Research and Methods

Research and Methods

1. Quantative Data can be reliable but not very valid

   • Quantative data is numbers and statsictcs. You can easily put quantative data into a graph or a chart.
   • Advantages
     • 1) Quanatative data, you can test your hypothesis and look for cause and effect realtionships
     • 2) You can compare your statitcs against existing statsics, and look for trends oveer the time and bewteen societies.
     • 3) It's easy to anaylse tables, charts and graphs; espcially line charts, bar graphs and pie charts.
     • 4) You can repeat questionnaires and structured interviews to test reliability.
     • 5) Quantative methods allow large samples, so the findings can represnt the general population.
   • Disadavantages
     • 1) Statistics can hide reality. Categories in interviews or questionnaires can distort the truth.
     • 2) Statiscs don't tell you anything about the meanings, motives and reasons behind behaviour; there's nt much depth and insight into social interaction.
     • 3) Statsics can be politically biased. The method may have been chosen in order to get the right data.

2. Quantative data can be valid but not very reliable

   • Qualative data gives a detailed picture of what people do, think and feel. It's subjective; it involves opinions, emanings and interations. You can't easily turn qualitiave data into a list of number or a graph.
   • Advantages
     • 1) Qualitative sociological data lets you find meanings and motives behind behaviour.
     • 2) Qualitiative data lets you find out the meanings and motives behind behaviour
     • 3) You don't have to force people into artificial categories like in questionnaires.
     • 4) Qualitative methods let you build up trust and reasearch sensitve topics.
   • Disadvantages
     • 1) Qualitative investiagtions are difficult to reat; they aren't very reliable.
     • 2) The reaseach is often on a small scale; so the findings might not reprsent the whole population.
     • 3) Positivits say qualtiaitve result lack credibility because they're subjective and open to interpreation.
     • 4) The reasearcher can get the wrong end of the stick and misinteroret the gorup or individual they're studying.