Flashcards
Untitled
Cards in this deck (4)
- 1ValidityThe extent to which the research provides a true picture of the social reality of what is being studied.
The extent to which the research does what it sets out to do in relation to the individuals or group being studied.
The collection of data that is high in validity is particularly important to interpretivists, who seek to research meanings and motives that people attach to what they do and say. - 2ReliabilityResearchers may be said to be high in reliability if the method used to collect data is a standardised one - questionnaires and structures interviews are both standardised measuring instruments...
therefore if the research is repeated, similar results are likely to be found.
Positivist sociologists seek to use these methods because they claim they are consistent. Reliability is important to those collecting qualitative data. - 3RepresentativenessConcerned with whether the group or individuals being studied are a fair reflection of the target population, whether they are a typical of it in terms of social characteristics such as; age, gender, ethnicity and/or class.
If the sample is representative of the data of the target population , it is possible to make generalisations. - 4GeneralisabilityConcerned with the extent to which it is possible to apply the findings from the research sample to the wider target population.
If the sample is large enough and it mirrors the target population then its is possible to apply the findings to the target population.
Positivists seek to obtain data that will allow them to make such generalisations, although that does not mean that findings from a small scale study cannot also be said to generalise.
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- Flashcards on Untitled, created by charlotte_rose_o on 03/03/2015.
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- charlotte_rose_o · Mar 2015
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- Feb 19, 2016
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