Statistics

Question 1

What is Official Statistics?

Answer 1

Numerical data that is produced by government of government agencies.

Question 2

What is Hard Statistics?

Answer 2

Simple counts that register events such as Birth rates and Death rates

Question 3

What is Soft Statistics?

Answer 3

Crime statistics from police record crime less valid and representative

Question 4

What is Unofficial statistics?

Answer 4

Numerical data that is collected by charities and other organisations.

Question 5

Advantage of Statistics?

Answer 5

• Readily available and cover range of topics
• Provide trends over time between different social groups, gender,beliefs,sexuality
• High in reliability as repeated often e.g. unemployment
• It’s a good starting point for much sociological research highlighting inequality in society

Question 6

Disadvantage of official statistics?

Answer 6

*statical data can take time to interpret
* Access-Some statistics might be unavailable for periods of time such as Census take time to compile and not match with definitions of researchers
* Can be manipulated by government to prove political points which means some group in some groups In society may not get the help they need e.g. healthcare, education

Question 7

Theoretical issues with official statistics?

Answer 7

• validity-interpretivists would suggest statics are social construction decide why actions fit definitions so social class would be viewed negatively than the elite
• Validity-Dark figures which are not recorded such as crime and education which mean figures are representative