What are quantitative methods in sociology?
Research involving numerical data, focusing on patterns, statistics, and large-scale studies.
Advantages of quantitative methods?
High reliability : Methods like questionnaires can be repeated and produce consistent results.
Generalisibility : Large sample sizes make it easier to apply findings to wider populations
Disadvantages of quantitative methods?
Disadvantages of quantitative methods?
Low validity : they often fail to capture depth, emotions, or meaning.
Inflexibility : Fixed questions can miss important issues or prevent follow-ups.
Advantages of structured questionnaires?
Advantages of structured questionnaires?
- It is cheap, quick, and easy to distribute to a large number of people
- Produces standardised, comparable data for statistical analysis.
Disadvantages of structured questionnaires?
Disadvantages of structured questionnaires?
- Risk of dishonesty/social desirability bias
- Cannot explore complex issues or ask follow-up questions.
Advantages of structured interviews?
Reliable : every participant gets the same questions
- Easier to quantify and compare results.
Disadvantages of structured interviews?
Disadvantages of structured interviews?
- Doesn’t allow flexibility or in-depth understanding
Interviewer effects – tone/body language may still influence answers
Advantages of official statistics?
- Free, easy to access, and based on large samples.
- Useful for identifying trends over time (e.g., crime, education)
Disadvantages of official statistics?
Disadvantages of official statistics?
- Definitions may be unclear, political, or inconsistent.
- May not measure what sociologists actually want to know (lack validity).
What are qualitative methods in sociology?
Methods that explore meanings, motivations, and lived experiences, often using words rather than numbers.
Advantages of qualitative methods?
Advantages of qualitative methods?
High validity – captures depth, context, and participants’ true feelings.
Flexible : open to unexpected findings and deeper insight.
Disadvantages of qualitative methods?
Low reliability – hard to repeat due to the open and interpretive nature.
Small sample sizes – limits generalisability.
Advantages of unstructured interviews?
Builds trust – rapport may lead to more honest, detailed responses.
Allows interviewers to explore new topics that arise naturally.
Disadvantages of unstructured interviews?
Difficult to analyse or compare responses.
Time-consuming and potentially biased.
Advantages of participant observation?
High validity : The researcher experiences events directly.
- Can uncover hidden meanings or behaviour that participants might not admit in interviews.
Disadvantages of participant observation?
- Ethical issues – deception or lack of consent may be involved.
- Risk of researcher bias or “going native”.
