9699 · 2.3
Research issues flashcards
Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9699 Research issues (syllabus 2.3). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.
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Internal validity?
Findings accurately reflect what was studied — not distorted by design.
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External validity?
Findings generalisable beyond the study setting.
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Informed consent?
Participants understand the purpose of the research and agree to take part voluntarily, without coercion.
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Covert research ethics?
Deception — e.g. Humphreys — debated; harm vs public interest. It violates the principle of informed consent.
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Reflexivity?
Researcher acknowledges how their identity/values shape the study.
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What is 'Verstehen'?
A German term popularised by Max Weber, meaning empathetic understanding. It is the goal of interpretivist research to see the world from the perspective of the social actors being studied, thereby enhancing validity.
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Define 'Ecological Validity'.
A type of validity that refers to how well research findings can be applied to real-life, natural settings. Research conducted in artificial laboratory settings may lack ecological validity, whereas ethnographic studies are often high in it.
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What is the difference between confidentiality and anonymity?
Confidentiality means the researcher knows the participant's identity but promises not to disclose it publicly. Anonymity means the researcher does not know the participant's identity at all, making it impossible to link data to an individual.
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What is meant by 'Value Freedom' in sociology?
The idea that sociologists should remain objective and neutral, ensuring their personal beliefs and biases do not influence their research process or findings. This is a key principle of the positivist perspective.
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What is a 'gatekeeper' in sociological research?
An individual or group who can grant or block a researcher's access to a specific social setting or population. For example, a headteacher for a school or a manager for a workplace. Negotiating with gatekeepers is a key practical step.
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What is representativeness?
The extent to which a research sample mirrors the characteristics of the wider target population. A representative sample allows the findings to be generalised.