Research Methods

Question 1

What kind of sociologist would prefer ‘Lab Experiments’? And why?

Answer 1

-Positivists
- because they’re quantifiable, replicable and reliable

Question 2

Purpose of lab experiments?

Answer 2

-Scientists are able to manipulate the variables which they’re interested.

• Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship allowing accurate predictions to be made under specified conditions.

Question 3

Outline and explain two problems of using primary qualitative methods in sociological research. [10 marks]

Answer 3

• very time consuming and expensive for sociologists. It means that the sociologist has to collect the data themselves which could be deemed quite difficult.
  For example in participant observation, it might take sociologists a long time to become part of the ‘group’ or even collect the data during.

-Another problem = tend to be micro samples
- They look at small groups or individuals in detail
- example = Unstructured interviews. They are time consuming as open questions allow them to go into detail - resulting in lots of data to analyse.
- Hard to generalise to a wider population, sociologists can not just assume that the answers from a small amount of interviews can apply to everyone or everything they are researching

Question 4

Outline and explain two ethical issues that sociologists using primary quantitative methods would have to consider when carrying out their research. [10 marks]