Official Statistics - Theoretical Advantages and Disadvantages

Question 1

What do positivists view OS as?

Answer 1

Objective facts about society

Question 2

Adjective to describe OS

Answer 2

Reliable

Question 3

What are OS very important resources in?

Answer 3

The scientific study of sociology

Question 4

What are OS a major source of?

Answer 4

Representative, quantitative data

Question 5

What do OS allow sociologists to do?

Answer 5

To identify and measure behaviour patterns

Question 6

What do OS allow to be established?

Answer 6

Correlations

Question 7

What research method do OS provide more representative sample than?

Answer 7

Surveys conducted with limited budget available to sociologist

Question 8

How big is the scale usually of OS?

Answer 8

Very large - potentially covering entire population

Question 9

Why are OS gathered by compulsory registration extremely representative?

Answer 9

Because they are likely to cover all cases

Question 10

Why can OS allow sociologists to make generalisations?

Answer 10

Because greater care is taken with sampling procedures when conducting official surveys

Question 11

Why can OS be easily replicated by others?

Answer 11

Because they are compiled of trained staff who use standardised categories, following set procedures

Question 12

What do Interpretivists see OS as?

Answer 12

Social constructs

Question 13

What do Marxists and feminists see OS as performing?

Answer 13

Ideological functions

Question 14

Why are stats from official surveys less likely to be representative?

Answer 14

Because they are based only on relevant population

Question 15

What may census coders or census respondents do which will decrease the reliability of OS from census readings?

Answer 15

Coders may make errors when recording data
Respondents may fill out the forms incorrectly

Question 16

What claim of positivists do Interpretivists reject?

Answer 16

Claim that OS are reliable, objective social facts

Question 17

What do OS represent according to Interpretivists?

Answer 17

Labels officials attach to people

Question 18

What do Marxists regard as OS serving the interests of?

Answer 18

Capitalism

Question 19

What are OS produced by the state a part of according to Marxists?

Answer 19

A part of the ISA (Althusser)

Question 20

What is the function of state-made OS according to Marxists?

Answer 20

To conceal reality and maintain power of capitalist class

Question 21

What data may not be published in OS according to Marxists?

Answer 21

Sensitive data that would reveal the unequal, exploitive nature of capitalism

Question 22

What does census data since the 1980s no longer include which shows sensitive data about unequal, exploitive nature of capitalism not being punished (Marxism)?

Answer 22

Class differences in death rates

Question 23

What do definitions used to create OS conceal according to Marxists?

Answer 23

The true reality of capitalism

Question 24

Example of how changing definitions used in OS conceal the true reality of capitalism (Marxism)

Answer 24

Definition of unemployment changed which reduced number of people defined as unemployed

Question 25

Why do feminists Oakley and Graham reject the use of quantitative research methods?

Answer 25

Because they see them as ‘masculine’ or patriarchal research methods

Question 26

What do OS conceal and maintain according to feminists?

Answer 26

Conceal gender inequality
Maintain women’s subordination

Question 27

What do OS underestimate about women according to feminists? What does this reflect?

Answer 27

Underestimate their economic contribution which reflects patriarchal nature of state

Question 28

What do some OS show according to feminists who support use of OS?

Answer 28

Some OS show clear evidence of gender inequality

Question 29

Positive impact of changes in definitions used in OS according to feminists

Answer 29

Changes in definitions may reveal women’s position more clearly