Personal documents Flashcards
Definition
Different types of documents can be used in sociological research; these can be written or in visual form, e.g letters, diaries and photographs.
Advantages
Cheap and easy to access
They’re permanent
Their interpretation could be checked by another researcher
Ethical • You may have permission to use them
Validity • In depth information—understandings and meanings can be developed. Gain high validity from the time of a social event
The person writing the document will have experienced it first-hand.
Limitations
Can we trust them - are they credible/authentic
Problems in interpreting their meaning
Ethical• Invasion of privacy—diaries and letters have not been written for sociologists to use in research. They had an alternative audience
• Gaining permission can be difficult if the writer is no longer alive.
Reliability • Unreliable as information would not be the same if repeated—very personal and subjective pieces
Representativeness • Very unrepresentative—hard to find sources on the same topic.
