METHODS IN CONTEXT

METHODS IN CONTEXT

1. Experiments

   • Lab
     • In a controlled environment
   • Field
     • In a real-life setting

2. Interviews

   • Unstructured
     • Interviewer asks open-ended questions that allow for development and in-depth responses
   • Structured
     • Pre-set, standardised, typically closed-ended questions
   • Semi-Structured Interviews
     • Maybe a limited amount of questions (structured)
     • Differentiated questions based on responses given (unstructured)

3. Questionnaires

   • Postal
     • Social survey distributed by postal services
   • Self completion
     • A list of pre-set questions to which the participants are asked to answer.

4. Observations

   • Participant
     • Researcher joins a group of people.
       • Overt
       • Covert
   • Non-participant
     • Researcher watches a group, with their knowledge, but without taking part.

5. Documents

   • Personal
     • First-hand accounts of social events and personal-experiences.
   • Official Statistics
     • Numerical data used by the government to make decisions
   • Official
     • Produced by organisations such as government departments and their agencies as well as businesses and charities.

6. P.E.T

   • Practical
     • Access
     • Finding a sample
     • Cost
     • Keeping up an act
   • Ethical
     • Informed consent
     • Privacy
     • Deception
     • Confidentiality
   • Theoretical
     • Bias
     • Reliability
     • Representativeness
     • Validity
     • Rapport
     • Verstehen