Theorists

Question 1

Give 2 theorists for criticizing Lab Experiments and why?

Answer 1

Milgram - studied obedience to authority but lied to his participants. Lead to mental trauma.

Mayo - studied productivity of Hawthorne Plant workers in different conditions. Even in harsh conditions there was little change. Coined the term Hawthorn effect.

Question 2

Give 2 theorists for criticizing Field Experiments and why?

Answer 2

Rosenhan - went undercover at mental hospitals gaining strong data but in an unethical way.

Zimbardo - participants were psychologically abused by ‘guards’ shows lack of ethical control in field experiments.

Question 3

Give a theorist for criticizing the comparative method and why?

Answer 3

Durkheim - study of suicide using official statistics shows no ethical problems be may be skewed by his own bias as he was catholic.

Question 4

Give a theorist for criticizing questionnaires and why?

Answer 4

Schofield - while researching teenagers ran into the problem of participants misunderstanding the questions.

Question 5

Give a theorist for criticizing and supporting structured interviews and why?

Answer 5

Young and Willmott - approached 987 people and only had 54 refusals showing high response rate.

Graham - structured interviews are patriarchal giving distorted views of women thus shows ethical problems as interviewers have too much power.

Question 6

Give a theorist for supporting unstructured interviews and why?

Answer 6

Dobash and Dobash - found they had built a rapport with the interviewees and were able to discuss the questions with more validity.

Question 7

Give a theorist for criticizing Overt Observation and why?

Answer 7

Punch - once he finished his researched he was told be the police he was only shown what they wanted him to see.

Question 8

Give a theorist for criticizing Covert Observation and why?

Answer 8

Patrick - was almost found out when he behaved differently then he should have. showing it can be unsafe.

Question 9

Give a theorist for criticising interviews due to interviewer bias.

Answer 9

Oakley - when researching motherhood (as a mother herself), she found it difficult to remain detached.

Question 10

Give a practical disadvantage of participant observations (theorist)

Answer 10

Downes and Rock - groups have the power to prevent observation from people who don’t ‘fit in’

Restriction caused by personal characteristics - you can’t study certain groups due to your age, gender etc.

Question 11

Give a practical strength for participant observations (theorist)

Answer 11

Flexibility - doesn’t require a hypothesis or pre-set questions

Yablonsky points out certain groups are likely to see a researcher as a threat. Participation allows the building of rapport.

Question 12

Give a theoretical disadvantage of covert observations. (Theorist)

Answer 12

Note-taking - sociologists can’t take notes openly, so notes are based on memory impacting validity and can arouse suspicious making subjects act differently.

Ditton had to take notes in the toilet leading to aroused suspicious**

Question 13

Give a theorist who used official statistics.

Answer 13

Durkeim

Question 14

Give a theorist who supports the idea documents can produce valid conclusions

Answer 14

Thomas and Znaniecki

Used personal documents to look at the meaning individuals gave to their experiences.

Question 15

Give a disadvantage of using documents with evidence.

Answer 15

Authenticity/bias

Adolf Hitlers diaries were only found to be a forgery after being purchased for millions and being deemed authentic by many historians