research methods

Research methods

The methods used to collect data.

Data

Information collected by sociologists.

Research aim

Sociologists want to find out about a particular problem.

Hypothesis

A prediction that you will test.

Sample

A group of people selected by the research.

Pilot study

This is a test run of social research to sort out any problems before the whole research is started.

Qualitative data

Data which is in words and has lots of detail in it.

Quantitative data

Data that makes use of numbers and statistics.

Primary data

Data that is collected firsthand by the sociologists.

Secondary data

Data that already exists and has been collected by other people.

Sample

A small group of people chosen from the target population.

Target population

The people the researcher aims to study.

Representative sample

A sample that the target population

Structured interview

When you have prepared list of questions which you ask each person.

Unstructured interview

More like a natural conversation and are not based on a list of set questions.

Semi structured

This is where you have a mix of structured and unstructured questions.

Generalisation

Applying the results from a study, to get the wider target population.

Reliability

Research that can be replicated by other researchers and arrive as the same results.

Applicability

Is it the best method for the researcher?

Validity

The research reflects the real experiences of people being studied.

Ethical

Has the researcher

Interview bias

The effect a particular interview has on the answers given by the participant. This will make the results less valid as they will not be truthful.

Social desirability

Responding with the answers that you think the respondent wants to hear. This will make the results less valid as they will not be truthful.

Rapport

The truth built up between interviewer and interviewee.

Observation

A type of research whereby the researcher watches their participants.

Overt observation

The researcher makes their identity and purpose known to those being studied. The sociologists is open about what they are doing.

Overt participant observation

Participants are aware they are being observed. The researcher joins in with the activities and speaks to the participants.

Overt non-participant observation

Participants are aware that they are being observed, however the researcher does not get involved.

What is covert observation?

Covert observation is when the researcher secretly observes a group.

When is covert observation often used?

Covert observation is often used when researching groups who have very different norms and values.

Mixed methods

The use of two or more research methods in a single piece of research to check the reliability and validity of the research evidence.

Ethnographic study

A qualitative method where researchers completely immerse themselves in the lives, culture, or situation they are studying. They often lengthy studies.

Open question

Questions that allow the respondents to answer in detail and as fully as they wish. This produces qualitative data.

Closed question

Questions that allow fixed answers such as yes or no. This produces quantitative data.

Questionaire

A list of questions completed by multiple respondents. They normally handed out, posted or emailed for self completion.

Response rate

The amount of people who complete/return a questionaire.

Stratified sampling

It reflects the population, and divides the sampling frame up into groups and takes a sample from each.

Random sampling

Gives the members of the sampling frame and equal chance of being selected.

Systematic sampling

Selects people from the sampling frame by choosing every 5th, 20th etc.

Quota sampling

Chooses people from certain groups.

Snowball sampling

Uses a network of like-minded people to identify participants.

Opportunistic sampling

Gives your questions to anyone who is available.

What are the strengths of qualitative data?

Info collected is rich in detail and description, High validity, Detailed info gives sociologists greater understanding and help them create questions for research

What are the weaknesses of qualitative data?

time consuming, small number of people studied = study may not be representative, often low in reliability

What are the strengths of quantitative data?

Large amounts can be collected, Patterns can be seen (statistics and graphs can be made), High in reliability

What are the weaknesses of quantitative data?

lacks detail of information, links between statistics do not always prove causes, low in validity

What are the strengths of secondary data?

Cheap and easy, Useful for understanding societies in the past or different cultures

What are the weaknesses of secondary data?

May not answer the researcher's specific research questions, Could contain specific information that the researcher would like to have

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

quick and cheap, responses can be compared easily, speed and low cost allow for representative samples

What are the weaknesses of questionnaires?

Easy to give false answers: low validity, open ended questions can be ignored in the write up of the research: lowers validity

What are the strengths of structured interviews?

possible to collate results into statistics to help see patterns, Use of an interviewer: questions more likely to be completed, Answers easy to compare (increases reliability, high validity)

What are the weaknesses of structured interviews?

time consuming and costly, possibility of interviewer bias

What are the strengths of unstructured interviews?

in depth and detailed answers: high validity, interviewer can develop questions: increased validity

What are the weaknesses of unstructured interviews?

hard to generalise results, interviewer bias may result, expensive and time consuming, low in reliability

What are the strengths of covert participant observation?

first-hand research: high validity, Avoids the Hawthorne effect, May discover answers to questions that haven't been considered

What are the weaknesses of covert participant observation?

researcher may affect the group studied, ethical issues, researcher may 'go native' (become so involved research becomes biased)

What are the strengths of overt participant observation?

first-hand research: high validity, trust can be built up, may be only way to study some behaviour compared to questionnaires and interviews

What are the weaknesses of overt participant observation?

Hawthorne Effet: people being observed may act differently, Low reliability (difficult to repeat)

Strength of Stratified sampling?

Increases representatives, therefore we can generalise.

Weakness of Stratified sampling?

Researcher must have a lot of information about the population.

Strength of Random sampling?

Researchers cannot chose participants who support their hypothesis.

Weakness of Random sampling?

Unrepresentative of the population.

Strengths of Systematic sampling?

1) Quick to complete 2) Avoids researcher bias

Weakness of Systematic sampling?

Unrepresentative of the population.

Strengths of Quota sampling?

1) Quicker 2) Cheaper than stratified sampling

Weaknesses of Quota sampling?

1) Unlikely to produce a representative sample 2) Researcher's choice to ask introduces bias

Strength of Snowball sampling?

Research can access difficult groups.

Weakness of Snowball Sampling?

Unlikely to produce a representative sample.

Strengths of Opportunistic sampling?

1) Quick 2) Easy 3) Cheap

Weaknesses of Opportunistic sampling?

1) Unlikely to produce a representative sample 2) Researcher's choice who to ask introduces bias