Theories & methods-methids paper 1 & 3 Flashcards
What is primary date
Information collected by sociologists themselves for there own porpoises. Social surveys, participant observations, experiments.
Pros-They can collect precise information they needs to test there hypothesis.
Cons- Can be costly and time consuming
What is secondary date
Information they has been collected or created by someone else for there own porpoises but others can use it. Official statistics, documents.
pros- Quick and cheap way to get information as someone else has already collected it.
Cons- Those who collect it may not be interested as what you want the data for. Not providing the exact information you need.
Whats is Quantitive data
pros and cons of primary quantitative data.
Date in numerical form. e.g. percentage of marriages than end in divorce.
pros- Cheap, no involvement with people, resalable produces statistical data.
Cons- depends on the category chocs by the sociologist and how they interpreter it. Describing whats being studied not explaining it. Interpretations can different from researcher.
What is Qualitative data
non numerical often comes from pictures or words. gives feel for whats something is like. e.g. what it feels like for a marriage to end in a divorce.
Positivists
-Measurable object in society. Our behaviours are shaped by society.
-Aim of studying is to find the underlying reasons for these behaviours.
-Like qualitative data questionnaires, structured interviews, and official statistics.
-Use data to identify general patterns and trends in behaviour, from which they produce cause-and-effect explanations like those in the natural sciences.
Interpretative
-No objective social reality, just the subjective meaning that people give to events
-Aim of research is to uncover actors’ meanings or worldview.
-Open ended research methods. Prefer qualitative data like unstructured interviews, participant observation and personal documents.
-Allows them to gain understanding by experiencing the group’s lifestyle for themselves, or by allowing individuals to explain their worldview in their own words, without the sociologist imposing their own views.
What factors impact the choice of research methods
Practical issues-
Ethical issues-
Theoretical issues- such as if a Marxist, a feminist, or functionalist approach is preferred or positivist or interpretative approach.
practical issues
How easy it is to access those being studied
Time and funding available
Availability of existing data
Values and beliefs of the researcher personal skills and characteristics of the researcher
ethical issues
Does the reassure have harmful consequences, consents, Data represented accurately and truthfully
Theoretical issues
-Positivism and interpretative use different research methods to investigate and collect information. Also impacts what is studied, the choice of research topic.
-Functionalists focus on how social institutions contribute to the maintenance of society as whole, and their role in contributing to social stability.
-Marxists more likely to emphasize inequality, conflict and division, and to investigate research topics which highlight these areas, and to emphasize class inequality rather than, for example, ethnicity and gender.
-Feminists concerned with the issues of gender inequality and this will guide their choice of research topic
surveys: Sampling Methods
Representative Sample: Small group reflecting the survey population. Issues: Too small or incomplete sampling frame.
Random Sampling- Every individual has an equal chance of selection (using random number tables).
Pros: No human bias.
Cons: May result in an unrepresentative sample.
Systematic Sampling- Select names at regular intervals from a list.
Pros: Ensures full coverage of sample area.
Cons: Small sample might be unrepresentative.
Stratified Random Sampling- Population grouped by characteristics; random sample from each group.
Pros: Represents all characteristics; minimizes errors.
Cons: Difficult to identify subgroups.
Key sampling techniques
Quota sampling- a non-probability sampling method that relies on the non-random selection of a predetermined number or proportion of units.
Multistage sampling- taking of samples in stages using smaller and smaller sampling units at each stage.
Snowball sampling- Researcher ask participants to give the others who they can interview
Questionnaires
Close ended– strength easy to quantify quick to compare, high in reliability. Weaknesses – lack validity, restrict responses, ambiguous questions is. 

Open ended– strength in-depth detailed information, high validity, answers are not restricted. Weaknesses – long drawnout answers, difficult to make comparisons, ambiguous question.
Self administrated (Distributed in person competed on the spot)– strengths – higher response rate lower research affects easier to answer personal questions. Weaknesses– time-consuming, generally small scale, maybe expensive.
Postal questionnaires – strengths large-scale relatively cheap Rose out interview a biased. Weaknesses – not being taken seriously low response rate cost.
Interview a presenn- (Face-to-face or on the phone) Strengths – higher response rate, relatively quick, builds a rapport with the respondent.
Observations
Participant observations involves research are joining the group or community to study their activities for a period of time.
Stages get in (Get to know the group fit in)
Staying in(Gaining trust knowing how much to involve yourself)
Getting out (Leaving the group without damaging relationships)
Nonparticipant
Carried out Without the research at present. Reduce people being affected by the researcher. May happen if we groups are unwilling to participate.
