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Description
Flashcards by katiehumphrey, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by katiehumphrey
almost 11 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| validity | this refers to whether the findings accurately reflects the reality they are describing |
| reliablity | this refers to whether the findings can be checked by another researcher. If someone does the same research as you and achieves the same results, then the findings are said to be reliable |
| quantitative | this refers to numbers and statistics e.g. questionnaire results |
| qualitative | this refers to data that is descriptive, in a form of words rather than numbers. e.g. interviews or observations. This type of data can be difficult to analyse as it involves a process of sifting through information |
| research device | the research method that you will use for your investigation, such as a questionnaire or interview questions |
| sampling | this refers to the procedures for selecting respondents. There are different types of sampling e.g. snowball and random sampling |
| primary data | this refers to the data that the researcher collects them selves |
| secondary data | this refers to data that already exists and is used by the researcher to help their study e.g. government statistics, case studies etc. The reason why this data should be used is because you need to understand what other people have said about the problem or issue you wish to discuss |
| closed questions | a fixed choice questions where respondents choose between a number of given answers |
| open questions | allows respondents to answer the question in their own way |
| pilot study | A practice run before you do the real research to find out if there are any problems with the methods |
| research population | the group (s) of people relevant to the study being completed |
| interviews | This method is when you ask people detailed questions about a topic and get them to give you answers in return. This can be done face to face or on the telephone |
| structured interviews | the interview reads out a list of questions, which will be answered by the respondent |
| unstructured interviews | there is no predetermined set of questions. The interviewer has some idea of what they are going to ask. The respondent is encouraged to talk freely about a subject |
| semi structured interviews | in between structured and unstructured interviews, the interviewer will have some idea of the questions they want to ask but will follow the lead of the interviewee |
| focus group | several respondents are interviewed at once and are allowed to discuss the questions being asked of them |
| interviewer bias | where the interviewer influences the answers that the respondent gives |
| social desirability | where the respondent gives the kind of answer that they think the researcher want to hear |
| fully non participant | the researcher is separate from the research situation, for example observing from behind a one-way mirror or video camera |
| fully participant | the researcher becomes a member of the group being studied and joins in with the action |
| covert observation | the group is totally unaware that research is taking place |
| overt observation | the researcher fully explains to the group who he or she is and what they are doing |
| objectivity | studying topics and people with an open mind and not allowing your own views and opinions to influence the findings |
| case study | This is a detailed in-depth study of one particular example of a type of group, organisation or event e.g. studying behaviour of gangs in one school for a year |
| longitudinal study | A study taking place over a long period, following changes over time |
| content analysis | This is a method which involves counting up the number of times or for how long particular words or images are used in a media product such as a newspaper or television program |
| operationalise | to define exactly what is meant by any terms used for categorisation |
| bias | the subject is presented in a one-sided way, which favours one point of view more than others |
| personal documents | Diaries and letters are used most often by sociologists as secondary data. Letters can diaries can give a good insight to life of the individual person |
| mass media documents | Newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, film and the internet and so on gives sociologists different types of material for research e.g. a documentary on ‘Gang Crime’ can help someone’s research on gang sub cultures |
| historical documents | This is evidence from the past which can draw information. This may be the only way to attain data from people who have died. Although a good source you can never be sure how truthful they are |
| sample | a small group of people, usually cross sectional, on whom research will be carried out |
| sample frame | the source from which a sample is drawn |
| random sample | the sample group is chosen completely at random |
| stratified sample | the research population is divided up into relevant groups, such as by gender and age, and a random sample is then taken from each of these groups to generate more representative data |
| systematic sample | selecting every nth name from the sampling frame, therefore not random at all |
| snowball sample | another non-random sample where a researcher makes contact with one relevant respondent and then asks them to put them into contact with further respondents. Often used when studying a topic with no sampling frame, for example, gang members |
| cross sectional | if a sample is cross sectional, then it will be made up of a range of different people to best represent the research population |
| generalisations | results from a study can be applied to the whole of the research population |
| representative | when the data can be said to accurately represent the research population in terms of, for example, gender and age composition |
| triangulation | using more than one research method or researcher in order to complete the investigation |
| exaggeration | stretching the truth |
| distortion | distortion is changing the way something looks. Researchers may loose objectivity when carrying out research, which may distort their results |
| selection | the researcher deciding which parts of the data to select for their study and which to get rid of |
| fit for purpose | the methods and evidence you choose for any piece of research are the ones that give you the best chance of completing your investigation accurately and meeting your aims |
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