Sociology key terms 2

Research Methods

Research Methods

Research Methods are the different ways that you can conduct research

Primary Data

primary data is data collected from the sociologist first hand and themselves

Secondary data

data collected from someone else

Valid

if are measuring what we think are measuring

Evaluation

considering the strengths and weaknesses of a concept in sociology

Census

a survey to collect information

Generalisable

applying findings to everyone

Qualitative Data

they are opinions and written descriptions

Quantitative

they are numbers and statistics

Triangulation

they are a mix of quantitative and qualitative to gain the benefit of all strengths and overcome the weakness of each method

Face Validity

whether a test appears to measure what it is supposed to measure

Research Bias

when the researchers beliefs or expectations influence the research design or data collection process

Questionnaire

Individuals report their own responses to questions created by the researcher

Open Questionnaires

they are responses in questionnaires that the answers to the question are written in depth, so they are free text responses and personalised written responses

Closed Questionnaires

they are fixed response questions, often tick from a limited range

Hawthorne Effect

the hawthorne effect is where someone modifies their answer because of their awareness that they are being observed or the environment of the situation

Structured

An interviewer asks the respondents pre-set and specific questions, all respondents get the same questions. Much like completing a questionnaire together

Unstructured

An interviewer has a loose number of discussion points. The interview goes backwards and forwards like a conversation. Both respondent and interviewer are free to probe and seek further questions and explanations

Semi-structured interview

An interview that is a mix of structured and unstructured questions

Group Interviews

Lots of respondents are interviewed (and questioned) together as a group

Transcript

Interviews are recorded and typed up into long text - called a transcript

Focus Group

A small group of people who are asked to consider a particular issue - How to promote recycling in school

Rapport

a relationship of trust and understanding