Term
Explain what is meant by the term 'sampling frame'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| The list of people from which a sample for a social survey is selected. E.g.a school roll could be the sampling frame for a survey of pupils. |
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Term
Explain what is meant by the term 'snowball sample'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| This involves contacting a number of key individuals, who are asked to suggest others who might be interviewed and so on. |
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Term
Explain what is meant by the term 'quota sample'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| Instead of choosing the samples for each category randomly, the researchers go out looking for the right number of each sort of person. E.g. do you own your own home? If yes then more questions. |
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Term
Explain what is meant by the term 'random sampling'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| This is where a group of people to interview are selected purely by chance. For example, names may be drawn out of a hat. |
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Term
Explain what is meant by a 'leading question'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| This is where a question asked to the interviewee has words in it that'tells' them how to answer. E.g wouldn't you agree... |
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Term
Explain what is meant by a 'control group'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| In experiments, the control group is not exposed to the variable under investigation and provides a baseline against which any changes in the experimental group can be compared. |
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Term
Explain what is meant by a 'hypothesis'
(2 marks) |
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Definition
| An understated theory or explanation, expressed as a statement. Sociologists seek to prove or disprove hypotheses by testing them against the evidence. |
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Term
Suggest two social factors that could be used in the creation of a stratified sample, apart from social class.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Peoples income
Peoples age |
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Term
Suggest two reasons why sociologists might use questionnaires.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Quick and cheap means of gathering large quantities of data.
There is no need to recruit and train interviewers or observers to collect data. |
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Term
Suggest two reasons why a researcher might have decided to reject postal surveys as a research technique.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
They could impose the researchers framework of ideas on respondents.
They lack validity because there is no researcher present. |
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Term
Suggest two social factors apart from age and gender that could be used in the creation of a stratified sample for a study.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
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Term
Suggest two types of 'sampling procedure'
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Random sample
Stratified random sample
Quasi-random sampling
Quota sampling |
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Term
Suggest two problems that the researcher may have faced in using the 'doorstep survey'.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
People not being in so therefore not getting any data.
People being too busy to answer questions
People not wanting to answer questions due to lack of interest/knowledge. |
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Term
Suggest two problems associated with using questionnaires 'distributed through the post over the internet'
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Low response rate
Lack of validity - was it filled in by thew person it was sent to.
Did it actually get to the person intended |
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Term
Suggest two ways in which a researcher could increase the 'response rate to a questionnaire posted to potential respondents'
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Sending follow-up questionnaires.
Collecting the questionnaires by hand.
Offering an incentive e.g. enter a prize draw. |
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Term
Suggest two disadvantages of 'using questions with fixed response categories' in sociological research.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Difficult for the researcher to avoid overlapping response categories.
Resultant data is lower in validity.
Researcher could impose their own views. |
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Term
Suggest two criticisms of field experiments.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Those involved are not usually aware that they are part of the experiment - ethical issue.
Have less control over the variables. |
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Term
Suggest two practical advantages of using questionnaires in sociological research.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
They are a quick and cheap means of gathering large quantities of data from large numbers of people.
There is no need to recruit and train interviewers or observers to collect the data.
The data is easy to quantify, particularly when closed questions are used. |
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Term
Explain the difference between dependent variable and independent variable in an experiment.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
| The independent variable is the value which is manipulated in an experiment. The dependent variable is the value observed by the researcher during an experiment. |
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Term
Explain the difference between a sample and a sampling frame.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
| A sample is a smaller group taken from the larger survey population to take part in the study, whereas the sampling frame is the list of people from which a sample or social survey is selected. |
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Term
Suggest two problems associated with using postal questionnaires.
(4 marks) |
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Definition
Cannot be sure whether the potential respondent has actually received the questionnaire.
Whether the returned questionnaire was actually completed by the person to whom it was addressed.
There is a low response rate Hite's questionnaire only 4.5% returned. |
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