Sociology- sociological method key words

?
Bias
Where the views of the researcher affect the research
1 of 68
Case study
Research that examines a single case or example, such as a single school pr single family, often using several methods or sources
2 of 68
Casual relationship
Where there is a relationship between two social events with one causing the other
3 of 68
Closed ended questions
Questions in a social survey that allow only a limited choice of answers from a pre-set list; often require a very specific reply, such such as 'yes' or 'no'; produce quantitative data and the answers are often pre-coded for ease of analysis
4 of 68
Cluster sampling
The researcher chooses a series of different places then chooses a sample of people at random from the cluster
5 of 68
Coding
Questions on a questionnaire are given a code making it easier for a researcher to conduct statistics from them
6 of 68
Comparative method
A research method that compares two social groups that are alike apart from one factor; comparison across countries or cultures
7 of 68
Content analysis
A method of analysing the content of documents and media output to find out how often and in what ways certain groups, people and events are represented
8 of 68
Control group
In experiments, scientists compare a control group and an experimental group that are identical in all respects. The control group is not exposed to the variable under investigation
9 of 68
Covert observation
Where the sociologist does not admit to being a researcher when observing a group
10 of 68
Cross-section survey
A survey carried out at one time, not followed up
11 of 68
Documents
Are two types. Public documents are produced by organisations such as governments, schools, media etc.
12 of 68
Ethical issues
Moral concerns about the benefits and potential harm of the research to the people being reseached
13 of 68
Ethnography
The work of sociologists who study societies by living with the people and observing their daily lives
14 of 68
Experiments
A laboratory experiment is a test carried out in controlled conditions in an artificial setting to establish a cause-effect relationship between two or more variables. Field experiments has the same aim but is carried out in a natural setting
15 of 68
Feminist sociologist
Sociology that concerns itself with studying the way women are oppressed in society
16 of 68
Field diary
A detailed record or events, conversations and thoughts kept by participant observers
17 of 68
Focus group
A group interview where people as a group discuss and explore a topic in depth
18 of 68
Functionalism
An approach in sociology that stresses that society is based on structures and consensus of values
19 of 68
Gatekeeper
Someone who can allow a researcher access to a individual, group or event
20 of 68
Generalisability
If the group chosen by sociologists to be studied are representative of the population as a whole they will be able to make generalistions about the whole of society from that group
21 of 68
Hawthorn effect
Where the presence of the researcher, changes the behaviour of a group being researched
22 of 68
Hypothesis
An idea which a researcher guesses might be true but needs testing against evidence
23 of 68
Imposing problem
Refers to the risk that the researcher, when asking questions, might be imposing their own views on the people being researched - problem in interviews or questionnnaires
24 of 68
Informed consent
Where those taking part in a study have agreed to do so and understand the purpose of the study and the uses to which the findings may be put
25 of 68
Interviews
A method of gathering information by asking questions orally, either face-to-face or by telephone.
26 of 68
Structured interviews
use pre-set questions, standardized, usually closed ended questions producing quantitative data.
27 of 68
Unstructured interviews
more like a guided conversation and use open ended questions producing qualitative data
28 of 68
Semi structured interviews
include both types of question
29 of 68
Interpretivism
Favoring qualitative methods, looking at the point of view of those being studied; interpretivists focus on how we construct our worlds the meanings we create and attach to events.
30 of 68
Interview schedule
The list of questions to be asked in an interview; makes the interview standardized - all interviews are asking the same question
31 of 68
Longitudinal study
Study of a sample of people in which information is collected at regular intervals over a period of time
32 of 68
Marxist sociologist
Stresses the exploitation of the majority of the population by a small and powerful 'ruling' class
33 of 68
Methodological pluralism
The use of a variety of methods in a single piece of research
34 of 68
Methodology
The process of undertaking research using sociological methods
35 of 68
Non-participant observation
A primary research method where the observer records events without taking part in them
36 of 68
Objectivity
The absence of bias or pre-conceived ideas; when the researcher's values and opinions do not affect their work
37 of 68
Official statistics
Quantitative data collected by the government
38 of 68
Open-ended questions
Questions in a social survey that allow respondents to answer as they wish, in their own words; allow respondents to express themselves fully; answers are harder to analyse because they cannot be pre-coded
39 of 68
operationalising concepts
the process of defining concepts in a way that makes them measurable. e.g. you can't measure 'educational failure' as a concept but you can measure data on pass rates among white working class boys.
40 of 68
Overt observation
When the sociologist is open about conducting research
41 of 68
Participant observation
Where the sociologist joins the group of people and studies their behavior
42 of 68
Pilot survey
A small scale survey carried out before the main one, to iron out any problems
43 of 68
Positivism
The brief that scientific methods are best for the study of society; society is made up of social facts that can be studied
44 of 68
Primary data
Information obtained directly by the sociologist
45 of 68
Qualitative data
Information usually expressed in words about people's thoughts and feelings, point of views/ opinions, written data; obtained from qualitative methods and sources such as participant observation, unstructured interviews, diaries, letters
46 of 68
Quantitative data
Informal in numerical form, statistical data; data from surveys, official statistics
47 of 68
Questionnaires
List of questions. Written of self-completion questionnaires are used in large scale social surveys, where they may be sent out by post. They tend to use closed ended questions with pre-coded answers for ease of analysis.
48 of 68
Quota sampling
A representative sample of the population chosen by using known characteristics
49 of 68
Random sampling
A representative sample of the population is chosen by entirely random methods
50 of 68
Reliability
if the same piece were repeated, it would produce the same results, when repeated using identical methods and procedures; in general quantitative methods are more reliable because they use standardized procedures that are easier to replicate.
51 of 68
Representative
Where the people being studied are a cross section of the society they wish to generalise about; they are typical of a larger group
52 of 68
Response rate
The proportion of those people included in a social survey who actually respond; a high response rate is important for representative findings
53 of 68
Sample
A smaller group selected from a larger survey population to take part in a survey
54 of 68
Sampling
The process of selecting a sample
55 of 68
Sampling frame
A list used as a source for a random sample
56 of 68
Secondary data
Information obtained from sources originally collected or created by someone else, e.g. other people's research. diaries, novels, letters, newspapers
57 of 68
Snowball sampling
A sample is obtained using a series of personal contacts
58 of 68
Social facts
According to Durkheim, there are phenomena that exist outside individuals that act on them in ways that affect their behavior, e.g. social institutions like the family and education system - social facts can be studied using positivist methods
59 of 68
Social survey
Any research method that involves systematically collecting information from a group of people by asking them questions - written questionnaires and structured interviews
60 of 68
Stratified sampling
The population is divided according to known criteria, e.g. sex or age, to make the sample more representative
61 of 68
Subjectivity
Bias, lack of objectivity
62 of 68
Systematic sampling
every nth name on a list is chosen
63 of 68
Theoretical sampling
An untypical sample of the population is chosen to illustrate a particular theory
64 of 68
Triangulation
The use of two or more methods in a single piece of research to compliment each other; used to check the reliability and validity of the information collected
65 of 68
Validity
The extent to which data gives a true picture of what is being studied; methods such as participant observation that produce qualitative data are usually seen as high in validity. A valid method is one that gives a truthful picture
66 of 68
Variables
Any factor that can change or vary, such as age, gender occupation, income. Sociologists seek to discover correlations between variables, e.g. between social class and education achievement. Laboratory experiments are often used to control variables
67 of 68
Verstehen
The ides of understanding human behavior by putting yourself in the position of those being studied and trying to see things from their point of view.
68 of 68

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Research that examines a single case or example, such as a single school pr single family, often using several methods or sources

Back

Case study

Card 3

Front

Where there is a relationship between two social events with one causing the other

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Questions in a social survey that allow only a limited choice of answers from a pre-set list; often require a very specific reply, such such as 'yes' or 'no'; produce quantitative data and the answers are often pre-coded for ease of analysis

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The researcher chooses a series of different places then chooses a sample of people at random from the cluster

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Sociology resources:

See all Sociology resources »See all Sociological research methods resources »