Research Methods

Question 1

What do sociologists aim to do?

Answer 1

Make research reliable and valid

Question 2

What is reliable research?

Answer 2

Research that can be repeated to get the same results

Question 3

What is reliable data?

Answer 3

Data another researcher would be able to get by using the same methods

Question 4

What is valid data?

Answer 4

A true picture of what the researcher is trying to measure

Question 5

Is reliable data always valid?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

Why might research not give a true picture?

Answer 6

• Respondents in an interview may forget things, exaggerate or lie
• Asking people about their attitudes to an event a long time afterwards often isn’t valid as people may change their views over time and may alter their description of the past in light of their current beliefs

Question 7

What does representative mean?

Answer 7

Reflective of the population as a whole

Question 8

What to sociologists aim to do?

Answer 8

Be objective and avoid bias

Question 9

How is primary data obtained?

Answer 9

From first-hand research, doesn’t rely on another sociologist’s research and can carefully choose the method to make data as valid and reliable as possible

Question 10

What are limitations of primary data?

Answer 10

• Can be expensive and time-consuming
• May put researcher in a dangerous situation
• May be unethical if don’t get informed consent
• Researcher’s own values may mess with the research process and create bias
• Can’t always get access to certain groups

Question 11

What is secondary data?

Answer 11

Existing information, data has been collected for someone else’s purpose

Question 12

What are strengths of secondary data?

Answer 12

• Quick and easy to obtain
• Easy to compare different societies
• Can compare past and present
• Don’t have to worry about informed consent

Question 13

What are limitations of secondary data?

Answer 13

• Existing data may not be valid or reliable
• Can be biased
• May not be authentic, representative or credible
• May not be able to find all information needed

Question 14

What is quantitative data?

Answer 14

Numbers and statistics

Question 15

What are advantages of using quantitative data?

Answer 15

• Can test hypothesis and look for cause and effect relationship
• Compare statistics against existing statistics and look for trends over time
• Easy to analyse
• Easy to repeat (reliable)
• Allow large samples (representative)

Question 16

What are limitations of quantitative data?

Answer 16

• Can hide reality or distort the truth
• Not much depth and insight into social interactions
• Can be politically biased

Question 17

What is qualitative data?

Answer 17

Subjective, gives a detailed picture of what people do, think and feel

Question 18

What are advantages of qualitative data?

Answer 18

• Gives insight into social interactions
• Allows you to find meanings and motives behind behaviour
• People aren’t forced into artificial categories
• Can build up trust and research sensitive topics

Question 19

What are limitations of qualitative data?

Answer 19

• Difficult to repeat (not very reliable)
• Often on a small scale (not representative)
• Positivists say it lacks credibility as it is subjective
• Can misinterpret group or individual