Research Methods Definitions

Question 1

What is primary data?

Answer 1

It’s collected first hand by sociologists

Question 2

Name 4 ways that primary data can be collected through?

Answer 2

• surveys
• participant observations
• experiments
• interviews

Question 3

What is secondary data?

Answer 3

Information used by sociologists that has been collected by someone else

Question 4

Name 4 ways secondary data can be collected?

Answer 4

• official statistics
• private documents (letters, diaries)
• books
• newspapers

Question 5

What is quantitative data?

Answer 5

information in numerical form

Question 6

What is qualitative form?

Answer 6

information in a written form

Question 7

What are the three main factors?

Answer 7

1) practical
2) ethical
3) theoretical

Question 8

What does practical factor mean?

Answer 8

The day to day issues that the sociologist may face as they carry out the actual research

Question 9

What are the 6 issues for the practical factor?

Answer 9

• time and money = expensive, cheaper but longer
• funding bodies = government funding isn’t available in some areas
• personal skills = different sociologist with different skills
• gaining access = some studies not easily accessible
• subject matter = certain type of method
• opportunity = unexpectedly, restricts method and planning

Question 10

What does ethical factor mean?

Answer 10

The moral issues and guidelines that the sociologist may face when using human beings in their research

Question 11

What are 5 issues of ethical factor?

Answer 11

• informed consent = participants can refuse and know what the research is about
• confidentiality = identity should remain anonymous
• participants = no harm
• vulnerable groups = special care to those who need it
• covert research (undercover) = hiding their identity is unacceptable but okay in some circumstances

Question 12

What does theoretical factor mean?

Answer 12

The sociological qualities the researcher aims to achieve in their choice of method and research

Question 13

What are the 4 issues of theoretical factor?

Answer 13

• validity = true and accurate - qualitative
• reliable = consistent results - quantitative
• representation = typical cross section of society
• perspective = positivist or interpretivists

Question 14

What are the 5 things positivists do and believe? 3 research methods?

Answer 14

• sociology is a science
• macro (large scale)
• objectivity (fact based)
• reliability
• quantitative data (numbers)
• questionnaires, stats and experiments

Question 15

What are the 5 things interpretivitists do and believe? 3 research methods?

Answer 15

• sociology isn’t a science
• subjectivity (opinion based)
• validity
• verstehen (empathetic understanding)
• qualitative (words)
• interviews, observations, perosnal documents