Research Methods Exam Qs

Question 1

Outline two reasons why sociologists might undertake a pilot study

Answer 1

• to ensure the methods are ethical
• to confirm the representativeness of the study

Question 2

Outline two reasons why sociologists might use a sample when doing a survey

Answer 2

• To confirm the representativeness of the study
• To generate both quantitative and qualitative data eg numbers/ personal perspectives

Question 3

Outline two problems of using unstructured interviews in sociological research

Answer 3

• may not be reliable as it could cause

Question 4

Evaluate the problems of using self completion web based questionnaires in sociological research

Answer 4

Problems:
-less likely to receive an answer, contributing to lack of representativeness within the study
- no way to verify and confirm the answers
Opposition:
- time and money effective
- no possibility of the Hawthorne effect
- representative because it’s uses a different range of answers