Documents - Research Methods

Question 1

Ethical advantages

Answer 1

• informed consent is gained when looking at personal documents

Question 2

Ethical disadvantages

Answer 2

• anonymity and confidentiality needed
• potential harm to families through sensitive information
• historical docs can implicate people in immoral or illegal activities

Question 3

Types of documents

Answer 3

• personal
• public
• historical

Question 4

Practical advantages

Answer 4

• gives insight through qualitative data
• can be only source of info if studying the past
• can use to check primary data
• cheap

Question 5

Practical disadvantages

Answer 5

• gaining access to personal docs can be difficult
• time consuming: docs may need translating, or trying to find docs that fit the purpose of the research
• can be expensive