Choosing a method

    Cards (79)

    • What do sociologists use to obtain data about society?
      A variety of different methods and sources
    • How can sociological methods be classified?
      • Primary and secondary sources of data
      • Quantitative and qualitative data
    • What is primary data?
      Information collected by sociologists themselves
    • What are the purposes of collecting primary data?
      To obtain a first-hand picture or test a hypothesis
    • What methods are used to gather primary data?
      • Social surveys
      • Participant observation
      • Experiments
    • What is a social survey?
      Asking people questions in a questionnaire or interview
    • What is participant observation?
      The sociologist joins in with the group's activities
    • How often do sociologists use laboratory experiments?
      Rarely
    • What is a big advantage of using primary data?
      Sociologists can gather precise information
    • What is a disadvantage of using primary data?
      It can be costly and time-consuming
    • What is secondary data?
      Information collected by someone else
    • What are sources of secondary data?
      • Official statistics
      • Documents (letters, emails, diaries, etc.)
    • What is an advantage of using secondary data?
      It can be quick and cheap to research
    • What is a disadvantage of using secondary data?
      It may not align with sociologists' questions
    • What does quantitative data refer to?
      Information in numerical form
    • What does qualitative data provide?

      A 'feel' for what something is like
    • How does participant observation contribute to qualitative data?
      It gives insight into group members' experiences
    • What are the two types of data sources in sociology?
      • Primary sources
      • Secondary sources
    • What are the strengths and limitations of different research methods?
      • Strengths: tailored data, rich insights
      • Limitations: cost, time, access issues
    • What practical issues influence the choice of research methods?
      Time and money
    • How does the scale of a survey affect its cost?
      Large-scale surveys are more expensive
    • How can funding requirements influence research methods?
      They may require specific data formats
    • How do personal skills affect method choice?
      Different skills suit different methods
    • Why might subject matter affect method choice?
      Some groups are harder to study by certain methods
    • What is a research opportunity?
      An unexpected chance to conduct research
    • What ethical issues must sociologists consider?
      Informed consent, confidentiality, and harm
    • What is informed consent?
      Participants' right to refuse involvement
    • Why is confidentiality important in research?
      To protect participants' identities and privacy
    • What potential harm must researchers anticipate?
      Police intervention, social exclusion, psychological damage
    • What special care is needed for vulnerable groups?
      Consideration of age, disability, and health
    • What is covert research?
      Research where identity and purpose are hidden
    • Why might covert methods be justified?
      To access secretive or dangerous groups
    • What does validity refer to in research?
      A true or genuine picture of reality
    • Why do qualitative methods provide more validity?
      They offer deeper insights through experience
    • What does reliability mean in research?
      Consistency of results when repeated
    • Which methods are more reliable in sociology?
      Quantitative methods like questionnaires
    • What does representativeness refer to?
      Typical cross-section of the studied group
    • How can a representative sample be achieved?
      Using sophisticated sampling techniques
    • What are the two methodological perspectives in sociology?
      • Positivism: prefers quantitative data
      • Interpretivism: prefers qualitative data
    • What do positivists seek in their research?
      Patterns of behavior and scientific understanding
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