Research Methods

Question 1

Define validity

Answer 1

The extent to which something is true

Question 2

Define reliability

Answer 2

The extent to which research can be repeated and still produce similar results

Question 3

Outline the factors that should be included in the research process

Answer 3

1. Type of data (qualitative or quantitative)
2. Operationalising concepts (making sure terms used are completely understood)
3. Ethical and practical issues that can affect the study
4. Sampling procedures (representative or non representative)
5. Method of research (survey, interviews?)
6. Gathering the data (you may need a pilot study for quantitative research)
7. Data processing (are there patterns that have been spotted from analysing the data?)
8. Evaluation (what factors in the design process may have affected the quality of the research results - in terms of reliability and validity)
9. Where will you publish a research report

Question 4

Define operationalisation

Answer 4

Defining key concepts/terms to understand there is full understanding of what is being meant

Question 5

Outline the factors that affect the selection of a method for research

Answer 5

• cost
• time available
• the suitability of the method for participants
• ethical issues
• the theoretical position of the researcher: positivists may choose a scientific method while this may be rejected by a feminist/ethnographer

Question 6

Give an example of a study that was unethical

Answer 6

Andrew Wakefield: 1988 research paper
- claimed autism was caused by vaccinations
- many people refused to vaccinate their children against potentially fatal diseases
- however, he had falsified results and had taken money to criticise vaccination before the research began
- British Medical Association: children have died and become disabled by a disease they could have been vaccinated against
- 2013: there was a huge epidemic of Measles in Swansea and a 25 year old man died

Question 7

Define representativeness

Answer 7

The extent to which a group within the target population reflects the characteristics of the whole group

Question 8

Define generalisability

Answer 8

The extent to which the findings of research of a small group can be applied to a much larger group

Question 9

Define positivism

Answer 9

A belief that knowledge can only be gained from what can be seen and measured - it is objective

Question 10

Define objectivity

Answer 10

Being unbiased

Question 11

Define bias

Answer 11

When a pre-existing viewpoint affects how a study is designed or results are interpreted

Question 12

Outline the key methods of quantitative data

Answer 12

• questionnaires
• structured interviews
• non participant observations

Question 13

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative research methods

Answer 13

Advantages
- they are reliable and precise
- they are controlled and repeatable methods
- large samples can be used because information can be digitally gathered and collated - making the study both representative and generalisable

Disadvantages
- often very difficult to ensure that social factors do not influence the research findings
- research can lack depth
- people may have factual data but interpret it in a biased way

Question 14

Define random sampling

Answer 14

Where all participants have an equal chance of participating

Question 15

Define stratified sampling

Answer 15

Participants from different sections of the whole population (e.g by age, gender) are sub sampled

Question 16

Define quota sampling

Answer 16

Participants are chosen on characteristics beforehand

Question 17

Systemic sampling

Answer 17

Every nth person is taken from a list