Methods

Question 1

What are the advantages of primary data ?

Answer 1

More reliable than secondary, it’s up to date and relevant to the study

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of primary data ?

Answer 2

Time consuming and bias as it’s their own research - research bias

Question 3

What are the advantages of group interviews ?

Answer 3

Saves time and money and may make people feel more comfortable

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of group interview ?

Answer 4

People may dominate the conversation

People may feel embarrassed to talk in a group

Question 6

What are the advantages of Lab studies ?

Answer 6

Objective
Reliable

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of lab studies ?

Answer 7

Ethical issues - deception
Hawthorne effect

Question 8

What are the advantages of a field experiment ?

Answer 8

Cheap- no building needed control over variables

Question 9

What studies are field studies ?

Answer 9

Elliot - blue eyes / brown eyes
Rosenthal and Jacobson

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of field experiment ?

Answer 10

No cause and effect
Lack informed consent

Question 11

What are the advantages of the comparative methods ?

Answer 11

Can study the past - durkeim suicide
No ethical issues

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of comparative methods ?

Answer 12

Only quantitative
Data may not be reliable - social desirable

Question 13

What are the advantages of longitudinal studies ?

Answer 13

Qualitative data
Rapport built

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of longitudinal studies ?

Answer 14

Not cost effective and subjective

Question 15

What are the advantages to structured interviews ?

Answer 15

Standardised
Provides quantitative data

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of structured interviews ?

Answer 16

No rapport built and can’t establish meanings and motives

Question 17

What are the advantages of unstructured interviews ?

Answer 17

Detailed responses
Increased validity

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of unstructured interviews ?

Answer 18

Interviewer effects
Time consuming

Question 19

What are the advantages of secondary data ?

Answer 19

Cheap and can compare the past

Question 20

What are the disadvantages of secondary data ?

Answer 20

Unreliable and may not match the study

Question 21

What are the advantages of covert observations ?

Answer 21

No Hawthorne effect
Qualitative data

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of observations ?

Answer 22

Ethical issues
Time consuming

Question 23

What studies use interviews ?

Answer 23

Willmott and young - structured
Oakley - unstructured
Willis - group

Question 24

What are the practical factors ?

Answer 24

Time cost funding and subject matter

Question 25

What are the ethical issues ?

Answer 25

Lack of informed Consent Deception Lack of right to withdraw Harm

Question 26

What are the key things about the positivists ?

Answer 26

Like scientific methods such as experiments and quantitative data

Question 27

What are the key points about interprevists ?

Answer 27

They like unstructured methods that can build a raooort and are qualitative

Question 28

What are the points that agree sociology is a science ?

Answer 28

Positivists Popper- deductive reasoning falsifiable looking for things to disprove theory Can establish cause and effect

Question 29

How can sociology not be seen as a science?

Answer 29

Interprevists Kuhn there’s no shared paradigm with makes it not a science Feminists would argue it would make sociology male orientated by using their methods

Question 30

What studies can be used in sociology research methods ?

Answer 30

Milgram, rosenthal and Jacobson , bobo doll and Humphrey’s tea room trade

Question 31

What is value free ?

Answer 31

No opinions and feelings involved - positivists

Question 32

What is value laden ?

Answer 32

Gauder- we are influenced by basic beliefs through society regardless Depends on subject matter and funding

Question 33

What is value committed ?

Answer 33

Becker- look at the underdog Mydral - only when subjectivity is concealed that’s when it becomes an issues Feminist - continue to fit for no patriarchy

Question 34

How does sociology influence social policy ?

Answer 34

Giddens - helps underhand social situations - Townsend changed to relative proverty Cultural difference / ethnic minority Effectiveness- is pupil premium effects for people or not

Question 35

How does sociology not influence social policy ?

Answer 35

Party may not win if they change policies Cost- recession Depends on the political party