Research Methods Paper 2

Experiments

Detailed observations that measure and record data

Questionnaires

List of questions, either on paper or online

Structured Interviews

Interviewer asks exact same questions

Unstructured Interviews

Interviewer asks questions around a topic and ask follow up questions.

Focus Groups

A group of people disscussing an issue together

Systematic Sampling

Asking every nth person

Stratified Sampling

Getting a random sample on people based on social categories

Quota Sampling

Meeting a requirement on the amount of people you have to ask

Snowball Sampiling

Researcher relies on a gatekeeper to introduce more people

Volunteer sampling

Participants choose to be in the study

Purposive Sampling

Intentionally picking participants based on characteristcs

Opportunity Sampling

Choosing participants who are accessible and willing to take part at a specific time.

Overt

Researcher's true identity is known

Covert

Study is carried out undercover

Non-participant

Researcher observes a group/event

Participant

Researche takes part in the group/event

Longtudinal Studies

Group of pople beign studied at regulr intervals for a long period of time

Ethnography

Long term observation of a groups behaviour

Surveys

Collecting information of a large group of people

What is an example of a Survery?

Census

What is a Practical strength of Surveys?

Quick and cheap

What is an Ethical strength of Surveys?

Consent is given as people fill in the form

What is a Reliable strength Of Surveys?

You can do it again and compare results

What is a Validity strength of Surveys?

More chance of responses being honest if the surveys are anonymous

What is a Representative strength of Surveys?

You can get world wide responses

What is a Representative issue of Surveys?

If you have a small sample it doesn't represent everyone

Who likes Surveys?

Positivists

Are surveys Qualitative or Quantitative?

Quantitative

What is a Validity Issue of Surveys?

Some people may lie and give a socially acceptable answer

What is an Ethical issue of Surveys?

Certain questions can cause offense

What is the P in PERVERT?

Practical

What is the E in PERVERT?

Ethical

Whats is the R IN PERVERT?

Reliable/Representative

What is the T in PERVERT?

Theory

What is a reliable Strength of Experiments?

They cna be easily repeated to compare results

What is a Practical issue with Experiments?

Time consuming

What is a Validity issue of Experiments?

People will change their behaviour if they know they are being studied

What is an example of Experiments?

Milgram

What is a Practical strength of Questionnaries?

Easy to collect data on a large number of people

What is an Ethical strength of Questionnaires?

Consetn is given when completing the form

What is a Representative issue of Questionnaires?

Not everyone is bothered to respond so not a diverse sample is included

What is a Validity issue of Questionnaires?

Respondents may not understand or misinterpret the questions

What is a Validity strength of Structured Interviews?

If respondent is unsure, they can ask

What is a Validity strength of Focus Groups?

Group disscussions can reveal more information

What is a Validity strength of Interviews?

Respondent can answer in their own words