Research methods in Sociology

Structured Interviews.....

• ....are like a guided conversation asking open questions

• .....are based on a structured, pre-coded questionnaire

• .....are a natural way of conducting research

Unstructured Interviews.....

• ......are extremely controlled

• .....are like a guided conversation using open questions

• .....are based on pre-coded structured questions

Which is NOT a strength of using structured interviews?

• Data is more reliable as the research can be easily replicated

• They involve pre-coded closed questions so can be easily converted into quantitative form

• The interview questionnaire may impose limits on what the respondent can say.

• They are the most effective way of getting questionnaires completed

Which of these is NOT a principle of positivism?

• Science should be examined unbiasedly by logic

• Research ought to be based on empirical observation by human senses.

• Science is based on common sense.

• The objective behind analysis is to determine, predict and explain the problem.

Which of these is NOT an principle of interpretivism?

• They reject the view human behaviour is predictable

• They are skeptical about sociology’s scientific status

• They use quantitative methods

• They want to understand the meaning and motivations behind individual actions

True or false: Positivists are likely to produce findings with high validity but low reliability

• True

• False

• Don't know

True or False: Interpretivists are likely to produce findings that have small sample sizes

• True

• False

• Don't know

What research method is this definition describing: The researcher simply observes the group without taking part in it

• Participant Observation

• Non-participant Observation

• Overt Observation

• Covert Observation

What research method is this definition describing: The researcher makes their true identity and purpose known to those being studied

• Participant Observation

• Non-participant Observation

• Covert Observation

• Overt Observation

What research method is this definition describing: Quantitative data collected by government or other official bodies

• Primary Data

• Official Statistics

• Laboratory Experiments