RESEARCH BASICS
Research collected directly from participants by the researcher.
What is primary research?
Research involving numbers, statistics and measurable data.
What is quantitative research?
A method where participants answer written questions.
What is a questionnaire?
Participants must know the purpose of research before agreeing to participate.
What is informed consent?
A researcher only surveys Year 12 students but claims the results represent all teenagers.
What is sampling bias?
Research that uses existing sources such as books, government reports and statistics.
What is secondary research?
Research that explores meanings, experiences and personal perspectives.
What is qualitative research?
A method involving a guided discussion with several participants.
What is a focus group?
Keeping participant information private.
What is confidentiality?
A strength of qualitative research is that it provides this.
What is depth and understanding of personal experiences?
The quality of research that determines whether it measures what it intended to measure.
What is validity?
A survey asking "How many hours per day do teenagers spend on TikTok?" uses this type of data.
What is quantitative data?
A researcher watches behaviour without actively participating.
What is observation?
A weakness of questionnaires because participants may provide socially acceptable answers.
What is response bias?
A strength of quantitative research is that it allows researchers to identify these.
What are patterns and trends?
The ability for research to produce consistent results if repeated.
What is reliability?
An interview asking "How does social media influence your identity?" produces this type of data.
What is qualitative data?
A researcher becomes involved in the group they are studying.
What is participant observation?
A weakness of interviews because the researcher may influence responses.
What is researcher bias?
A Band 6 response explains that the "best" research method depends on this.
What is the purpose and nature of the research question?
A researcher studying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences would need to consider this ethical issue to ensure participants are respected and protected.
What is cultural sensitivity?
A Band 6 student would argue that using both qualitative and quantitative research improves findings through this process.
What is triangulation?
A researcher examining newspaper articles about Indigenous representation over 20 years would most likely use this method.
What is content analysis?
The reason researchers use multiple methods when investigating complex social issues.
What is to increase validity and develop a deeper understanding?
A perfect HSC research evaluation includes discussion of these three areas.
What are validity, reliability and ethical considerations?