research methods part of it rest hand written

1 Case study A research method that relies on only one study for information.

2

Content analysis

A process that allows researchers to analyse qualitative material and

quantify it.

3

Covert observation

Research where you watch your participants behaviour without them

knowing. You’re undercover.

4

Closed questions

Questions which have a set answer. They are used when looking for

statistics to generalise your results. E.g. How old are you? 9-11 12-15 16-19

5 Ethical considerations -

anonymity

The participants identity not being known. Their name, nationality, gender,

age, class, ethnicity etc is kept out of the research.

6

Ethical considerations -

confidentiality

The participants results are not shared individually and are kept secret

unless they are used as part of a group or without the name / identifier of

the person.

7 Ethical considerations -

informed consent

The participant being able to agree to the full terms and conditions of the

research knowing exactly what is involved during and after the research.

8 Field experiment Scientific research that is carried out “in the field” which means in the

real world rather than in a laboratory. Eg. Watching students in a

classroom situation and not in a lab.

9 Laboratory experiment Scientific research in a laboratory and not in the natural settings.

10

Generalisability

Being able to apply the results to other people of the same profile (class,

age, gender, ethnicity).

11

Hypothesis

A prediction that you are going to test your results against when

researching.

12

Interviewer bias/effect

or Hawthorne effect

The person being researched changes their answers either to impress the

researcher, because they are embarrassed or because they think it’s what

the researcher wants to hear.

13

Longitudinal studies

Studies that are carried out over time. For example, if I was going to study

your year group’s behaviour over the course of your time at JHNCC to see

the changes and your attitudes towards work.

14 Non-participant

observation Watching from the outside. The researcher is not involved.

15

Official statistics

Statistics that are produced by the government or another official source.

E.g. the census or the national crime statistics.

16

Open questions

Questions that have no intended outcome. The participant can answer with

whatever they like and with as much or as little as they like. E.g. How do

you feel about your GCSEs? Why?

17

Overt observation

A type of research where you are watching a person or a group of people

and they are aware that you are watching them. You are open about your

intentions.

18 Participant observation When you are observing a person or a group of people but you are also

taking part.

19

Personal documents

Things that you can use to see the first hand personal feelings and ideas of

a person. For example, diaries, letters, social media etc.

20

Pilot study

A small scale study that you do to test your research before you complete

your full scale study.

21 Population The total number of people in a given situation.

22

Primary data

Data that comes first hand and that is gathered specifically for your

research and intended purpose.

23

Qualitative data

Data that is produced with letters that are used to find individual

meanings and thoughts from a particular person or group of people.

24

Quantitative data

Data that is generally numbers and statistics that is used to get

generalisable results.

25

Reliability

You can replicate the research several times and get the same result each

time.

26

Representative sample

A sample of participants from all areas, ages, genders, classes, ethnicity.

It should not be all from one group.

27

Research aim

The overall aim and purpose of the study. What does the researcher want

to get out of the study?

28

Research method

The type of research the researcher is going to undertake to collect their

results.

29

Research process

The process that the researcher goes through to get their results. All

steps are linked.

30 Respondent or

Participant A person who replies to a questionnaire or an advert.

31

Sample

A smaller group of the people being researched to be able to generalise

the results to the wider population.

32

Sampling frame

The material or device that is used to be able to create the sample. A list

of people within the population.

33

Systematic sampling

The sample is produced through a random systematic way. Eg. every 3rd

person or every 11th person.

34 Quota sampling A certain number of people from a subgroup. E.g 100 females

35

Snowball sampling

When a participant recruits another participant through word of mouth

and the sample is created this way.

36

Random sampling

A completely random selection of people. Does not always give a

representative sample.

37

Stratified sampling

Splitting the population into different groups and taking a particular

amount from each group.

38

Secondary data

Data that comes from a secondary source that wasn’t for the intended

purpose.

39

Triangulation

Using data from two or more sources and two or more research methods to

get data that is reliable.

40 Validity The results reflect the actual real thoughts / feelings / ideas / statistics.