Research : Key words

Pregunta	Respuesta
validity	this refers to whether the findings accurately reflects the reality they are describing
reliablity	this refers to whether the findings can be checked by another researcher. If someone does the same research as you and achieves the same results, then the findings are said to be reliable
quantitative	this refers to numbers and statistics e.g. questionnaire results
qualitative	this refers to data that is descriptive, in a form of words rather than numbers. e.g. interviews or observations. This type of data can be difficult to analyse as it involves a process of sifting through information
research device	the research method that you will use for your investigation, such as a questionnaire or interview questions
sampling	this refers to the procedures for selecting respondents. There are different types of sampling e.g. snowball and random sampling
primary data	this refers to the data that the researcher collects them selves
secondary data	this refers to data that already exists and is used by the researcher to help their study e.g. government statistics, case studies etc. The reason why this data should be used is because you need to understand what other people have said about the problem or issue you wish to discuss
closed questions	a fixed choice questions where respondents choose between a number of given answers
open questions	allows respondents to answer the question in their own way
pilot study	A practice run before you do the real research to find out if there are any problems with the methods
research population	the group (s) of people relevant to the study being completed
interviews	This method is when you ask people detailed questions about a topic and get them to give you answers in return. This can be done face to face or on the telephone
structured interviews	the interview reads out a list of questions, which will be answered by the respondent
unstructured interviews	there is no predetermined set of questions. The interviewer has some idea of what they are going to ask. The respondent is encouraged to talk freely about a subject
semi structured interviews	in between structured and unstructured interviews, the interviewer will have some idea of the questions they want to ask but will follow the lead of the interviewee
focus group	several respondents are interviewed at once and are allowed to discuss the questions being asked of them
interviewer bias	where the interviewer influences the answers that the respondent gives
social desirability	where the respondent gives the kind of answer that they think the researcher want to hear
fully non participant	the researcher is separate from the research situation, for example observing from behind a one-way mirror or video camera
fully participant	the researcher becomes a member of the group being studied and joins in with the action
covert observation	the group is totally unaware that research is taking place
overt observation	the researcher fully explains to the group who he or she is and what they are doing
objectivity	studying topics and people with an open mind and not allowing your own views and opinions to influence the findings
case study	This is a detailed in-depth study of one particular example of a type of group, organisation or event e.g. studying behaviour of gangs in one school for a year
longitudinal study	A study taking place over a long period, following changes over time
content analysis	This is a method which involves counting up the number of times or for how long particular words or images are used in a media product such as a newspaper or television program
operationalise	to define exactly what is meant by any terms used for categorisation
bias	the subject is presented in a one-sided way, which favours one point of view more than others
personal documents	Diaries and letters are used most often by sociologists as secondary data. Letters can diaries can give a good insight to life of the individual person
mass media documents	Newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, film and the internet and so on gives sociologists different types of material for research e.g. a documentary on ‘Gang Crime’ can help someone’s research on gang sub cultures
historical documents	This is evidence from the past which can draw information. This may be the only way to attain data from people who have died. Although a good source you can never be sure how truthful they are
sample	a small group of people, usually cross sectional, on whom research will be carried out
sample frame	the source from which a sample is drawn
random sample	the sample group is chosen completely at random
stratified sample	the research population is divided up into relevant groups, such as by gender and age, and a random sample is then taken from each of these groups to generate more representative data
systematic sample	selecting every nth name from the sampling frame, therefore not random at all
snowball sample	another non-random sample where a researcher makes contact with one relevant respondent and then asks them to put them into contact with further respondents. Often used when studying a topic with no sampling frame, for example, gang members
cross sectional	if a sample is cross sectional, then it will be made up of a range of different people to best represent the research population
generalisations	results from a study can be applied to the whole of the research population
representative	when the data can be said to accurately represent the research population in terms of, for example, gender and age composition
triangulation	using more than one research method or researcher in order to complete the investigation
exaggeration	stretching the truth
distortion	distortion is changing the way something looks. Researchers may loose objectivity when carrying out research, which may distort their results
selection	the researcher deciding which parts of the data to select for their study and which to get rid of
fit for purpose	the methods and evidence you choose for any piece of research are the ones that give you the best chance of completing your investigation accurately and meeting your aims

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	Creado por katiehumphrey hace casi 11 años