Research Methods Flashcards
Name three methods of collecting primary data and explain what each of them are.
Social Surveys - asking questions in a written questionnaire or survey.
Participant observation - the sociologist joins in with the activities of the group.
Experiments - sociologists rarely use laboratory experiments but they sometimes use field experiments. and the comparative method.
What is primary data?
Information collected by sociologist themselves for their own purposes.
What is secondary data?
Information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purposes, which the sociologist can then use.
Names two sources of secondary data and explain what each of them are.
Official statistics - produced by government on a wide range of issues such as education, crime, divorce and unemployment.
Documents - such as letters, emails, diaries, photographs, official reports, novels, newspapers, the internet and television broadcasts.
What is an advantage of primary data?
Sociologists may be able to gather precisely the information they need to test their hypotheses.
What is a disadvantage of primary data?
It can be costly and time consuming.
What is an advantage of secondary data?
It can be a quick and cheap way of doing research since someone else has already produced the information.
What is a disadvantage of secondary data?
Secondary sources may not provide exactly the information that sociologists need.
What is quantitative data? Give an example.
Numerical information. For example national statistics.
What is qualitative data? Give an example.
Opinions and feelings. For example, opinions on GCSE’s.
Name 5 practical issues.
Time and money. Requirements of funding bodies. Personal skills and characteristics. Subject matter. Research opportunity.
