OCR GCSE SOCIOLOGY BASICS - created from Mind Map

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Questionnaires

a list of questions which is completed by a number of respondents

Interviews

Observations

Content analysis

method used for studying the content of media.

self completion questionnaires

Respondent completes the questionnaire themselves and returns it to the researcher

interview questionnaires

questions are read out to the respondent by the researcher, who then record the respondents answers.

closed questions

respondents are given a list of options or a two way choice and have to pick the one they most agree with.

Open questions

Respondents are free to answer the question the way they like; no option given.

advantages and disadvantages

advantages=cheap,large number of respondents,trends detected

disadvantages=biased,low response rate,out dated.

structured interviews

set of standardised pre-set questions read out to the respondents by the researcher.

Un-structured interviews

Flexible interview; its more like a conversation, rather than having a set of questions, researcher may have topics/ ideas to discuss.

Semi-structured interviews

In between a structured and unstructured interview.

Focus group

Several people may be interviewed at the same time and may discuss the answers.

Advantages and disadvantages

advantages=high response rate, in-depth responses, reactions seen.

disadvantages=time taking,costs,interview bias,social desirability.

Participant observations

Researcher joins in with the group being studied and acts as they do whilst completing the study.

Non-participant observation

Researcher watches the group without getting involved with what they are doing.

Covert observation

the researcher does not let the group being studied know they are being observed.

Overt observation

Researcher tells the group that they are being observed and does not attempt to hide presence from them

Advantages and disadvantages

advantages=objective,natural behaviour seen,no deception.

disadvantages=difficult to gain access, observer effect, ethics

Operationalise

to define what exactly is meant by the term used for categorisation

Advantages and disadvantages

advantages= cheap, comparisons can be made,easy use.

Disadvantages=biased, no in-depth data.