Research Methods - Social Surveys

Question 1

What are the two basic forms of social surveys?

Answer 1

Written Questionnaires and Interviews

Written Questionnaires are completed and returned via post or e-mail, while Interviews can be face-to-face or by telephone.

Question 2

What are closed-ended questions?

Answer 2

Questions where respondents choose from predefined answers

Examples include options like ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘don’t know.’ These are often pre-coded for ease of analysis.

Question 3

What are open-ended questions?

Answer 3

Questions that allow respondents to provide answers in their own words

This format allows for more detailed responses without pre-selected options.

Question 4

What is the first stage in conducting a survey?

Answer 4

Selecting a topic that sociologists want to investigate

The topic can cover a wide range of social issues, but surveys may not be suitable for all subjects.

Question 5

What is the aim of a survey?

Answer 5

The general focus or what the sociologist intends to achieve

The aim provides a broad direction for the research.

Question 6

What is a hypothesis in the context of a survey?

Answer 6

A more specific goal that proposes a possible explanation

Hypotheses are tested through data collection.

Question 7

What does operationalizing concepts mean?

Answer 7

Defining abstract concepts in measurable terms

Different sociologists might operationalize the same concept differently, affecting the comparability of findings.

Question 8

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

Answer 8

To test a draft questionnaire or interview schedule

This helps identify potential issues, such as unclear wording or difficulties in analyzing responses, allowing for refinement of the final survey.