Research Methods

• Triangulation: Using two or more sources/methods to gain a more rounded picture by studying the same thing from more than one viewpoint. Different methods can complement each other, combining reliability and representativeness in quantitative data, as well as validity in qualitative data
• Operationalisation of Concepts: The need to establish a universal definition of key ideas e.g social class is measured using parental occupation as an indicator for a pupil position in society
• Functionalists and Marxists: often take a positivist approach; they see society as a macro-level structure that shapes our behaviour
• Interactionists: favour an interpretivist approach; they take a micro-level view of society, focusing on small-scale, face-to-face interactions
• Case Study: Involves an in-depth study of a single person or small group.
• Close ended questions: type of question found on questionnaires; gives respondents a choice of answers, e.g. "yes or no", likert scale.
• Comparative Method: Collecting data about the same topic from a range of societies and then comparing it.
• Content Analysis: Usually done with media, identifying a set of categories and observing how many times each of these categories occurs.
• Covert Observation: Type of observation where participants are not aware they are being observed.
• Documents: Types of secondary data such as diaries
• Ethics: Guidelines to be followed in sociological research to ensure participants are treated fairly/well
• Hypothesis: A testable prediction in sociological research
• Informed consent: Participants must fully agree to the aims of the study before taking part.
• Interpretivism: A micro approach to sociology; the world is a product of interactions and the meanings people bring to these interaction; prefer qualitative research
• Interview Schedule: A set of standardised questions used during a structured interview.
• Longitudinal study: A study done over a long period of time, e.g. months or years.
• Macro level: Top down view of society, favoured by positivists
• Micro level: bottom up view of society, favoured by interpretivists
• Non participant observation: Type of observation where the observer is not involved in the group; helps to maintain objectivity.
• Official statistics: Method referred by positivists; gathered by governments and other institutions to show patterns and trends.
• Questions on a questionnaire that ask for more detailed in-depth answers: Open Ended Questions
• Operationalisation: Defining a topic precisely in the way you are going to measure it in research.
• Participant observation: A type of observation where the researcher plays an active role in the group/subculture being observed.
• Positivism: A macro approach to sociology; society exists independent of individuals and people are therefore shaped by society; prefer quantitative methods.
• Primary data: Data the researcher collects themselves
• Structural theories: Includes conflict and consensus theories; sees people as being shaped by their societies; macro approach
• Social Action theories: Includes interactionism; sees people being able to have control over their own actions; micro aproach