Flashcards
Advantages + disadvantages of sociology research methods
Cards in this deck (21)
- 1Factors influencing choice of topicTheoretical perspective- interpretivists objective social reality, social actor universe of meaning (individual interactions,qualitative data)+ positivists objective factual reality (society influences us,quantitative data), feminists domestic violence, New Right benefit system
Society's values- what society is interested in, 60's + 70's gender inequality, 21st century green crimes
Funding - government bodies decide topic, >1997 New Labour social exclusion of disadvantaged groups
Theoretical perspective- interpretivists objective social reality, social actor universe of meaning (individual interactions,qualitative data)+ positivists objective factual reality (society influences us,quantitative data), feminists domestic violence, New Right benefit system
Society's values- what society is interested in, 60's + 70's gender inequality, 21st century green crimes
Funding - government bodies decide topic, >1997 New Labour social exclusion of disadvantaged groups
Theoretical perspective,
Society's values,
Funding,
Practical factors - 2Factors influencing choice of methodTheoretical issues,
Practical issues,
Ethical issues - 3Reasons why non representative samplingPractical reasons
Theoretical reasons - 4Advantage of questionnairesPractical advantages
Reliability Hypothesis testing
Detachment + objectivity
Representativeness
Ethical issues - 5Disadvantages of questionnairesPractical problems
Response rate
Inflexibility
Questionnaires as snapshots
Detachment
Lying, forgetting + right answerism
Imposing researchers meanings - 6Advantages of structured interviewsPractical issues
Response rate
Reliability - 7Disadvantages of structured interviewsValidity
Inflexibility
Feminist criticisms - 8Advantages of unstructured interviewsRapport + sensitivity
Interviewees view
Checking understanding
Flexibility
Exploring unfamiliar topics - 9Disadvantages of unstructured interviewsPractical problems
Representativeness
Reliability
Quantification
Validity - 10Advantages of overt observationavoids ethical issue of deceit + having to join in activities, can ask naive but important questions, can take notes openly, can use interview methods
- 11Disadvantages of overt observationmay refuse permission to observe/ prevent from seeing everything , risks Hawthorne effect
- 12Advantages of covert observationReduced risk of altering behaviour, only way to get true information
- 13Disadvantages of covert observationPractical Problems
Ethical issues - 14Advantages of participant observationValidity
Insight
Flexibility
Practical advantages - 15Disadvantages of participant observationPractical disadvantages
Ethical problems
Representativeness
Reliability
Bias + lack of objectivity
Validity
Lack of concept of structure - 16Disadvantages of documentsauthenticity credibility sincerity representativeness
- 17Advantages of documentsrich detailed, valid, qualitative data , only source of studying past, can check primary data, cheap as already collected, also saves time
- 18Advantages of official statisticscomparison between groups, cause + effect representative reliable
valid - 19Disadvantages of official statisticscollected for government purposes
different definitions different views, definitions change comparisons difficult, is sample relevant , may make errors - 20Advantages of content analysischeap, easy to find sources + useful source of quantitative data
- 21Disadvantage of content analysisno meaning
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- Flash card on advantages + disadvantages of sociology research methods
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