Research Methods

• Why are experiments rarely used in sociology?


  Because controlling variables is difficult.
• What is the aim of an experiment in a controlled environment?


  To observe how certain factors affect the outcome.
• Why do laboratory experiments not reflect real life?


  Because they are conducted in controlled settings that may not represent actual conditions.
• What is the main way research is conducted in natural sciences?

  Through experiments.
• What is a hypothesis in the context of natural sciences?


  An idea that scientists think might be true but hasn’t been proven yet.
• What are the two groups involved in an experiment?

  A control group and an experimental group.
• What is the independent variable in an experiment?


  The factor that is changed in the experimental group.
• What is the dependent variable in an experiment?


  The variable being studied that may change in response to the independent variable.
• What are the advantages of laboratory experiments in natural sciences?


  • Test hypotheses in controlled settings
  • Isolate and manipulate variables
  • Repeatable for verification
  • Allow comparisons with similar experiments
• What are the problems with using the experimental method in sociology?


  • Hard to pinpoint one cause of social issues
  • Ethical issues from treating groups differently
  • Difficulty obtaining informed consent
  • Limited to small-scale settings
• What is the Hawthorne effect?


  The phenomenon where individuals change their behavior due to being observed.
• Why do sociologists find laboratory experiments rarely practical?


  Because experiments are artificial and may not reflect natural behavior.
• What type of experiments do some sociologists use instead of laboratory experiments?


  Field experiments.
• What was the aim of the 1927 Hawthorne experiment conducted by Elton Mayo?


  To identify factors affecting worker productivity.
• What surprising result did researchers find in the Hawthorne experiment?


  Productivity increased even when conditions worsened.
• What did the researchers conclude was the main factor influencing productivity in the Hawthorne experiment?


  The workers' awareness of being observed.
• What is the term used to describe the phenomenon observed in the Hawthorne experiment?


  The Hawthorne effect.
• What are ethical issues in research?


  Concerns, principles, or ideas about what is morally right or wrong
• What is informed consent in research?


  It is when the respondent agrees to participate with full awareness of the research purpose and intentions.
• What does it mean for research to be valid?


  Research is valid if it provides a true picture of what is really ‘out there’ in the world.
• What does reliability in research indicate?


  It means that if someone else repeats the same research with the same population, they should achieve the same results.
• What does representativeness mean in research?


  Research is representative if the sample reflects the characteristics of the wider target population being studied.
• What is generalization in research?


  It is an observable trend that is generalized throughout a society or community, but not a specific law or rule of interaction.
• What is a pilot study?


  A test study carried out before the main research study to uncover potential problems.
• What is sampling in research?


  The process of selecting a section of the population to take part in social research.
• What is stratified sampling?


  It is where the sample reflects the proportions of different groups in the research population.
• What is random sampling?


  Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being selected.
• What is snowball sampling?


  Researchers find participants and ask them to find more participants.
• What is purposive sampling?


  A qualitative research method that selects a specific group of individuals for analysis based on specific characteristics.
• What is spatial sampling?


  It selects a sample from a geographically distributed target population.
• What is temporal sampling?


  A sample that is accumulated over a period of time.
• What is quantitative data?


  Information that appears in numerical form or as statistics.
• What is qualitative data?


  Information that appears in written, visual, or audio form, such as transcripts or interviews.
• What is primary data?


  Data collected first-hand by the researcher herself.
• What is secondary data?


  Data that has been collected by previous researchers or organizations.
• What is content analysis?


  A form of observation through communications, using both qualitative and quantitative data.
• What are the different types of sampling methods in research?

  • Stratified Sampling: Reflects proportions of different groups.
  • Random Sampling: Equal chance for everyone in the population.
  • Snowball Sampling: Participants find more participants.
  • Purposive Sampling: Selects specific individuals based on characteristics.
  • Spatial Sampling: Samples from geographically distributed populations.
  • Temporal Sampling: Accumulates samples over time.
• What are the primary research methods mentioned in the study material?


  Open questionnaire, closed questionnaire, web-based questionnaire, unstructured interview, structured interview, group interview, overt observation, covert observation, participant observation, non-participation observation, lab experiments, and field experiments.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of open questionnaires?


  Advantages:

  • Easy to administer
  • Cheap
  • Low researcher effects
  • Quick to analyze

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Low response rate
  • Misunderstanding of questions
  • Answers may not fit given options
  • Potential for leading questions
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of closed questionnaires?


  Advantages:

  • Reliable
  • Easy to quantify and analyze
  • Large sample size
  • Detachment and objectivity

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Participants may lie
  • Someone else may answer
  • Lack of rapport
  • Limited detail in responses