Flashcards
AS Sociology - Research methods
Cards in this deck (72)
- 1ReliabilityWhether data is consistent. If a method or study was repeated would the results stay the same
- 2ValidityWhether data represents true behaviour, matches the aim of the study or target population
- 3RepresentativenessWhen findings represent the target population
- 4GeneralisationWhen findings can be generalised. The extent to which the results of a study are applicable to other populations
- 5Quantitative dataData in the form of numbers. Often gathered from the use of closed questions and structured observations
- 6Qualitative dataData in the form of words. Often gathered from the use of open questions and unstructured observations
- 7ObjectivityUnbiased. Based on fact.
- 8SubjectivityBiased. Based on opinions
- 9EthicsA set of principles of the right conduct
- 10BiasWhen your more inclined to one side of an argument
- 11DeceitThe action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or mistreating the truth
- 12SensitivitySome people could find more topics more sensitive which could cause distress to the person
- 13ConfidentialityTo keep private information provate
- 14Methodological pluralityUsing 2 or more research methods to check the evidence
- 15TriangulationWhen you use more than one research method in your study
- 16AccessWhether you have access to the target population
- 17PilotingDoing a smaller practice study before doing the real thing
- 18SamplingSelecting a smaller group of the target population to take part in a study
- 19Documents and personal dataQualitative e.g. diaries, reports
- 20Official statisticsQuantitative, numerical data
- 21Ethnographic studyA study focussing on one specific cultural group
- 22Natural ExperimentIndependent variable occurs naturally
- 23Lab experimentConducted in an artificial environment. High control of variables. standardised procedures. Manipulated independent variable.
- 24Field ExperimentConducted in the real world. Control of independent variable. Limited control of extraneous variables
- 25Longitudinal studyA study collecting the same set of data periodically in order to track changes over time
- 26Case studiesA study looking in depth of an individual or small group. Used mainly to study unusual behaviour
- 27Structured interviewsParticipant survey. Most often using open questions. Questions are pre-set
- 28Unstructured interviewsSurvey often using open questions. Non-present questions and can change dependent on responses
- 29QuestionnairesParticipant survey most often using closed questions with pre-coded answers. Participants complete survey themselves.
- 30Reliable methodsStructured observation - Pre set categories means same data
Questionnaire - Each participant answers the same set of questions
Structured interview - Each participant is asked the same questions - 31Valid methodsUnstructured observation - Real life behaviour of participants is collected.
Structured interview
Unstructured interview - Open questions, allows participants to expand answers
Case study - Collects detailed and in depth data from varied sources
Ethnographic study - collects detailed and in-depth data from sources - 32Why is reliability a strength?It improves understanding, track patterns and trends; research leads to theory ---> Look at social change e.g. census, crime rate
- 33Why is validity a strength?Improves understanding, explains the behaviour of people outside the study and the research leads to theory
- 34Sociologists value validity over reliability as they would much rather get varied results than have everyone getting the same result and not learning anything--
- 35Objective methods and why?Structured observation - has pre-set categories and no interpretation is given
Questionnaire - preset, closed, yes or no answers. These provide us with facts and figures.
Longitudinal study - 36Subjective methods and why?Unstructured observation as it is based on interpretations
- 37How to improve objectivityMake sure study is based on fact. Use a questionnaire or structured observation
- 38How to improve subjectivityCollect qualitative data, using open questions, collecting opinion
- 39Strengths of objectivity- Gives unbiased data which is reliable so that patterns and trends can be tracked. Also facts and figures allow comparisons and repeating tests
- 40Weaknesses of objectivityLess in-depth, can't explain why things happen only what, limits understanding
- 41Strengths of subjectivity- Interprets data/behaviour for an in-depth analysis so that the findings can be applied beyond the study. Gain understanding of real life behaviour. Tells us why
- 42Weaknesses of subjectivity- It is bias (observer bias), makes it less valid
- 43Sociologists value subjectivity as they can interpret people's opinions and feelings e.g. why people go to church - subjective data explains this--
- 44Representative methods and why?Questionnaires - can be given to a large sample as they are quick and cheap
- 45unrepresentative methods and why?Case study and ethnographic study - Uses small sample, which are unlikely to be representative
- 46How to improve representativesnessMake sure the sample matches the large population e.g. in terms of gender, age, ethnicity - Random, Quota, Stratified or systematic
- 47How to improve generalisabilityMake sure sample is representative - collect a representative sample
- 48Qualitative data- Numerical data
- Answers to closed questions
- E.g. reaction times, number of items recalled, attitudes on a scale from 1-5 - 49Qualitative data- Non-numerical data
- Answers to open questions
- descriptions from observation
- In-depth understanding of behaviour - meanings - 50Qualitative methodsStructured observation - pre set categories (tally or count)
Questionnaires - closed questions
Longitudinal - looking for a pattern, tracking data over time, patterns can be tracked
Ethnographic study
Official statistics - numerical data (%, tables, census) - 51Qualitative methodsUnstructured observations - Just writing all behaviour they see
Structured/ unstructured interviews - Use opinions and open questions
Case studies - in-depth, one individual's interpretation
Experiments - in - depth
Ethnographic study -Similar to case study
Documents and personal data - A record of an event in time - 52Strengths of quantitative dataEasier to analyse - can see patterns and trends in numbers, put into graphs and tables, not time consuming, can make comparisons
Reliable - statistics means that collecting data in the same way from each participants. Track patterns and trends - 53Weaknesses of quantitative dataOversimplifies human experience - as it doesn't tell us why due to data being in the form of numbers only tells us what
Lacks Validity - lacks depth, doesn't necessarily measure people's true opinions and feelings - 54Strengths of qualitative data*Provides rich detail, wordy, in-depth, collects larger amount of data, collecting opinions, thoughts, feeling, improves validity
*Reveals meanings - Collects opinions, feelings and thoughts of participants. High in validity because we are understanding people's true behaviour - 55Weaknesses of qualitative data* Difficult to detect patterns and trends, variety of different results, low reliability
* Investigator bias - investigator has to interpret the data meaning it is subjective, data is interpretated - 56Methodological plurality and triangulationThese techniques are used to obtain a more rounded picture by using a number of different methods/data types compliment each other. The strengths of one counter the weaknesses of another.
- 57Strengths of methods: - Quantitative - Qualitative - High control of variables - High reliability*Quantitative data - Data can be compared
*Qualitative data - Increases ecological validity. Findings can be applied to real world behaviour
*HCoV - Cause and effect relationships can be used to predict future behaviour
*High reliability - Data is reliable. Can be compared. Patterns and trends can be tracked. - 58Strengths of methods: - High validity - High mundane realism - Shows the strength and direction of the relationship between 2 variables - Low demand characteristics*High validity - Cause and effect relationship can be established
*High mundane realism - Findings are generalisable to the target population or to real life
*Shows the strength and direction. . . etc -
Enables the researcher to compare and contrast results easily and gain a better understanding of the relationship between different variables.
*Low demand characteristics - Increases ecological validity. Findings can be applied to real world behaviour - 59Weaknesses of methods: -Lacks generalisability -Low control of variables -Demand characteristics -Low reliability -Low validity*Lacks generalisability - Decreases ecological validity. Findings cannot be applied to real world behaviour
*Low control of variables - Reduces the validity of the findings
*Demand characteristics -Limits the extent to which the researcher
*Low reliability - Reduces the validity of the findings
*Low validity - Extraneous variables may confound the results. This reduces the validity of the findings - 60Weaknesses of methods: - Cannot establish cause and effect - Low mundane realism -Observer bias - Investigator effects - Social desirability*Cannot establish cause and effect - Findings are not generalisable to the target population or to real life
*Low mundane realism - Decreases ecological validity. Findings cannot be applied to real world behaviour
*Observer bias - Reduces the validity of the findings
*Investigator effects - Data cannot be compared. Patterns cannot be tracked
*Social desirability - Findings are not useful in expanding the behaviour of those outside the study, so limits our understanding - 61Sampling: Opportunity samplingDefinition: Simply selecting those people that are available at the time
*Strength - Quick, convenient and economical
*Weakness - Unrepresentative, therefore bias - 62Sampling: Random samplingDefinition: Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected E.g. pulling names out of a hat
*Strength - For every large sample it provides the best chance of an unbiased representative sample
*Weakness - Time consuming, and if sample is too small could be biased - 63Sampling: Systematic samplingDefinition: Using a pre-determined system with a target population E.g. selecting every 10th person from the phone book
*Strength - Unbiased as participants are selected using an objective system
*Weakness - Not completely random, not everyone has an equal chance of being picked - 64Sampling: Stratified and quotaDefinition: Dividing the target population into important subcategories selecting member in proportion that they occur in the population. E.g. 2.5% of British are of Indian origin, so 2.5% of your sample should be of Indian origin
*Strength - A deliberate effort is made to make the sample representative of the target population
*Weakness - Time-consuming - 65Sampling: Self-selected (volunteer) samplingDefinition: Individuals who have chosen to be involved in a study. Also called volunteer. E.g. people are responded to an advert
*Strength - Relatively convenient and ethical if it leads to informed consent, representative of what is entailed
*Weakness - Unrepresentative leads to bias - 66Ethics - Key ethical issues:Before conducting a piece of research ethical issues must be taken into account. Ethical issues are the conflicts between what a researcher needs to do in order to conduct useful and meaningful research and the rights of the participants
- 67Ethics - Key ethical issues: - Informed consent- Participants need to know the aim of the study, what is expected of them and agree to take part. * This is important so that they're not deceived and so they are not caused any harm or distress - Investigators want accurate and valid results, don't want to tell participants aim of the study as participants may change the answers leading to demand characteristics. * Investigator must brief participants or de-brief. They can also provide a councillor
- 68Ethics - Key ethical issues: DeceptionDefinition: Participants are lied to
- Participants want to know what is involved in the study *Researcher wants to reduce demand characteristics - Researcher must brief, de-brief - 69Ethics - Key ethical issues: SensitivityDefinition: Showing understanding when researching personal or difficult topics
- Participants don't always feel comfortable sharing personal feelings/information. Participants may lie, might not want to take part in the study and may drop out. *Researchers believe that sensitive topics are often the most important, need to find a way to research topics while being ethical. Must ensure that they don't cause distress to participants - Researchers must brief and could do a pilot study - 70Ethics - Key ethical issues: BiasDefinition: Research is one-sided, based on opinion or interpretations of research
- Participants don't want the researcher to be bias towards them. Want data collection in objective not subjective way. *Researcher would say it is difficult to not be biased because researching social behaviours needs to interpreted, which will be biased on own opinion - Could use more than one interviewer, use objective methods, pilot study. Have findings checked for bias - 71Ethics - Key ethical issues: ConfidentialityDefinition: Aren't comfortable sharing information unless private,
- Don't want public to know personal information. *The researcher wishes to publish their findings and as such confidentiality can sometimes be difficult to ensure - Could use anonymity-doing study anonymously - 72Ethics - Key ethical issues: PrivacyDefinition: Not intruding on personal lives of participants
- Participants often don't feel comfortable taking part in research that requires access to their personal space, such as their own home but are much more comfortable in public places or research laboratories *Researchers want to observe people in natural settings not lab, improves ecological validity of the study, have access to more personal topics e.g. domestic violence - Use pilot study, brief participants
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- Flashcards on AS Sociology - Research methods, created by saralewis97 on 13/05/2015.
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