Research Methods

Question 1

Advantages of structured interviews

Answer 1

• good response rate as it’s an interview situation.

- cheap and fairly quick method of collecting data.

Question 2

Disadvantages of structured interviews

Answer 2

• issues cannot be explored in depth.

- finding are less reliable if the sample size is small.

Question 3

Advantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 3

• provides in-depth information and allows researchers to not be restricted to set questions.
• allows researchers to clarify points.

Question 4

Disadvantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 4

• can be hard to maintain the focus of the interview.

- open to bias as researcher could influence answers

Question 5

Advantages of semi-structured interviews

Answer 5

• allows researcher to establish understanding and perspective.
• the questions or lists ensure that there is a degree of similarity in the questions to each respondent.

Question 6

Disadvantages of semi-structured interviews.

Answer 6

• information could be untrustworthy or biased.

- could be an unnatural social setting which could decrease ecological validity.

Question 7

Advantages of focus groups

Answer 7

• gain a wide range of views about chosen topic.

- gain a larger amount of information in a shorter time frame.

Question 8

Disadvantages of focus groups

Answer 8

• expensive and can be more time consuming if there is a large sample size.
• if it’s a small group then it’s not statistically valid or representative of wider society

Question 9

Difference between covert and overt observations

Answer 9

Covert - undercover (unknown researcher)

Overt - known researcher

Question 10

Advantages and disadvantages of covert observations

Answer 10

(+) -video evidence can be examined and verified which increases reliability.
-researcher cannot influence so unbiased.
(-) -can raise ethical questions.
-can be time consuming.

Question 11

Advantages and disadvantages of overt observations

Answer 11

(+) -provides realistic in-depth study of social behaviour.
-helpful for understanding opinions of groups
(-) - lacks reliability as it cannot be repeated or checked.
-requires a large time commitment.

Question 12

Advantages and disadvantages of case studies

Answer 12

(+) -no sampling is required so less time consuming.
-This method allows for comparisons so increases validity.
(-) -possible errors or bias can occur decreasing reliability.
-offer limited representation of all demographs

Question 13

One example of a Case study

Answer 13

Lizzie seal (2017) 
Race and the death penalty

Question 14

Example of survey

Answer 14

Skinns, Wooff and Sprawson (2013)
Good practice within police custody
-surgery of all police forces in England and Wales.

Question 15

Example of an Interview

Answer 15

Skinns, Wooff and Sprawson (2013)
Good practice within police custody
-interviews of all those included (police officers)

Question 16

Example of observation

Answer 16

Skinns, Wooff and Sprawson (2013)
Good practice within police custody
-observation of all police studies (overt and covert)

Question 17

Name ethical considerations with research methods.

Answer 17

• participants must be voluntary and not coerced.
• must provide written convent.
• information about all risks or potential risks must be provided.
• confidentiality must be maintained.
• participants must not be deceived.

Question 18

Difference between quantitive, qualitative and mixed data

Answer 18

Quantitative-data is written as numerical values.

Qualitative-data is written non-numerical as words or images.

Mixed- involves a combination of both