Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Research is valid when |
It gives a true picture of what is being measured. |
|
Research is reliable if |
Other sociologists using the same methods get the same data. |
|
Primary sources of data |
Involve first-hand research, e.g. interviews, focus groups, questionnaires or observations. |
|
Secondary data is data from |
Research carried out by other people and includes official statistics. |
|
Quantitative data |
Is numbers and statistics |
|
Qualitative data gives |
A detailed picture of what people do, think and feel. |
|
Qualitative data is subjective |
because it involves opinions, meanings and interpretation |
|
Secondary research involves |
Reading articles, publications and other sources of information already produced on the subject. |
|
Secondary research is needed to |
1. Clarify the issues around the topic 2. Learn about things that might go wrong with the method and sample. 3. Help to validate own research at the end of the project. |
|
Official statistics |
Data produced by local and central government, e.g. crime statistics |
|
Hard statistics |
Facts that you can't fiddle, e.g. numbers of births, deaths and marriages |
|
Soft statistics |
Politicians can fiddle then, e.g. statistics on crime, poverty and unemployment. In the 1980s and 1990s, the government changed the method used to measure unemployment over 20 times. |
|
Research questions |
These are questions that help to focus sociological research |
|
Terms are operationalized |
This makes them measurable, e.g. what exactly is meant by old age. |
|
Operationalization of terms is done so that |
Research is reliable and valid. |
|
Triangulation |
When sociologists combine different methods or data. Used to gain a depth of information and validate research |
|
The sample |
A group of people included in the research |
|
When a research sample is representative it |
Represents the views of the population being researched, e.g. it has similar proportions of people in terms of age, class, ethnicity and gender. |
|
If the population is homogenous |
It is all the same |
|
If the population is heterogeneous |
It is all different |
|
Simple random sample |
Names are selected randomly from a list. |
|
Stratified sample |
The researcher will divide the population into groups and make a random selection with the right proportions (if 60% of the population is male, 60% of the sample must be male). |
|
Snowball sampling |
The researcher finds an initial contact and gets them to give them more names for their research |
|
Quota sample |
Research selects people who fit a certain category (say, 15 people between the ages of 30 and 40). |
|
A pilot study |
A small scale piece of research used as a practice run |
|
A pilot study is done to |
1. Make the research more valid and more reliable 2. Test the accuracy of questions 3. Check if there are technical problems with the research design 4. Train researchers. 5. Get funding |
|
Consent (an ethical issue) |
All participants must have openly agreed to take part. |
|
Confidentiality (an ethical issue) |
The details of all participants and their actions must remain confidential and private |
|
Avoidance of harm (ethical issue) |
Participants should not be physically or psychologically harmed by the research process. |
|
Avoidance of deception (ethical issue) |
Researchers should be open and honest about the study and its implications. |