Overview

• What type of data does quantitative research involve?


  Data that can be represented as numbers and statistics
• How is qualitative data characterized?


  It involves verbal data, opinions, and meanings
• What are two methods used to collect quantitative data?


  Structured interviews and questionnaires
• What is primary data?


  Data collected firsthand by the researcher
• What is secondary data?


  Data collected by other researchers and applied to new hypotheses
• What is an example of secondary data?


  Newspapers and government statistics
• What is the Hypothetico-Deduction Model?


  A process by which an idea turns into research and produces findings
• What are the five key aspects to consider when producing research?

  • Reliability
  • Representativeness
  • Generalizability
  • Validity
  • Objectivity
• What is a social survey?


  A structured questionnaire designed to collect information from large samples
• How are structured interviews conducted?


  They are conducted face-to-face or over the phone
• What characterizes an unstructured interview?


  It is guided by a few open questions that allow for flexibility
• What is a semi-structured interview?


  An interview that contains both structured questions and allows for tangents
• What is participant observation?


  A method where the researcher involves themselves with a group to study them
• How does non-participant observation differ from participant observation?


  Non-participant observation involves studying a group from afar
• What is the aim of an experiment in research?


  To measure the effect of one variable on another and establish cause-and-effect
• What are personal documents in research?


  Secondary sources of data from items like diaries and letters
• What are official statistics?


  Secondary sources of data collected by government agencies
• What methods are preferred by positivists?


  Social surveys, structured interviews, experiments, and official statistics
• What do interpretivists focus on in research?


  They focus on the meanings created by individuals and subjective data
• What is the macro approach in research?


  An approach that looks at larger groups and societal structures
• What is the micro approach in research?


  An approach that focuses on small groups or individuals
• What are the theoretical issues to consider in research?

  • Validity
  • Representativeness
  • Reliability
  • Perspective (positivist or interpretivist)
• What practical issues affect research?


  Time available, funding, skills of the researcher, and subject matter
• What ethical considerations must be taken into account in research?

  Informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, protection from harm, and deception
• What is informed consent in research?


  Participants must be fully aware of the research and agree to participate
• What is confidentiality in research?


  Ensuring that individuals cannot be identified in research findings
• How does privacy differ from confidentiality in research?


  Privacy involves not invading personal space during research
• What does protection from harm entail in research?


  Ensuring participants are not subjected to physical, emotional, or psychological harm
• What is deception in research?


  Misleading participants to prevent them from changing their behavior
• What are the key differences between consensus and conflict theories?


  • Consensus theories seek agreement and value consensus in society.
  • Conflict theories see institutions in society as conflicting for power.
  • Examples include Marxism (class conflict) and feminism (gender conflict).
• What are the characteristics of modern society?

  • Production is central to society.
  • Heavy capitalism is prevalent.
  • Nuclear family is the norm.
  • Strong institutions bind people together.
  • Focus on enlightenment, truth, and progress.
• What are the characteristics of postmodern society?


  • Service sector and consumption are central.
  • Declining power of the national state.
  • Disorganized capitalism.
  • Shopping as a new form of social engagement.
• What is the central economic system mentioned in the study material?

  Capitalism
• How are identities built in society according to the study material?


  Identities are built upon class and sex
• What role does media play in society as per the study material?


  Media reflects reality
• What are some strong institutions that bind people together in society?

  Religion
• What does the knowledge focus on in society according to the study material?

  Light, enlightenment, truth, and progress
• Since when has postmodern society been around?

  Since roughly 1950
• What is central to postmodern society?


  The service sector and consumption
• How is shopping described in the context of postmodern society?


  Shopping has become the new religion