Wjec Sociology Core 1 Research Methods Set 3 Of 3

Front 1

Research methods

Back 1

Ways of collecting data, e.g. questionnaires or interviews.

Front 2

Primary research data

Back 2

Data from research carried out by the sociologist, e.g. from interviews or questionnaires.

Front 3

Secondary research data

Back 3

Data from research done by other people, e g. opinion polls.

Front 4

Sample

Back 4

The group being studied.

Front 5

random sample

Back 5

People are chosen at random, everyone has an equal chance of being chosen so it is likely to be representative of the population as a whole.

Front 6

Stratified sampling

Back 6

There are subgroups within the sample, e.g. white, black and Asian doctors.

Front 7

Closed questions

Back 7

Where the respondent chooses from answers, e.g. yes/no

Front 8

Open questions

Back 8

Questions requiring longer answers that are thought of by the respondent.

Front 9

Questionnaires

Back 9

List of questions. Includes lots of closed questions, where you select an answer, and often some open questions where people can give their own views.

Front 10

Questionnaires - disadvantages

Back 10

1.Cheap compared to paying interviewers.

2. Can question lots of people in a large area.

Front 11

Questionnaires - disadvantages

Back 11

1.Many do not fill them in producing unrepresentative results.

2. The questions or wording may be confusing.

Front 12

Unstructured or in-depth interview

Back 12

Based on a list of topics to be discussed, aims to get a depth of information.

Front 13

Unstructured or in-depth interview -

advantages

Back 13

1.Allows the respondent to be more open & honest so more information is given on attitudes, values & opinions.

2. In an unstructured interview you can adjust questions & change direction if new things are found out

Front 14

Unstructured or in-depth interview -

disadvantages

Back 14

1.More time consuming, costly and slower than self-completion questionnaires so sample size is usually smaller and so risks being unrepresentative of the group studied.

2. Success depends on the skill and personality of the interviewer. There is the danger that respondents will be influenced by the reaction of the interviewer.

Front 15

Ethical issues in sociological research

Back 15

1. The physical, social and mental well-being of people who help in research should not be harmed, e.g. by telling others information given in confidence, or cause them embarrassment.

2. Research should be done with the agreement of those being researched. This called informed consent.