Research Methods

Question 1

Define reliability

Answer 1

Can be repeated with the same results

Question 2

Define validity

Answer 2

A true social picture of what the sociologist is researching

Question 3

Define representitave

Answer 3

Reflective of the population as a whole

Question 4

How do you achieve representative data

Answer 4

Research similar proportions of ages, gender, classes and ethnicity etc.

Question 5

What is primary data?

Answer 5

Data collected first hand by the sociologist themselves

Question 6

Give 4 examples of methods a sociologist could use to obtain primary data?

Answer 6

Interviews
Questionnaires
Observations
Experiments

Question 7

Give 2 examples of advantages of primary data

Answer 7

• Data is always up to date

- Choose method; makes it valid/reliable

Question 8

Give 6 examples of disadvantages to primary data

Answer 8

• Expensive
• Time consuming
• May put researcher in dangerous situation
• May be unethical (e.g. not give informed consent)
• Possibility of bias
• May not be able to access desired group

Question 9

What is secondary data?

Answer 9

Existing information gathered by someone else

Question 10

Give 4 examples of types of secondary data

Answer 10

• Official stats
• Diaries
• Newspapers
• Letters

Question 11

Give 4 advantages of secondary data

Answer 11

• Quick and easy to collect
• Can compare different societies
• Can study past events
• Don’t have to worry about informed consent

Question 12

Give 4 disadvantages of secondary data

Answer 12

• May not be valid/reliable
• Documents may not be authentic/representative, and may be biased
• May not contain the desired information
• Researchers values may have ruined the validity of the data

Question 13

Define quantitative data

Answer 13

Numbers and stats that can be easily grouped and compared

Question 14

Define qualitative data

Answer 14

Subjective opinions etc.

Question 15

Is quantitative data reliable or valid?

Answer 15

Reliable

Question 16

Is qualititative data reliable or valid?

Answer 16

Valid

Question 17

Give 5 advantages of quantitative data

Answer 17

• Can test hypothesis and look for cause/effect
• Easy to compare/establish trends
• Easy to analyse (graphs, charts etc.)
• Can repeat to test reliability
• Allow for large samples, so findings represent general population

Question 18

Give 3 disadvantages of quantitative data

Answer 18

• Categories in methods such as questionnaires (closed) can distort truth
• No motive, meaning and reasons why=lack of depth into social interaction
• Can be ‘politically biased’

Question 19

Give 4 advantages of qualitative data

Answer 19

• Detailed description of social behaviour (valid)
• Discovers meanings and motives
• Doesn’t force people into categories- they can say what they want without obscuring it to fit
• Qualitative methods enable the researcher to built rapport

Question 20

Give 4 disadvantages of qualitative data

Answer 20

• Not reliable as are difficult to repeat
• Usually small scale- don’t represent whole population
• Subjective and open to interpretation
• Researcher may misinterpret answers

Question 21

What type of sociologist likes quantitative data?

Answer 21

Positivists

Question 22

What type of sociologist likes qualitative data?

Answer 22

Interpretivists