sociology- research methods Flashcards
what are some disadvantages of questionnaires
?
-closed question
-biased respondent
-no way to raise queries
advantages of questionnaires?
-reliability is high
-avoids researcher effect
-target large sample-gain more data
disadvantages of interviews
-comparisons between findings is hard
-sample size is often quite small
-expensive
-recording errors
advantages of interviews
-speak face to face
-interviewer can be biased
-high response rate
-questions can be rephrased if not understood
disadvantages of official national statistics
-expensive to collect
-time consuming to collect
-comparisons sometimes difficult
advantages of official national statistics
-many freely available
-make historical comparisons
-spot trends
-less room for subject bias
what are the disadvantages of content analysis?
-media is often biased
-data not detailed enough
-decisions made by one person
what are the advantages of content analysis?
-can target a sample
-cheap
-easy to research
-reliable
what are the disadvantage of longitudinal studies?
-time consuming
-participant dropping out
-difficult to manage
-expensive
what are the advantages of longitudinal studies?
-allows for depth and detail
-recognise changes over time
-valid data
what are the disadvantages of covert observations?
-ethical issues
-not got consent
-could loose objective
-hard to take notes
what are the advantages of covert observations?
-understand from groups point of view
-avoids Hawthorne effect
-among groups who wouldn’t normally allow it
what is a covert observation?
an undercover observation
what are the disadvantages of overt obsevations?
-difficult to gain access to groups
-expensive
-longitudinal
-Hawthorne effect (people change behaviour)
what are advantages of overt observations?
-reliable data
-detailed qualitive data
-help understand group
