sociological research methods key words

sociological research methods key words

1. Hypothesis

   • the prediction of a studies out come before it happens

2. operationalisation

   • a process that defines terms of the resruch and put them into action
     • respondent vailidation
       • often used by interpertavist who ask thoes they are researching to look at the findings and give feedback in terms of whether it is accurate.

3. primary data

   • data that has been collected by the researcher themselves
   • interpretation of data
     • the process of deciding what is important out of the data you have collected
     • validity
       • where the data provided gives a true social picture
       • reliability
         • the ability to repeat your study and get simmaler or the same results
         • triangulation
           • allows findings to be cross check useing more then one methord
           • methodological pluralism
             • an approach that uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to combat the issues with validity and reliability
             • objectivity
               • a scientific approach in which research is free form based and values
               • reflexivity
                 • the willingness of the researcher to consider they effect they may have on the research , and how there vaules may effect reseach
                 • subjectivity
                   • allowing the values of the researcher to influence the research, feminist say resreach cannot be non subjective.

4. sampling

   • a smaller group of the target population in a study
   • access
     • used in relation to gaining access to a sample or a pice of information
       • ethics
         • procedures for ensuring reseach and participants are gained anonymity and are protected

5. pilot study

   • a test or a pre run of a study , to test variables
     • value freedom
       • the idea that the sociological research should be objective as possible , and the research should not be influenced by the values of the researcher.

6. representativeness

   • the extent to which the study represents the sample population
   • generalisability
     • the extent at which a study can be applied to the general population

7. research imposition

   • the ways in which the researcher may impose their vauels on their own research, often used in relation to interpretivist