Official Statistics

Question 1

What are official statistics ?

Answer 1

They are quantitative data collected by government bodies

Question 2

What are the pros of official statistics ?

Answer 2

They are very easy to access (practical)
Usually free (practical)
Varied out over periods of time , so you can see trends (theoretical)
Often cover the entire country (theoretical)

Question 3

What are the cons of official statistics

Answer 3

The government collect statistics for their own benefits , so they may not cover exactly what you are looking to study (theoretical+practical)
Definitions of key concepts may e different , fr example how a sociologists defines poverty may not be what the government defines as poverty (theoretical)
Hard and soft statistics ya lead to hidden or dark figures (theoretical)
Construct the ideology of the government (theoretical)