Research Methods and Key Concepts

Question 1

What is the purpose of doing sociological research?

Answer 1

• Collect information.
• Better understanding of people’s social behaviour + the social world they live in.
• Help us to build or challenge existing knowledge.
• Can be used to help or improve society.

Question 2

What are primary research methods? (primary = first hand)

Answer 2

• Experiments (lab and field).
• Observations.
• Interviews.
• Questionnaires.

Question 3

What are secondary research methods? (secondary = taken from somebody else)

Answer 3

• Official statistics.
• Documents.

Question 4

What is a positive evaluation of primary and secondary sources of data?

Answer 4

• Control over the research → collect information they want rather than using existing information that may not be completely relevant. Information can be tailored to specific research.
• Original data → often no secondary data exists on a particular issue = no choice but to undertake own research. May be the only source available.
• Quick and cheap → using secondary data is much cheaper and less time consuming.
• Only source available → existing secondary sources may be the only option that is available, particularly for looking at historical ideas.

Question 5

What is a negative evaluation of primary and secondary sources of data?

Answer 5

• Cost and time → might not be able to take on own research because of time.
• Different purposes → secondary information collected by non-sociologists for different purposes than what sociologists want it for. Some of the information may not be suitable for what they are trying to establish.