Research Methods - Keywords

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Keywords

• Quantitative Methods – these types of methods produce results that are in the form of numbers (i.e. statistics). Examples of quantitative methods are questionnaires and structured interviews

• Qualitative Methods – these types of methods produce results that are in the form of words. Examples of qualitative methods are unstructured interviews and participant observation.

• Valid – a method is said to be valid if the results it gives are true and accurate

• Reliable – a method is said to be reliable if the results it gives could be repeated. This means that if someone else used the same method they would get similar results.

• Objective – a method is seen as objective if the researcher does not let their own personal feelings interfere with the research. They stay unbiased or neutral.

• Subjective – a method is seen as subjective if the researcher does let their personal feelings interfere with their research. They become biased.

• Verstehen – a method that allows verstehen is one where the researcher can put themselves in the place of the people they are studying and see things from their point of view. They put themselves ‘in the other person’s shoes’ .