THEORETICAL ISSUES

Question 1

Validity

Answer 1

Definition; a valid method is one that produces a true or genuine picture

Question 2

Reliability

Answer 2

Definition; how easily something is replicated

- More replication, more reliable results

Question 3

Representativeness

Answer 3

Definition; whether the sample of research participants is representative of the chosen study

Question 4

Methodological Perspective

Answer 4

Positivists: prefer quantitative data, seek to discover patterns of behaviour and see sociology as a science
- Functionalists and Marxists take a positivist approach
- Society is a macro-level structure
Interpretivists: prefer qualitative data, seek to understand social actors’ meanings and reject the view that sociology can model itself on the natural sciences
- Interactionists favour an interpretivist approach
- Take a micro-level view of society