Official statistics

Question 1

Give some examples of official statistics

Answer 1

Census, British crime survey, employment stats, GCSE results, truancy figures

Question 2

What are the practical strengths and limitations of official statistics?

Answer 2

Strengths: Quick, cheap and easy

Limitations: May not have data on the topic, definitions may change, out of date information

Question 3

What are the theoretical strengths and limitations of official statistics?

Answer 3

Strengths: Representative, generalisable (large scale), trends and patterns, reliable and repeatable

Limitations: Not valid, government may “massage” data, definitions change which reduces reliability, and statistics are a social construction

Question 4

Are there any ethical issues with official statistics?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

Who uses official statistics and why?

Answer 5

Positivists use it as its scientific and gives quantitative data and is objective

Question 6

How do Interpretivists view official statistics?

Answer 6

Interpretivists reject it as it gives no meaning