CHOOSING A METHOD

    Cards (13)

    • Positivists prefer scientific, quantifiable data that is quick and easy to obtain, and is rich in reliability and validity.
      Interpretivists, on the other hand, value qualitative data that provides in-depth meaning of a small-scale research group, and is therefore rich in validity. 
    • Examples of practical issues
      Time- Some methods take more time than others because of, for example, more detailed data being recorded. Research methods that take more time may lead to a smaller research sample size
      Money- The money available to conduct the research affects the number of researchers, respondents and amount of research time. Equipment, travel and people's time are often not cheap.
      Access- Some groups of respondents and location are easier to access than others. For example, to enter a school to do research, permission is required.
    • Examples of ethical issues
      Informed consent- Researchers should have the informed consent of their research subjects, because of the effects that the research may have on them.
      Confidentiality- Research subjects have a right to anonymity, so they should not be identifiable when the research is published.
      Psychological harm- Some research groups are more vulnerable to psychological harm than others (eg. children).
    • What is required for a research method to be reliable?
      It must be repeatable with similar results
    • Why do positivists favor reliable research methods?

      They can be repeated by any researcher
    • What methods do positivists use to ensure reliability?

      Questionnaires and structured interviews
    • What does representativeness in research mean?
      The sample group mirrors the wider population
    • Why do positivists value representativeness?
      To discover general patterns in social behavior
    • What does validity refer to in research?
      How true the data is
    • What do interpretivists emphasize in research methods?
      The need for methods rich in validity
    • Which research methods do interpretivists prefer for validity?

      Unstructured interviews and participant observations
    • Why do interpretivists use unstructured interviews?

      They reveal the real meanings people hold
    • What is the main goal of using participant observations in research?
      To understand the context and meanings of behavior
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