official stats

Question 1

Practical Advantages

Answer 1

Easily accessible
Reduces the problem of non response - CENSUS - 5% refusal rate
Can make comparisons between groups

Question 2

Practical Disadvanteges

Answer 2

Government creates stats for its own purpose

Stats are collected infrequently

Question 3

Theoretical (Representativeness)

Answer 3

Large Scale

Made to inform police patterns

Question 4

Theoretical (Reliability)

Answer 4

Positivists regard as reliable

Following a standardised proecdure

Question 5

Theoretical (Validity)

Answer 5

90% of crimes are discovered by public

60% of reported crimes are recorded

Question 6

name the interpretativist sociologist

Answer 6

Cicourel

Question 7

What does Cicourel say about official stats

Answer 7

Stats are social constructs that represent the labels officials attach to them .

Question 8

Whats the difference between hard statistics and soft statistics?

Answer 8

Hard Stats - give a more valid picture of the reality of crime
Soft statitsics - Give a much less valid picture of crime eg Dark figure of crime

Question 9

Give a BCS fact

Answer 9

10.7 million committed every year