Name 2 strengths?
1) - valid which means that it gives a true social picture of social life (researchers own words)
2) - can be used to research groups who might be ignore by more traditional methods
Format?
Narrative format
What is it?
Valid
What is it not?
Reliable
What does it do about social behaviour?
Gives a detailed description
What do you find out about it?
Meanings and motives behind behaviour
Why are they not reliable?
They are difficult to repeat
Why is it not very representative?
The research is often on a small scale
Who likes it?
Interpretivists
Why don’t positivists like them?
They lack credibility as they are subjective and open to interpretation