Research Methods

What is a social fact?

Social phenomena which exit outside individuals but act upon them in ways which constrain or mould their behaviour e.g. social institutions like family, the law, education, workplace and values, norms and customs

What is a structured/formal interview?

A set of questions that are asked in an arranged meeting

What is an unstructured/informal interview?

Conservational, questions based on the answers given

What is a semi-structured interview?

Some set questions but also conversational

What is a one-to-one interview?

Individual, just the researcher and respondee

What is a group interview?

When multiple people answer questions

What is a focus group?

Respondent led discussion

What is an experiment?

Research where the researcher will actively test a hypothesis in an environment where all the variables are closely controlled so that the effect of changing one variable can be understood/determined

What is a laboratory experiment?

Takes place in an artificial setting, with an artificial scenario, unknown to the participants

What is a field experiment?

Takes place in the participants natural environment with set controls put in place

What is a natural experiment?

In participants natural environment but with no controls in place, AKA the ‘comparative method’ as two groups with one factor differing would be studied instead of the researcher putting in place the controls

What is an experimental group?

Test sample or the group that receives an experimental procedure, this group is exposed to changes in the independent variable being tested

What is a control group?

A group separated from the rest of the experiment such that the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results

What is an independent variable?

What is changed by the researcher

What is a dependent variable?

What is measured

What is a control variable?

The factor kept constant which helps us to ensure what we think is having an impact, is the actual thing having the impact