Soc2206a-b Final Review

Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research.

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research -Meaningfully expressed by numbers -Provides counts and measures -Positivist orientation -Meanings, concepts, and definitions -Quality assessed through words, images, and description -Interpretivist or critical orientation Schools of Thought

Name and describe two strengths and two weaknesses of survey research.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research: Advantages –Reliability –Can describe large population –Flexibility –Standardized Disadvantages –Validity –Superficiality –Cannot modify questionnaire in field –Artificiality

Distinguish between mail, face-to- face, telephone, and web surveys. Which would you use…. If you were a starting researcher on a tight budget and you wanted to survey 300 respondents about marijuana use? If you were a pollster with unlimited funds and you wanted to do a pre- election poll?

Comparison of Survey Methods Criteria Interview Mail Telephone Web _________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Cost high low moderatevery low 2. Response rate high low highmoderate 3. Level of control of high low moderatelow situation 4. Applicability to moderate high moderatehigh geographically dispersed populations 5. Applicability to high low highmoderate heterogeneous populations 6. Obtaining detailed high moderate moderatelow information 7. Speed slow slow fastfastest

What is the difference between closed and open ended questions? When would they be used?

Closed or open-ended question responses A closed response set refers to those questions which have fixed categories for answers (uses quantitative analysis) Open-ended questions allows for free responses (qualitative analysis)

What are… filter questions? contingency questions? matrix questions?

Filter, contingency and matrix questions Filter questions are useful for sorting respondents. Contingency questions allow respondents to skip portions of the survey that may not be relevant to them. Matrix questions are useful when you have a number of related items. Matrix questions are composed of a series of questions that have identical response categories which are presented in table format with the response category labels at the top of the chart

What is the social desirability bias? How can it be minimized?

Social desirability bias –People tend to over-report socially desirable behaviours (being cultured, voting, giving to charity, being good spouses or parents, etc.) –Try to minimize importance of these activities or present alternatives in questions

Describe the classical experiment. What three pairs of components does it have?

The classical experiment Three pairs of components –Independent and dependent variables IV is manipulated DV is observed for change –Pre-testing and post-testing To compare variation in DV before and after treatment –Experimental and control groups Experimental group receives “treatment” and is compared to control group (no treatment

What is a double blind experiment? Why is it used?

The Double-Blind Experiment Neither researchers or subjects know who is experimental group To reduce experimental bias

What is a field experiment? How is it different from a classical experiment?

The Field Experiment Used in sociology Natural setting Uses statistical control

Distinguish between reactive and nonreactive research

Reactive vs. nonreactive research Reactive: people being studied are aware of being studied –Experiments –Surveys Nonreactive: Subjects are unaware they are being studied –Unobtrusive measures –Often use naturalistic settings

What are erosion and accretion measures?

Varieties of nonreactive observation Erosion measures –– selective wear Accretion measures –– deposits of something left behind.

What are elite studies?

Elite Studies Special type of field research Elites difficult to study, especially with quantitative methods Preferred method is field study But special problems –Gatekeepers –Need for connections/contacts –Danger of manipulation –Difficulty of establishing trust

Distinguish between ethnography, ethnomethodology and phenomenology.

Ethnography A way of building an understanding the culture and behaviours of a group as a whole. Done in a setting or field site where a group of people share a common culture. In sociology, ethnography usually called a field study

Ethnomethodology The study of commonsense knowledge How do individuals make sense of social situations and act on their knowledge? What are the tacit rules used by members of a culture? Detailed studies of interactions Breeching experiments (Garfinkel) –To uncover hidden norms

Phenomenological Study Understanding an experience from a research participant's point of view Interview several participants as to their perceptions of an experience Try to build a picture of the experience through using a combination of theories, literature in the area, illustrated by anecdotes, to build a detailed portrait of the experience Use of Max Weber’s “verstehen”

What are the levels of observation in field research?

The Various Roles of the Observer (Raymond Gold’s levels) A. Complete participant B. Participant-as-observer C. Observer-as-participant D. Complete observer

What data sources are used in historical research?

Data Sources Primary Sources: –first-hand or eyewitness observations of phenomenon Secondary Sources: –second-hand observation, i.e. the author collected the data from eyewitnesses. Running Records –Statistics, gov’t data Recollections

What is an oral history?

Oral History Collects information about the past from observers and participants in that past. Gathers data not available in written records about events, people, decisions, and processes. Can show how individual values and actions shaped the past, and how the past shapes present-day values and actions.

What are the three main types of coding used when analyzing qualitative data?

Coding 3 stages of analysis in coding –1. Open coding: Find conceptual categories in the data –2. Axial coding: Look at relationship between the categories –3. Selective coding: To account for relationships, find core categories.

What is triangulation? What are the four types of triangulation?

Triangulation: A Comprehensive Explanation Bryman states that that triangulation, “refers to the use of more than one approach to the investigation of a research question in order to enhance confidence in the ensuing findings” and is the primary rationale for multi-method research.

Four Types of Triangulation 1. Data triangulation, which entails gathering data through several sampling strategies, so that slices of data at different times and social situations, as well as on a variety of people, are gathered. 2. Investigator triangulation, which refers to the use of more than one researcher in the field to gather and interpret data. 3. Theoretical triangulation, which refers to the use of more than one theoretical position in interpreting data. 4. Methodological triangulation, which refers to the use of more than one method for gathering data.

According to Neuman and Robson, what are important considerations in a mixed method approach?

Neuman and Robson on Methodological Triangulation Highlight the importance of priority and sequence in choosing a multi-method approach Which comes first…quantitative or qualitative? Or are to be used concurrently? These are important decisions that must be made in advance.