SOCI 215 Pt. 2

what is survey research?

a widely used quantitative research method that collects standardized information from participants

what kinds of information can surveys measure?

attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, experiences, demographic trends

why is survey research popular in sociology?

it allows researchers to study large populations efficiently and identify social patterns

what are standardized questions?

questions presented in the same way and order to all participants

why are standardized questions important?

they improve consistency and comparability of responses

what is meant by a structured format?

surveys follow a predetermined set of questions of response options

why do surveys often use large sample sizes?

to improve representativeness and generalizability

what is reliability (surveys)?

the consistency of measurement

what are the three common forms of reliability?

test-retest reliability, internal consistency, inter-rater reliability

what is validity (surveys)?

whether a survey measures what it claims to measure

what are four common types of validity?

face validity, content validity, construct validity, criterion validty

what is generalizability?

the extent to which findings apply to a larger population

what is replicability?

the ability for other researchers to repeat a study and obtain similar results

when is survey research most useful?

measuring public opinion, identifying patterns and trends, comparing groups, examining correlations, generalizing findings

what is a cross-sectional survey?

a survey that collects data at one point in time; most common type of survey design

what is a longitudinal survey, and why would they be used?

a survey that collects data over an extended period, used to study change over time

what are the three main types of longitudinal studies?

trend, cohort, and panel studies

what is a retrospective survey?

a survey that asks participants to recall past events or experiences

what is a limitation of retrospective surveys?

memory errors and recall bias

what is a face-to-face survey?

a survey conducted in person with participants

what is a limitation of face-to-face surveys?

participants may be uncomfortable answering sensitive questions

what is a telephone survey?

a survey administered by phone

why have telephone survey response rates declined?

many people ignore unknown calls due to scams and spam calls

what is a mail survey?

a survey distributed and returned through postal mail

limitation of mail surveys?

not everyone has reliable access to a mailing address

strengths of online surveys?

efficient, inexpensive, and accessible to large populations; most common survey mode today

limitations of online surveys?

limited internet access for some groups, survey fatigue, self-selection bias

what is probability sampling?

sampling where participants have a known chance of selection (simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling)

what is non-probability sampling?

sampling where participants do not have a known chance of selection (convenience sampling, snowball sampling, volunteer sampling

what is a response rate?

the percentage of selected participants who complete a survey

why are high response rates important?

they reduce the risk of bias

what is nonresponse bias?

bias that occurs when non-respondents differ significantly from respondents

why is nonresponse bias a problem?

survey findings may no longer accurately represent the population

what are some characteristics of effective survey questions?

clear, concise, neutral, specific, easy to understand

why should survey questions be neutral?

to avoid influencing responses

what are demographic questions?

questions about participants characteristics such as age, gender, income, or education

what are closed-ended questions?

questions with predetermined response options (yes/no, multiple choice, likert scales), easy to compare and analyze statistically

what are open-ended questions?

questions allowing participants to answer in their own words, provides richer and more detailed responses

what ethical principles apply to survey research?

informent consent, confidentiality, anonymity, protection from harm

why can sensitive survey questions be ethically challenging?

they may cause discomfort or reveal personal information

what is social desirability bias?

participants giving socially acceptable answers rather than truthful ones

why is social desirability bias a problem?

it reduces data accuracy and validity

how can researchers reduce social desirability bias?

anonymous surveys, neutral wording, online administration, careful question order

what are the main strengths of survey research?

efficient for large populations, cost-effective, produces quantifiable data, allows statistical comparison, identifies broad social trends

why is survey research useful for studying large populations?

large samples can be collected relatively quickly and cheaply

what are the main limitations of survey research?

limited depth, self-report inaccuracies, response bias, difficulty capturing context and emotion, correlation does not equal causation

why is survey research considered limited in depth?

responses may not fully explain experiences or meanings

why can’t surveys prove causation?

they usually identify relationships (correlations), not cause-and-effect relationships

what are some questions to ask when evaluating a survey?

who conducted it, who funded it, how large was the sample, was it representative, how were questions worded, what was the response rate, are conclusions overstated

what areas are survey research commonly used?

sociology, public policy, elections, policing policy, public health, education reform, and market research

why is survey research important for public policy?

it helps governments understand public attitudes and social issues

what are some major canadian survey sources?

statistics canada surveys, general social surveys (GSS), victimization surveys, public trust surveys

key takeaway: why is survey research central to quantitative sociology?

it allows researchers to identify and analyze broad social patterns

key takeaway: what factors most affect survey quality?

sampling, question design, response rates, ethical practice

key takeaway: what should sociologists remember about surveys?

they are powerful tools, but they have important strengths and limitations that must be critically evaluated

what are interviews in social research?

a qualitative method of data collection focused on understanding meanings, experiences, perspectives, and social realities

are research interviews the same as casual conversations?

no, research interviews are purposeful, systematic, and ethically grounded

why do sociologists conduct interviews?

to gain knowledge and understanding of people’s social experiences

which sociologists is associated with the sociological imagination?

C. Wright Mills

how do interviews connect to the sociological imagination?

they help connect personal experiences to broader social forces and structures

what is a structured interview and it’s characteristics?

an interview that uses fixed questions in a standardized order; fixed questions, standardized wording, standardized order, limited flexibility

why are structured interviews easier to analyze?

responses are more comparable across participants

what research method are structured interviews similar to?

verbal surveys

how do structured interviews differ from surveys?

interviews allow more open-ended responses, while surveys often use predetermined answer choices

what is a strength of structured interviews?

reduced interviewer bias

what is a limitation of structured interviews?

limited depth and flexibility

what is a semi-structured interview?

an interview guided by an interview schedule but allowing follow-up questions; most common in sociology

what is an interview schedule?

a guide containing planned topics, questions, and prompts

why are semi-structured interviews popular?

they balance consistency with flexibility

what is probing?

asking follow-up questions to obtain richer or clearer responses

what is a strength of semi-structured interviews?

they allow rapport-building and deeper exploration

what is a limitation of semi-structred interviews?

they can be difficult to replicate exactly

how can probing create bias?

the interviewer may unintentionally influence responses

what is an unstructured interview?

a conversational interview with few predetermined questions; extensive flexibility

when are unstructured interviews commonly used?

commonly used in exploratory research

what is a major strength of unstructured interviews?

they can generate extremely rich and detailed data

how to unstructured interviews empower participants?

participants have more control over the direction of the conversation

what is a limitation of unstructured interviews?

responses are difficult to compare systematically

why are unstructured interviews time-intensive?

they require extensive interviewing, transcription, and analysis

what risk is especially high in unstructured interviews?

researcher influence and leading questions?

what is an interview guide?

a document containing topics, questions, prompts, and follow-up probes

what characteristics make a good interview question?

open-ended, clear, neutral, non-leading, sociologically relevant

what is rapport?

a trusting and comfortable relationship between interviewer and participant, it is important so participants are more likely to provide detailed and honest responses

how can researchers build rapport?

active listening, respectful communication, non-judgmental responses, transparency about research goals

what is reflexivity?

the process of critically examining how the researcher influences the research; important so researchers can affect data collection and interpretation

what is interviewer bias?

when the interviewer’s behaviour influences participant responses (nodding approval, leading questions, interrupting participants)

why is purposive sampling common in interview research?

researchers seek participants with specific experiences or knowledge

what must happen before recording interviews?

participants must consent and ethics approval requirements must be followed

why are sensitive topics ethically challening?

they may cause emotional distress

what responsibilities do researchers have when studying sensitive topics?

provide support resources, allow withdrawal, protect participant identities

main strengths of interview research?

explores lived experiences, understands social meanings, produces detailed narratives, studies sensitive topics, examines social processes

main limitations of interview research?

time sensitive, small samples, difficult to generalize, interviewer bias, memory errors, withheld information

why might participants provide inaccurate information?

they may misremember events or choose not to disclose certain details

how does symbolic interactionism relate to interviews?

interviews explore meaning-making, identity, and social interaction

how does critical theory relate to interviews?

interviews can examine power relations and inequality

why are interviews useful for critical theorists?

they can amplify marginalized voices

how does feminist methodology view interviews?

as a way to emphasize participants voice and reduce hierarchy

what does feminist methodology challenge?

traditional hierarchal researcher-participant relationships

how does social constructionism relate to interviews?

interviews explore how reality is socially constructed through interaction

what is digital ethnography?

studying social life and interactions in digital environments