Research Methods

Why do sociologists conduct research?

• To gather data about social issues and problems

• To help to inform social policy

• Both

A small scale trial run carried out before the main research is known as:

• A literature review

• A hypothesis

• A sample

• A pilot study

Which of the following steps comes first in the research process?

• Developing a hypothesis

• Reviewing the existing literature

• Carrying out a pilot study

• Selecting a sample

Select the correct key term for the following definition "A smaller group of the target population selected to take part in the study"

• Participants

• Sample

• Respondents

• Hypothesis

Which of the following sampling methods is most likely to give a representative sampling?

• Snowball sampling

• Random sampling

• Stratified sampling

• Systematic sampling

In a questionnaire or survey, a closed question is:

• A question that only has a yes/no answer

• A question with only one possible answer

• A question with no possible answers

• A question with a limited number of responses e.g. multiple choice

Information that is generated and collected firsthand is known as

• Data

• Primary data

• Secondary data

• Tertiary data

What is a structured interview?

• An interview with only a small number of questions

• An interview that takes place in a formal setting

• An interview with pre-determined questions asked to all participants in the same order

• An interview that takes place over the phone

What is interview bias?

• When the questions are one-sided

• When the researcher only interviews certain people

• When the interview situation and/or the interviewer influences the participant to give answers that are socially acceptable

• When the interviewer forms a personal opinion about the participant

What is a covert observation?

• When the observer is not involved in the activity or group they are observing

• When the people being observed do not know they are being observed

• When the participants know they are being observed

• When the observer is activity involved with the group they are observing