Key Concepts

• What is the aim in research?

  What you intend to study
• Give an example of an aim in research.

  To see if material deprivation affects exam results
• What is a hypothesis?

  A prediction that can be tested
• Provide an example of a hypothesis.

  Material deprivation depresses exam achievement
• What does operationalisation refer to in research?

  The process of defining or measuring key variables
• How might social class be operationalised in a study?

  By measuring it in terms of occupational status
• What is a pilot study?

  A trial study on a small sample
• What is the purpose of a pilot study?

  To identify problems with the research process
• What is a sample in research?

  A small group of participants selected from a target population
• What is a sampling frame?

  A list of people from which a sample will be drawn
• What does sampling refer to?

  The process by which a sample is selected
• Name one method of sampling.

  Random sampling
• What is primary data?

  Information collected first hand by sociologists
• Give an example of primary data.

  Data collected from social surveys
• What is secondary data?

  Information that has been collected or created by someone else
• Provide an example of secondary data.

  Data from official statistics
• What is quantitative data?

  Information of a numerical kind
• Give an example of quantitative data.

  Official statistics
• What is qualitative data?

  Information that is in-depth and in written form
• What is the aim of qualitative data?

  To give a feel for what something is like
• What is triangulation in research?

  Using two or more methods in research
• Why do sociologists use triangulation?

  To gain reliability and validity in findings
• What is positivism?

  A philosophical view that believes sociology can and should be a science
• What approach do positivists adopt?

  A quantitative approach
• What do interpretivists believe about sociology?

  That sociology cannot and should not be a science
• What approach do interpretivists adopt?

  A qualitative approach
• What does validity refer to in research?

  The extent to which results present a true picture of what is being studied
• How is reliability defined in research?

  The extent to which results stand up to re-testing
• What is objectivity in research?

  The extent to which research is free from personal bias
• What does subjectivity refer to in research?

  The extent to which research contains personal views and opinions
• What does representativeness refer to in research?

  Whether the people studied are a typical cross-section of the group
• What are practical issues in research?

  Factors that can create obstacles in carrying out research
• What are ethics in research?

  Matters related to moral issues of right and wrong
• Name one ethical consideration in research.

  Informed consent
• What are the tips for writing introductions and conclusions on research methods questions?

  • Introductions: Keep them short, define the method, recognize possible types (e.g., covert and overt participant observation).
  • Conclusions: Essential for top marks, include:

  1. Is the method low or high in reliability and validity?
  2. What kind of research topic the method might be used for.
  3. Comparison with another method.
• How do positivists and interpretivists view structured interviews differently?

  Positivists favor structured interviews for high reliability, while interpretivists criticize them for low validity
• For what type of research topic are structured interviews particularly useful?

  Studying large-scale issues such as fear in society about crime
• Why might structured interviews be considered more useful than unstructured interviews?

  Structured interviews provide more reliable and consistent data