INTRO TO RESEARCH METHODS

Why are experiments not often used in sociology?

don’t want to manipulate variables - they then don’t reflect society

examples of primary data?

experiments, self report techniques, and observations

What is primary data?

primary data is data that is collected firsthand

examples of secondary data?

historical documents, personal documents, government statistics, media content, research by other sociologists

What is secondary data?

data that has been collected by someone else

What is qualitive data like?

non numerical

What is quantative data like?

numerical

Who created the hypothetic-deductive method?

Karl Popper

What is the standard type of scientific research method now?

hypothetico-deductive research method

Why conduct a pilot study?

tests feasibility, time, checks potential results and checks for issues

What factors affect choosing a topic?

personal interests, political/theoretical perspectives, opportunity and access, funding, society in vogue topics, ethics and sensetivity of topic

Why gather background research?

helps to formulate a hypothesis, find out what research has been done previously, helps to determine reseach methodology

why is a hypohesis never 100 percent accurate?

society and people and fluid and constantly changing

What is a research question?

sets out plans to investigate and gives a clear focus

What is a hypothesis?

an informed guess, a written statement which is tested and then either supported or refuted

What is a methodology?

research methods are you going to use to collect data

what is a sampling frame?

how you will choose your participants

What arer the three types of sampling?

random, opportunistic and stratified

What is a pilot study?

small scale, trial run to check for issues before the expensive main study

What is a sample?

a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole would be like