Research Methods #6: Official Statistics

Question 1

What are Official Statistics, and who are they favoured by?

Answer 1

• Official statistics are quantitative data collected by government bodies.
• This method is favoured by positivists because data is quick, cheap and easy to access, and it covers a wide range of social issues.

Question 2

What are the advantages of Official Statistics?

Answer 2

Advantages

• Practical - cheap, easy to obtain and easy to access. For example, through the Office of National Statistic’s website.
• Collected at regular intervals, so you can compare trends over time. For example, the census is completed every 10 years.
• Representative - official statistics often cover large groups of people. For example, crime statistics are compiled by police across the entire country.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of Official Statistics?

Answer 3

Disadvantages

• The government collects these statistics for its own benefit, so they may not cover what sociologists specifically want to study.
• Definitions may be different. For example, what the government considers ‘poverty may not be the same as a sociologist.

Question 4

What are ‘spiritless technicians’?

Answer 4

• The idea that sociologists ensure that their values do not affect the results of the study, they are objective and collect data for the purpose of their paymakers rather than ‘rocking the boat’ and criticising them.

Question 5

What is the dark figure?

Answer 5

• The dark figure is a term used to describe data that we do not actually know about as it has not been recorded nor detected.
• This happens if people in society do not report issues such as crimes. It means that statistics may not be valid as data could be incorrect.

Question 6

Why may crimes not be reported?

Answer 6

✩ Fear of reprisal.

✩ Lack of awareness

✩ Fear it may not be taken seriously.

✩ Crime is too trivial.

Question 7

Can you provide further reasons as to why Official Crime Statistics are an unreliable source of information?

Answer 7

✩ It is done through a questionnaire, which tend to lack validity, and have high levels of reliability.

✩ Official Crime statistics provide an Inaccurate picture of crime

✩ White collar crime dealt with administratively.

✩ Only serious crimes from incidences is recorded.

✩ Lack of recording makes clear up rates look higher.