Research methods (sociology)

• What is valid data and who likes it

  Research which gives a true idea of what is happening

  interpretivists
• What is reliable data and who likes it

  Positivists

  when the research can be repeated and the results are the same
• What are the types of sampling

  . Random

  . Sestimatic random

  .stratified

  .quota

  .multistage

  .snowball

  .volunteer

  . Non representative
• What are the advantages posivitism

  reliable data is produced

  can identify trends over time

  can easily analyse data

  quantitative data produced
• What are the advantages of interpretivism

  Allow rapport

  qualitative data produced

  can gain verstehen

  more likey to see the natural situation
• what Is methodological pluralism 


  Using both positive and interpretivists methods
• What does PET stand for

  Practical

  ethical

  theoretical
• What are the practical factors 


  Time

  researcher characteristics

  access

  money

  personal skills
• What are the ethical factors

  Deception

  right to withdraw

  informed consent

  protection

  sensitivity
• What are the theoretical factors

  Posivitism

  interpretivism

  qualitative ( vaild )

  quantitative ( reliable )
• Who favours questionnaires

  Posivitists as it produces quantitative data which is easy to measure and reliable
• What are the 3 types of questionnaires

  Postal

  online

  self completion
• What does standardised mean

  Questions that are asked are all the same
• What does operationalise mean


  To make something measurable
• What are practical advantages of questionnaires 


  . Can reach a large sample

  . Quick and cheap method

  . Can gain a high response rate
• What are the ethical advantages of questionnaires 


  . Do not ask in depth questions

  . They can be good for some topics such as health as you can be anonymous
• What are theoretical advantages of questionnaires

  Researcher has no contact with participant so little room for bias

  . Produce quantitative data which is reliable
• What are the practical disadvantages of questionnaires 


  No direct contact between researcher and participant - can lead to misunderstandings
• What are the ethical disadvantages of questionnaires 


  Not appropriate for sensitive topics
• What are the theoretical disadvantages of questionnaires

  May give socially desirable answers

  researcher may impose their own views by asking certain questions
• What are the 4 types of interviews

  Group

  semi-structured

  unstructured

  structured
• What is an interviewer schedule

  Questions written before the interview
• What is verstehen

  An In-depth understanding
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of group interviews 


  Ad-

  . Less time consuming

  dis-

  . Interviewers gave to be carefully trained

  . Socially desirable is more likely to occur
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of semi structured interviews 


  Ad-

  . Both quantitative and qualitative data is produced

  dis-

  . Sociologists need to be well trained
• What is an example study for unstructured interviews

  Anne Oakley
• What is an example study for structured interviews

  Willmott and young
• What is an example study for semi structured interviews 


  Archer
• What is an example study for group interviews

  Willis
• What are advantages and disadvantages for unstructured interviews 


  Ad-

  More appropriate for sensitive topics

  high in validity

  dis-

  qualitative data is time consuming

  less reliable as questions are not standardised
• What are the advantages and disadvantages for structured interviews 


  Ad-

  data is easy to analyse

  can get informed consent

  dis-

  may be unsuitable for sensitive topics
• What is the Hawthorne effect 


  When participants know they are being watched and this impacts on their own behaviour
• What does going native mean

  When the researcher is no longer an objective researcher but a member of the group
• What is a covert observation 


  When participants do not know they are being watched
• What is an overt observation

  When participants know they are being watched
• What is an example study of an observation 


  Gang leader for a day
• What is an example of a covert observation

  Howard- changing colour of his skin
• What are the 6 types of observation

  -participant

  -non participant

  -overt

  -covert

  -structured

  -unstructured
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of an overt observation

  ✅ participants can give informed consent

  ✅ allows for verstehen

  ❌hawthorne Effect

  ❌time consuming
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of a participant observation

  ✅high in reliability

  ✅ high in validity

  ❌lots of skills required