research methods

quantitative

data collected in the form of numbers- identify patterns and trends

reliability

method should be repeatable to produce comparable results- identify trends

macro

research done on large scale- generalisations

objectivity

data is fact based, researchers values are not involved

qualitative

data collected in the form of words- in depth understanding

micro

aim to gain deeper understanding on a small sample

validity

research which is truthful and give a realistic picture

verstehen

empathy- interpretivists want to understand why, fully immerse themselves into a research

questionnaires

adv-

• cost-effective

• quick and easy to distribute

• high reliability

dis adv-

• low response rates

• lacks versehen

• misinterpreted question

• researcher Imposition – researcher might impose own views on person being questioned

ethical guidlines

1. deception: do not lie

2. informed consent: tell full detail of study

3. Confidentiality: keep participants detail confidential

4. protection from harm: ensure they dont harm from asking sensitive questions

5. parental consent: parental permission for anyone under 16

6. de- brief: discuss process, answe q’s after study

7. right to withdraw: can choose to pull out at any stage

types of interviews

structured interviews: pre-planned and closed questions

unstructured: no planned q’s but topics, informal conversation

semi structured: set of questions but can probe further

group interviews: several people interviewed at once

focus groups: discusse topics- data on interaction between participants

research process

1. choice of topic

2. research question/aim

3. target population and selecting a sample

4. pilot study (trial run)

5. data collection-

   • primary data: collecting data themselves

   • secondary data: data that already exists

6. interpretation of data

7. respondent validation- researcher imposition can affect results- researcher will go back and ask for validation

statistics

• secondary data: practical, less time consuming

• quantitative: measure results- patterns and trends

• high in reliability: patterns and trends

• macro scale: able to make generalisations

• Objective: value free

observations

• participant observation: researcher joins in on the everday life of the group

• non-participant observations: researcher observes group without taking part

• covert: under cover, uses false identity or poses as a member of the group

• overt: asks permission to observe

ethnographic method

long-term and in-depth study of a particular social group/ culture- variety of qualitative methods

advantages:

• high validity

• rapport

• verstehen

• ecological validity

disadvantages:

• can be subjective

• takes a long time

• hawthorne effect (act differently when watched)

longitudinal study

conducted over long period, collected from the same people at several intervals. can be qual or quan, aim to see changes over time

advantages

• high in validity and reliability- uses both qual and quan

• verstehen

disadvantages

• ethical issues- right to withdraw

• fatigue effect

opertionalisation

• way of breaking down a concept into smaller categories to make it measurable

  1. makes something subjective objective

  2. can be compared- reliable

  3. ensures researching intended research

sampling

• group of participants the researcher has chosen to take part in research

target population

• specific group of people they want to study/ fit criteria of the research

sampling frame

• physical list of all the people they could study

gatekeeper

• a person who knows group researcher is trying to access

Representative

• when a sociologist manages to create a mini-version of population

generalisable

• representative sample- generalise findings to the rest of the population.

• assume whatever they have found is the same for the rest of population

random sampling techniques

• random: each individual from target pop has chance of being selected

  • adv: no selction bias, rep and gen

  • dis adv: need sampling frame, not always rep and gen

• systematic: researcher selects every nth person

  • adv: no selection bias, re and gen

  • dis adv: need sampling frame, not always rep and gen

• statified: divide population into small subgroups, based on characteristics, then randmly select

  • adv: no selection bias, rep and gen

  • disadv: needs 100% response rate, needs sampling frame

non random sampling techniques

• Snowball: participant refers another for researcher

  • adv: pop validity, practical

  • disadv: selection bias

• volunteer: participant self-selects

  • adv: consent, no sampling frame

  • disadv: volunteer bias, not rep and gen

• opportunity: researcher selects particpants based on convince

  • adv: no sampling frame, pop validity

  • disadv: selection bias, not rep and gen

• quota: researcher finds people who match criteria

  • adv: no sampling frame, pop validity

  • disadv: selection bias, not able to fit quota at times

• purposive: rely on own judgement when choosing

  • adv: pop validity, accessibility of group

  • disadv: not rep and gen, selcttion bias

researcher impositon

when a researcher's own ideas, assumptions are unintentionally imposed on a study, potentially biasing the results

value free

idea that personal beliefs/ values should be excluded from research

interviewer bias

researchers presence has a direct impact on the validity of respondents answers- may give more socially desirable

what is theoretic, practical and ethical approaches

theoretical: positivist/ interpretivist

practical: methods- face to face, type of data

ethical: BSA guidlines

content analysis

method used to study patterns and trends in sources or images- look for reoccuring themes

respondent validation

checking findings of research with participants

increases…

• validity 

• verstehen 

• value freedom

decreases…

• subjectivity 

• researcher imposition

pilot studies

small-scale trial run of a research to test and refine before real research is held

triangulation

the use of 2 or more methods or researcher to draw a oncluion from research

• double checks research

• if method is both qauntitave and qualitative its both trianguation and methological pluralism 

• 2 qual methods = tri

methodological pluralism

using qualitative and quantitative methods- try and negate problems 

• e.g. using both makes it both reliable and valid- more accurate 

hawthorne effect

participants behave differently because they know they are being watched