Research methods

Question 1

What is primary data?

Answer 1

• Data that the researcher themselves collect
• Examples include
  Experiments
  Observations
  Interviews
  Questionnaires

Question 2

What is secondary data?

Answer 2

• Data that has been collected by someone else
• Examples include
  Official statistics
  Documents

Question 3

What are advantages of using primary data?

Answer 3

1. The researcher has control over the research, they only collect info that they want to rather than info that already exists and may be irrelevant
2. Original data, most secondary data exists on a particular issue, so there is no choice but to undertake own research

Question 4

What are disadvantages of primary data?

Answer 4

1. May not be able to conduct due to cost and time consuming

Question 5

What are advantages of secondary data?

Answer 5

1. Using secondary data is less time consuming and cheaper
2. May be the only available source to use

Question 6

What are disadvantages of secondary data?

Answer 6

1. Collected by non-sociologists for different purposes than what they want it for. Some info will not be relevant for what they are trying to establish

Question 7

What do POSITIVISTS look for?

Answer 7

• Measurable, objective social reality
• Use standaradised methods (questionnaires, structured interviews, observations, official stats)
• These obtain reliable and representative quantitative data
• Produce cause and effect explanations

Question 8

What do INTERPRETIVISTS look for?

Answer 8

• Subjective meanings
• Uses open ended research (unstructured interviews, participant observation, personal documents)
• Producde valid, qualitative data
• Enables them to gain understanding

Question 9

What is meant by reliability?

Answer 9

• Must be REPLICABLE
• Use standardised forms
• POSITIVISTS prefer a scientific approach, use of structured research methods can be repeated
• They believe participant observation and unstructured interviews are UNRELIABLE as they cannot be replicated

Question 10

What is meant by representitiveness?

Answer 10

• Use a sample
• Sociologists can then make generalisations on the basis of the evidence from the sample
• POSITIVISTS emphasise importance of representativeness

Question 11

What is meant by validity?

Answer 11

• How authentic and true the data is