choosing a research method Flashcards
what are primary sources?
- info collected by sociologists for their own purpose
- methods e.g. PO, experiments
AD- specific info for study can be collected, more valid
DIS- costly and time consuming, less reliable that secondary
what are secondary sources?
info collected by someone else for their own purpose
methods e.g. official stats, documents e.g. Ofsted reports
AD- quick, cheap, more reliable than primary
DIS- may not provide the exact info, should be reliable
examples of primary and secondary sources that are Quantitive data:
primary= structured interviews, experiments, questionnaires
secondary= official stats
primary and secondary sources that are qualitative data:
primary= po, unstructured interviews
secondary= letters, news articles
Strengths and weaknesses of Quantitive data:
strengths:
1. easier to analyse
2. can draw graphs and calc averages-> patterns
disadvantages:
1. oversimplifies behaviour
2. idividual meanings are lost
strengths and weaknesses of qualitative data:
strengths:
1. reps complexities
2. more detail included e.g. explaining feelings
3. can include unexpected info/anomalies
weaknesses:
1. less easy to analyse into graphs
2. large amounts of detail is difficult to summarise
3. difficult to draw conclusions
3 practical factors affecting choice of method:
- time and money
- personal skills and characteristics
- research opportunity
3 ethical factors affecting choice of method:
- informed consent
- harm to research participants e.g. R+J spurters
- vulnerable groups- children, elderly
3 theoretical factors affecting choice of method:
- validity
- reliability
- representativeness
4 factors affecting choice of topic:
- sociologist’s perspective e.g. feminists might research domestic abuse
- society’s values- e.g. current interest in the environment-> studies of green crime
- practical factors e.g. availability problems to gain info
- funding bodies e.g. govs and charities choose topic
