Practical Methodologies

Question 1

What is content analysis?

Answer 1

reading/watching/listening of specific material that will assit in your topic and analysing and interpreting what you see/hear.

Question 2

What are some examples of content anaylsis and what do u look for and require?

Answer 2

eg. newspaper, TV, radio, films
Typically look for repeated reference to topic or varying viewpoints.
usually requires data recording sheet

Question 3

what is the difference between questionnaires and surveys?

Answer 3

Questionnaires are directed to specific area of research and responded questions in writing, but surveys are in oral form and provide info on wider range of issues

Question 4

What is questionnaire?

Answer 4

collection of info from large/diverse range of people.

Has simple, easy to follow qs to avoid confusion as you are not present when ppl complete it

Question 5

What is observation?

Answer 5

observing of people’s / group’s behaviours and record it.

Question 6

What are the two types of observation?

Answer 6

Passive and active
Passive are observers that are not present and without direct involvement,
Active researchers participate in and record certain activities.

Question 7

For observation, what must you do ensure validity and do to perform successfully/professionally?

Answer 7

use a data recording sheet.

Never place yourself or participant in danger and behave ethically at all times

Question 8

What is statistical analysis?

Answer 8

analysis and interpretation of statistics. Social researcher needs to tabulate raw data into useful forms, percentage most common stats.

Question 9

What is interviews?

Answer 9

it is a qualitative research and involves one on one scenario where researcher prepares appropiate qs around topic.

Question 10

What can interviews give you and when is it good to use?

Answer 10

can give you detailed knowledge that cant be obtained from questionnaires/surverys.
good if need to talk expert in partic field eg uni professor

Question 11

What are the two types of interviews?

Answer 11

Structured and unstructured
Structured uses close ended qs for specific answer. Quick and easy to collate but less acurate
Unstructured open ended qs giving interviewee chance to comment freely, then interpreted by researcher

Question 12

What is quantitative method?

Answer 12

collection of data that can be measured, counted or quanitified resulting in statistcal report. Collection of specific data from a sample of population. WHAT and HOW MANY.

Question 13

What are the features of quantitative method? (7 features)

Answer 13

• large and randomly selected sample of respondents
• close ended or rating scale qs
• comparisons can be made
• researcher not known to participant most of time
• participant characters unknown
• lack of direct contact needs to be taken into consideration for potential bias
• findings changed into numerical data, tables, graphs, and diagrams

Question 14

Advantages of quantitative?

Answer 14

• data retrieval made easy
• east to write qs and compare with other research
• statistically significant

Question 15

Disadvantage of quantitative?

Answer 15

• less depth in response

- need larger amt of participant to make it valid

Question 16

What is Qualitative method?

Answer 16

open ended qs, non statistical research techniques or value-based observations. WHY and HOW.
Provides indepth knowledge of what and how ppl think/feel

Question 17

Main features of Qualitative(7):

Answer 17

• small sample not random
• interactive process
• participant known to researcher
• narrative report with description of behaviour, values, attitudes and beliefs
• direct quotations
• relies heavily on researchers skill to interpret and understand the complexities of findings
• direct quotations from documents and from participants can be utilised

Question 18

How can questionnaires and interviews be both quantitative and qualitative?

Answer 18

if close ended qs (yes or now, multiple choice), can be quantified and tabulated into data.
if open ended qs, descriptive response require categorising and analysing before understanding gained

Question 19

Advantages of qualitative method?

Answer 19

• first hand info
• deep, personal responses
• easier to study ppl’s beliefs, attitudes and feelings
• wide range of responses from open ended qs

Question 20

Disadvantages of qualitative method?

Answer 20

• not suited for large scale use
• more time and effort to analyse answer
• harder to gain commitment/permission from respondents