Flashcards
Sociology - research methods
Cards in this deck (71)
- 1What is validity?Research that is rich in detail and allows researchers to gain an understanding of the researched groups feelings.
- 2What is reliability?The study should be able to be repeated and the same results found.
- 3What is representativeness?The research should represent the target group.
- 4What are the practical considerations in sociological research?Time - most researchers can't afford to work full time. The quickest are usually questionnaires, or secondary data. The slowest are usually interviews, or observations. Cost - research is often funded by grants or universities, who often have limited incomes. Access - some groups are too hard to research. E.g. children and vulnerable adults, crime, governments, the media.
- 5What is a gatekeeper?Someone who allows a researcher access to a group that they would struggle to gain access to otherwise. E.g. a parent/teacher.
- 6What ethical issues are there?Consent - ppts should be informed about the study. Consent should be checked. Ppts who are vulnerable may require a proxy.
Privacy - data should be protected, no actual names used, no real photos, etc.
Safety - ppts shouldn't be put under harm/more than normal. Sociologists should minimise any distress. - 7What is positivism?It is based on the idea that sociology is a science that can test theories. They conduct research by using large scale, low-detail research. Their aim is to gain data on the largest group of ppl they can. They tend to favour questionnaires that ask short questions. E.g. Durkheim. They prefer establishing trends over time, and comparing areas to each other - numerical data.
- 8What is interpretivism?Favour research methods that gives the greatest understanding of the research ppts. They're seeking what Weber calls 'verstehen' - empathetic understanding. They tend to favour unstructured interviews, observation, and the study of secondary documents. E.g. Weber. They're not interested in comparison; there's no point comparing 2 accounts, as they reflect 2 different experiences, so there's no reason they'd be similar.
- 9What is triangulation?In modern society, most are less hard-line about theoretical research methods. Many try to combine 2 or more methods - 1 of which is reliable, and 1 of which is valid. The results are essentially 'checked' against each other.
- 10What does the mnemonic PERVERT stand for?P - practical
E- ethical
R - reliable
V - validity
E- example research
R - representativeness
T - theoretical approaches - 11What is quantitative data?numerical data
- 12What is qualitative data?Text data
- 13Evaluate quantitative data.P- yes
E- yes
R- yes
V- no, not got ppls experiences
E- Kendal project
R- yes
T- poistivism - 14Evaluate qualitative data.P- not always
E- not much
R- not as much (open to interpretation)
V- yes , there's a lot of detail
E- Malinowski
R- not as much, harder to get a big sample
T- interpretivism - 15How can you collect quanti data from an observation?With an observation frame - a checklist of behaviours, that can be ticked off when that behaviour is seen. This means the data is triangulated.
- 16What is a sampling frame?A list of names of all those included in the survey population from which the sample is selected.
- 17What is random sampling?This means that every individual in the survey population has an equal chance of being picked out for investigation. This is most commonly done by numbering all the names in the sampling frame and then getting a computer to select numbers at random to fill the sample.
- 18Evaluate random sampling.Weakness - may be subject to the laws of chance, which may result in an unrepresentative sample.
Strength - every person has an equal chance of being selected. - 19What is systematic sampling?Names are selected from the sampling frame at regular intervals until the size of sample is reached. E.g. selected every 10th name.
- 20Evaluate systematic sampling.Weakness - there is a risk of it being unrepresentative.
Strength - quick and efficient (P). - 21What is stratified random sampling?A way of attempting to avoid all the possible errors caused by random sampling. This is achieved by subdividing the sampling frame into a number of smaller sampling frames drawn up on particular bases - class, sex, age, etc. Individuals are then drawn at random from each of these sampling frames.
- 22Evaluate stratified random sampling.Strength - the final sample is much more representative as it is based off of the ratio of that base in the population - all the characteristics of the survey pop. are more certain to be represented in the sample.
Weakness - this takes longer so there is practical issues. - 23What is snowball sampling?Used when a sampling frame is hard to obtain or doesn't exist. The researcher may identify a few ppl with the characteristics they are interested in, and then ask them to introduce them to other ppl willing to cooperate in the research, and then these ppl would do the same.
- 24Evaluate snowball sampling.Weakness - not representative, they rely on volunteers recommending others, so the sample is therefore self-selecting, and this may create bias.
Strength - useful when the sample is hard to obtain. - 25What advantages are there to questionnaires?Quick and cheap (P).
Good question design is ethical.
Good question design is reliable as there is no room for interpretation.
Could ask a lot of ppl easily so the sample is representative.
Preferred by positivists for their large scope. - 26What are the disadvantages of questionnaires?No access to certain groups (P).
Can ask upsetting questions is badly designed (E).
No depth or understanding of ppts (V).
Low response rate, so not always representative.
Rejected by interpretivists, who seek more depth and understanding. - 27What is an observation frame?A list of behaviours that a researcher can tick off, to result in the findings having both types of data. This means data is triangulated more quickly than employing a separate research method.
- 28What is the Hawthorne Effect?Researchers in the 1920s wanted to look at the Hawthorne Electrical works. They intended to look at the allocation of breaks in the day, but they found the ppl worked harder as they knew they were being watched. This gives us the idea of the Hawthorne effect. Any observation where ppts know they're being observed will lead to a change in behaviour. This makes research less valid as it won't give a true picture, and less representative as it doesn't tell us about the ppts regular lives.
- 29Evaluate observations in general.Strengths- deep in info and experience, so researchers can gain a deeper lvl of understanding into ppts lives (V). As long as the findings are only applied to the sample group, this is the most representative research method. There is the possibility for triangulation, by spending so long with ppts, researchers can ask questions and use other methods to collect this.
Weaknesses - often hard to gain access and is time-consuming (P). Unethical as ppts can't always give consent. Most actions are open to interpretation so unreliable. Results can't easily be applied to other groups (R). There is the chance for the HE. - 30What is a covert observation?Pppts aren't aware they're in research.
- 31Evaluate covert research.Strength - no chance of HE, so it is valid and representative (of that group).
Weakness - unethical as ppts can't give consent, BSA won't approve as it violates ethical standards of consent. - 32What is an overt observation?Permission from ppts to observe has been given - they're aware they are being observed.
- 33Evaluate overt observations.Strength - ethical as ppts can give consent and can withdraw when they want.
Weakness - HE is highly likely as ppts know they're being observed. - 34What is ppt observation?The researcher acts as a member of the group.
- 35Evaluate ppt observations.Strength - you get more understanding of ppts' experiences, so it is more valid.
Weaknesses - culpability, research can be unethical. The researcher can get too close, so could disrupt their data, no longer objective and no longer valid. - 36What is a non-ppt observation?Where the researcher observes out of the group.
- 37Evaluate non-ppt observations.Strength - ethical, and the researcher can take notes and record data and details easier.
Weakness - lack of understanding as the researcher is watching, not doing, so is less valid. - 38What key studies are there for observations?
- 39What is a structured interview?Based on a structured, pre-coded questionnaire that are carried out by an interviewer. They ask closed questions set in the same order each time. and doesn't probe beyond the basic answers given.
- 40What are the strengths of structured interviews?they're the most effective way of getting questionnaires completed (quick and cheap) and the problem of non-response is rarer. Problems of illiteracy are overcome (P). Often more reliable, since all respondents will be answering the same questions, so results can be compared with other groups. They're useful for obtaining answers to questions about facts like their age, sex, etc. They're easy to put into quantitative data. There is less of a problem with interviewer bias than with unstructured. The questions are closed questions so will be rather ethical.
- 41What are the weaknesses of structured interviews?There is a limited depth if understanding as it is only closed questions (V). They aren't suitable for exploring highly personal topics as there is no opp. to establish rapport. They are more time consuming and costly than postal questionnaires as they're often slow and interviewers have to be paid, so this means less ppl can be interviewed and a smaller sample, so not practical or representative.
- 42What is an unstructured interview?Like a guided conversation - they have topics they want to cover. They aim to be putting the ppt at ease, and draw out feelings, etc. Can be focus groups.
- 43What are the strengths of unstructured interviews?Their greater flexibility increases the validity as the rapport is increased so they can say what they really think and feel. There is the possibility of more depth and therefore more detail (V). Ambiguities in questions can be clarified. Ppts can choose what to say so it is ethical.
- 44What are the weaknesses of unstructured interviews?They are time-consuming and costly, meaning fewer interviews so a less representative sample and practical issues. Less reliable as questions may be different with each interview, so results might not be the same. Group interviews may act as a form of peer pressure and ppl may lie. Interviewer bias may be a problem. Not easy to anonymise so unethical.
- 45What is an independent variable?What the researcher changes in the experiment.
- 46What is the dependant variable?What the researcher is measuring in the experiment.
- 47What is a lab study?Usually conducted in a university room. They study how the ppts respond to the artificial situation. It is highly controlled. E.g. Bobo doll.
- 48Evaluate lab studies.Weaknesses - not very practical as it is hard to access ppts, you have limited time and money too. Not very valid as the situation is artificial. Not representative, as due to the practical issues, a large sample size will be hard.
Strengths - ethical as it is easy to gain consent. Very reliable due to the high control, meaning the data is often quantitative so results are easy to get and replicate. - 49What is a field study?The researcher manipulates a variable in a natural setting. E.g. Rosenthal and Jacobsen.
- 50Evaluate field studies.Weaknesses - rather time-consuming to set up (P). Less consent is available, and there's the potential for harm upon ppts (E). Not a lot of chance for replication to get the same results as the events are circumstantial (R).
Strengths - relatively easy to access ppts (P). Rather valid as it is in a natural environment. Representative as there is a larger sample than in lab. - 51Who is the sample in official statistics?The target population. They're done by the government so everyone is legally required to do it.
- 52What is "massaging statistics"?Where the researchers give the bad results but then say something good to make it seem better. Also, where things are changed by their definition, not actually improved - e.g. David Cameron changing definition of child poverty.
- 53What is the example study for official statistics?The census
- 54What problems are there with using correlations?Can't examine already existing data. Correlation doesn't imply causation.
- 55Evaluate official statistics.Strengths - "Freedom of information Act" means you can collect any government statistic - so it is easy and quick to access (P). Ethical as data is anonymous, etc. Large sample as it is legally required to complete (R). Reliable as it is the same questions every time, and done by the government - same findings can be found.
Weaknesses - not valid as they don't contain any depth/understanding - can't find out any other info from it. - 56What are focus groups like?Similar to unstructured interviews, but in a group setting and ppts can talk to each other. They also have characteristics of lab studies, and of ppt observations. The researcher is studying the interactions between ppts as well as what they say.
- 57What are focus groups used for?Social research. Market research - to test new products. Political research - to see what ppl like/dislike about current PM/president; to find out how ppl's views are with others present.
- 58What do focus groups gain?Qualitative data, comparison and how people's views change with others present. Often done with ppts friends and family as they're less likely to lie.
- 59What is the example study for focus groups?Kitzinger - conducted research on focus groups, by using focus groups. She found that research ppts were more likely to agree with what they'd said after a focus group than after an interview, when they often wanted changes made to the record.
- 60Evaluate focus groups.Strengths - access to ppts is easy as they can volunteer (P). As it is unstructured, the data is quali so is rich (V). If they use a stratified sample, it should be representative.
Weaknesses - it takes a lot of time and a lot of irrelevant info is there (P). It is hard to keep anonymity, there is the possibility for harm (E). There is lots of dif. vies and so it is hard to repeat (R). Ppts may not voice their actual opinion due to the presence of others (V). A small sample is used (R). Often a few ppts dominate, so not all ppts views are spoken. - 61What is a content analysis?This is a specific research method for researching the media. It works similarly to an observation frame: the sociologist creates a frame of things they're looking for, and then tally everytime they see this. It collects quantitative data.
- 62Why do sociologists study the media?It is one of many 'agents of socialisation' that teach us who we are. Other examples include - family, religion, work, peers, school. However, whilst other agents of socialisation are decreasing in influence, the media appears to be growing.
- 63What is the example study for content analysis?By the Glasgow University Media Group. Used content analysis to look at the media from a Marxist POV, and found that stories about trade unions were overwhelmingly negative. They argued that this was in order to de-legitimize unions and strengthen capitalism.
- 64Evaluate content analysis.Strengths - cheap, quick as papers are cheap/online, etc. this also means easy access (P). No ppts so is ethical. Quanti data, so easy to replicate as long as the same media form is used (R). Easy to look at many media sources to gain representative data (R).
Weaknesses - no understanding of why decisions were made (in editing papers), etc. (V). - 65What are personal documents?They can be almost anything -anything that a persons created by interpreting an aspect of society. E.g. letters, art, media, diary.
- 66What example study is there for personal documents?Philippe Aries. Looked at paintings with children in medieval periods. Argued children are essentially small adults - childhood is constructed.
- 67What is a general problem with evaluating personal documents?There are many types of personal doc., and each one has dif. problems/strengths. This makes it hard to evaluate personal docs as a whole.
- 68Evaluate personal documents.Strengths - relatively cheap, access is easy for modern, online stuff (P). If the doc is fromt he past, ppts are dead so is ethical. Written docs will be more detailed (V) ~ a diary will have no HE as the writer wouldn't have known ppl would read it so wouldn't lie. If you're applying the findings to the group you studied then very representative.
Weaknesses - will take a while to analyse, things that are older may be harder to track down, some things may be harder to access (past - diaries, etc.) (P). Unethical with modern, personal data. Open to interpretation so will be hard to get the same results when replicated (R). Docs like paintings will have little data, so not valid. If from history, info wont represent the working class (R). - 69What is longitudinal research?Not a research method, but a technique. This is when research is conducted over a long period of time - usually years.
- 70What example study is there for longitudinal research?Malinowski - Trobriand Islanders.
- 71Evaluate longitudinal research.Strengths - there is a lot of detail, so very valid. If the results are applied to the group studied then very representative.
Weaknesses - takes a long time, so very expensive, access may be hard to get and maintain (P). Not anonymous - hard to, so unethical. Can't be replicated easily, small sample so unlikely to be fully applicable (R).
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- A level Biology Flashcards on Sociology - research methods, created by Maddie Wright on 18/02/2019.
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