funding

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PET - E (5 types of concern, 1 agree and 1 disagree)

choice of topic perpetuates stereotypes, choice of group - accessible?, effects on people and wider society, issues of morality/legality; agree= BOURGOIS/BECKY FRANCIS, overt; disagree=ROSENHAN/HUMPHREY, ethic issues, but enables true data

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PET - T (3 parts, 3 agree)

choice of topic based on interests; technique - positivists quantitative, interpretivists qualitative; interpretation of data based on what supports theory;

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PET - T 3 agree

KAREN SHARPE, fem, unstructured interviews, investigate prostitutes; OAKLEY, fem, both data types, investigate housewives; ROSENTHAL + JACOBSON - whether sfp based on ethnicity affects achievement, challenge functionalists meritocracy

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Sociology - RESEARCH

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