Research methods Sociology

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Sociology Research

Different types of sociological material.

When carrying out data in an organised way.

Primary and Secondary data.

Quantitative and qualitative data.

Different types of sociological material.

When carrying out data in an organised way.

Primary and Secondary data.

Quantitative and qualitative data.

Quantitative data is when information is given in the form of numbers or percentages.EX:Official statistics like birth or marriage.

Qualitative data are naturally occurring instead of being structured in a research form.It refers to all types of data that are not in the form of numbers.

Primary data is generated by the researcher during the research process.

Secondary data existed before the research began.This saves money and time.

Validity data are valid if they are present a true and accurate description or measurement.

Reliability data are reliable when different researchers using the same methods obtain the same results.

Different theoretical approaches

Interpretivism where sociologists argue that to understand human behaviour involves seeing the world through the eyes of those being studied.

(Quantitative research)methods produce statistical data

Questionnaires a social survey which involves collecting the same type of data from a relatively large number of people.

Types of questions:Closed questions and open questions.

Closed question a simple way to produce numerical data

Open questions ask respondents to answer questions in their own words.

But closed questions as suitable for simple factual information such as age gender and income level.

Response Rate is the percentage of the sample.\

Structured interviews are based on structures interviews which are questionnaires or lists of questions that interview reads.

Structured interview strengths

usually faster and cheaper to conduct.

Compared to other types of interview virtually all the interviewer has to do is read out the questions and record the answers.

Limitations of structured interviews