Cambridge IGCSE Sociology
Unit 1: Theory and Methods Answers to worksheets Worksheet 1 Positivism
the view that the social world is made up of facts which can be studied in a scientific way
Interpretivism
the view that the social world is very different from the natural world, and should be studied using non-scientific methods
Reliability
the extent to which a method gives consistent and repeatable results
Generalisability
whether the results of research can be said to apply to a wider group than those directly taking part
Validity
the extent to which a research method represents the social phenomenon it claims to measure
Response rate
the proportion of survey forms that are returned to the researcher
Triangulation
using several methods to check the findings
Correlation
when two variables are related to each other
Sampling frame
a list of people from whom a sample is chosen
Longitudinal survey
this is carried out at intervals over a long period
Hawthorne/Observer Effect
how a researcher may influence the behaviour of respondents
Pilot study
carrying out a small-scale test of a research tool such as a questionnaire
Worksheet 2 Anonymity Biased Covert Dependent Ethical (issues) Focus group Generalisability Hypothesis Interpretivism
Jacobson Karl Laboratory Media (accept mass media or magazines) Random Observation Pilot Questionnaire Response rate
Stratified Telephone Unstructured Validity Interview Experiment Systematic Magazine
Worksheet 3
Participant observation, questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Using three different methods (methodological pluralism) means that the researcher can get more data and answer different questions. The data can also be used to check validity; findings from different methods may corroborate (support and confirm) each other or there may be contradictions which suggest that one set of answers is invalid. Findings from one method can also be used to develop ideas that can be tested using another method; Barker used interview findings to help her develop hypotheses to test in a survey. 3 Barker was only able to gain access because she was invited to do the research by the Unification Church. Without this, she would not have been able to live with Moonies, or be able to contact all the members for a survey. She would probably have been able to find some ex-members. Without permission, she would have had to carry out covert participant observation which would be unethical and very demanding in terms 1 2
Š Cambridge University Press 2014 Cambridge IGCSE Sociology
Unit 1: Worksheets and Answers
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