2.1.2 Research methods

Question 1

Why are research methods necessary?

Answer 1

• All theories, explanations & arguments are evidence based.
• All theories, explanations & arguments are grounded in research & reflect research findings.

Question 2

What are examples of research methods?

Answer 2

• Official statistics.
• Experiments.
• Observations.

Question 3

What are the 2 classifications of research methods?

Answer 3

• Primary & secondary sources.
• Quantitative & qualitative data.

Question 4

What is primary data?

Answer 4

• Information which was no present before the research began.
• It was produced by the researcher, first hand during the actual study.
• The information gathered can be precisely used to test their hypothesis.
• It can be time consuming & expensive.

Question 5

What is secondary data?

Answer 5

• Information which already existed.
• It can be quick & cheap.
• May have been produced for different reasons.

Question 6

What is quantitative data?

Answer 6

• Information in a numerical form which can be subject to statistical analysis.
• Useful for quantifying the strength of relationships between different variables.
• can be shown as statistics & displayed in pictorial forms such as graphs.

Question 7

What is qualitative data?

Answer 7

• All types of data that are not numerical.
• Often provides a richer & more in depth picture of social life than statistics.

Question 8

What do sociologists want from data?

Answer 8

• Validity.
• Reliability.
• Some data may be reliable but not valid.

Question 9

What is validity?

Answer 9

• Data is valid if it resents a true, accurate & genuine description or measurement enabling the researcher to get close to the truth.

Question 10

What is reliability?

Answer 10

• Data is reliable when different researchers using the same method obtain the same results.