socio: RM

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    • Primary data

      First hand data, collected based off researchers
    • Secondary data
      Data that already exists
    • Quantitative data
      Numerical data
    • Qualitative data

      Depth data
    • Reliability
      How valid is the data, how generalisable
    • Validity
      How reliable the data is
    • Representativeness
      Probability to generalise to wider population
    • Positivism
      Believe it's possible to use scientific research methods to establish objective facts
    • Interpretivism
      Focus on subjective views and opinions
    • Pilot study
      Smaller sample of the study conducted to test the morality of your research
    • Ethical issues

      Concerns that relate to the morality of your research
    • Triangulation
      Mixing of data or methods
    • Covert role

      Researcher watched participants without their knowledge, may be subject to Hawthorne effect
    • Overt role

      Participants know they are being watched by the researcher
    • Factors influencing choice of research method
      • Practical issues
      • Requirements of research funding
      • Personal skills
      • Characteristics of the subject matter
      • Research opportunity
      • Ethical issues
      • Theoretical issues
    • Practical issues
      • Time and money - EXPENSIVE TO research and can be time consuming
      • Requirements of research funding bodies
      • Personal skills and influence
    • Characteristics of the subject matter
      • Major societal issues
      • Sensitive topics
      • Controversial subjects
    • Research opportunity
      • Concept of opportunity arising, choices available to the researcher
      • Behaviour of selecting participants based on their availability
    • Ethical issues
      • Informed consent
      • Confidentiality and privacy must be protected at all times
      • Ensuring no harm is caused
      • Vulnerable groups may be more susceptible to experiencing harm
    • Theoretical issues
      • Validity - does the research reveal a true picture?
      • Reliability - would the same results be obtained if the research were repeated?
      • Representativeness - ability of the sample to represent the wider population
      • Methodological considerations - positivist vs interpretivist perspectives
    • Experiment
      Three types: lab, field, comparative method
    • Experimental group

      Variable is changed
    • Control group

      Nothing is changed
    • Practical problems with laboratory experiments
      • Society is complex, impossible to control all variables
      • Small-scale, can't be used to generalise
    • Ethical problem with lab experiments
      Deception to prevent demand characteristics
    • Hawthorne Effect

      When people know they are being studied, they behave differently
    • Interpretivists criticise laboratory experiments because they argue the findings differ from people's real-life experiences and behaviours
    • Field experiment
      Conducted in the real world, no control over variables
    • Criticism of field experiments: Participants are unaware of their participation
    • Comparative method
      Compares two similar groups, only one variable is different
    • Durkheim's study of suicide used the comparative method
    • Durkheim's hypothesis was that low levels of social integration caused high rates of suicide
    • Durkheim's prediction that Protestants would have higher suicide rates than Catholics was supported by official statistics
    • Close-ended questions
      Quantitative data, respondents choose from limited range of answers
    • Open-ended questions
      Qualitative data, respondents can answer freely
    • Practical advantages of questionnaires
      • Quick and cheap to gather large amounts of data
      • Easy to quantify data, especially with close-ended questions
    • Reliability of questionnaires
      Repeatable, no researcher bias
    • Positivists favour questionnaires

      Detached and objective (unbiased)
    • Practical problems with questionnaires
      • Respondents may not return questionnaires
      • Limited and superficial data
    • Questionnaires often have a low response rate, which could be overcome by sending reminders and correcting any issues with the questionnaire
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