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Flashcards in 3) Social Science Research Methods Deck (20)
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1
Q

Describe the key features of quantitative research:

A

Numerical data
Hypothesis and deduction = conclusions
Relationships between variables (causal)

2
Q

What designs can be used for quantitative research?

A

RCTs, cohort, case control, cross sectional surveys

Secondary analysis of statistics and surveys

3
Q

What are some applications of questionnaires?

A

Measure of exposure to risk factors e.g. diet on cancer
Knowledge and attitudes e.g. sexual health
Satisfaction with health services

4
Q

What two things should good questionnaires be?

A

Valid and reliable

5
Q

What is the difference between published and unpublished questionnaires?

A

Publishes tested for validity and reliability

Unpublished, niche areas and need piloting

6
Q

What questions should be asked in a questionnaire?

A

Many closed with may be an open ended question at the end with a text box. Requires different analysis and may not be completed

7
Q

What are quantitative methods good at?

A

Describing, measuring and finding relationships between variables
Allowing comparisons

8
Q

What are the disadvantages of quantitative methods?

A

Force people into inappropriate categories
Don’t allow people to express in the way they want
May not access all information

9
Q

Describe the key features of qualitative research:

A

Make sense of phenomena in terms of meaning people bring to them e.g. why don’t people give up smoking
Understand people’s perspective
Insights in behaviour

10
Q

What methods can be used in qualitative research?

A

Ethnography
Interviews
Focus groups
Documentary and media analysis

11
Q

What is ethnography and why is it useful?

A

Studying human behaviour in natural context

Gain access to behaviour that individuals many give biased accounts of or not remember

12
Q

How can be interviews be used for qualitative research?

A

Give participants’ perspective on agenda

Detailed, focussed accounts on issue of interest

13
Q

How can focus groups be used for qualitative research?

A

Accessing group based, collective understanding of an issue

Encourages people to participate

14
Q

What is documentary and media analysis and why is it useful?

A

Analysis of independent evidence e.g. medical records and diaries
Analysis of TV, newspaper and media stories
Gives historical context and useful for subjects that are difficult to investigate

15
Q

What are qualitative methods good at?

A

Understanding perspective
Accessing info not revealed by quantitative
Explaining relationships between variables

16
Q

What are the disadvantages of qualitative methods?

A

Labour intensive
Finding consistent relationships
Generalisability - dangerous to infer propensity of views from small sample size

17
Q

How is qualitative research appraised?

A

Carried out robustly
Rigour, credibility, relevance, transparency
Audits

18
Q

What factors should be consisted when choosing an approach for research?

A

Topic under investigation and research question
Research team’s preferences
Time, money and funders available

19
Q

What are the disadvantages of focus groups?

A

Topics may be too sensitive
Deviant views inhibited
Don’t want hierarchy in groups
Difficult to arrange

20
Q

How is qualitative data analysed?

A

Close inspection of data looking for themes