Studying Society

Studying Society

1. Sampling

   • Probability
     • Simple Random
       • Every member of the population has equal chance of being selected.
     • Systematic
       • Every nth item is selected from the sampling frame. For example, every 20th name in the register.
     • Stratified
       • The population is split into strata's such as age, gender. They draw a certain number of items from each strata proportionate to the population.
   • Non - Probability
     • Snowball
       • Members contact other members of the population.

2. Postal Questionarries

   • Advantages
     • Cheapest, quickest way to gather information.
     • Researcher is not there so responded is more likley to answer sensetive questions, and their is no bias.
     • Standardized questions allow for comparisons and for investigation to be replicated in the future.
   • Disadvantages
     • Response rate is usually low, and may be filled in by someone who it was not intended for.
     • Misunderstood questions cannot be clarified.
     • Not representative of the population, for example the homless or people with reading problems.

3. Structured Interviews

   • Advantages
     • Interviewer can clarify misunderstood questions.
     • Questions are standardized so results can be compared and replicated.
   • Disadvantages
     • Interview Effect
       • Under a formal setting, interviewees may give answers that are more socially accepted, to show themselves in a positive light which can lead to invalid results

4. Unstructured Interviews

   • Advantages
     • Misunderstood questions can be cleared.
     • Interviewer can ask follow up questions giving more detailed and authentic answers.
   • Disadvantages
     • Costly, and time consuming. So only has a small sample size so cannot be representative of the population.
     • Questions are not standardized so cannot be compared and replicated.

5. Group Interview

   • Advantages
     • Some people fell more comfortable in a group environment supported by others.
     • Can gather a variety of views and opinions in a single setting.
     • Interviewees can later be recruited for follow up questions as single interviews
   • Disadvantages
     • Some members might dominate the interview while other are intimidate and cannot express views and feelings.
     • Cannot promise confidentiallity

6. P.O

   • Overt
     • Advantages
       • Avoid ethical issues, such as groups are aware of your role and investigation.
       • Observe people in their natural environments so can record openly.
     • Disadvantages
       • Possiblility of the Hawthorn effect, where behaviour may alter to please researcher.
       • Researchers is less likley to see the world through the eyes of the group.
   • Covert
     • Advantages
       • Removes observer effect so finding are more valid.
       • Some groups do not welcome presence of observers.
     • Disadvantages
       • Time and effort to get into group, by pretending to be someone your not.
       • Levels of deciet may go against moral issues. Newly made friendshipmay be strained.
       • Might have to take part in deviant acts as initiantions, when oberserving crime groups.

7. Secondary Data

   • Quantative Data
     • Statistical information, results of opinion polls and official statistics.
   • Qualatative Data.
     • Verbal forms, eg words including newspapers and magazines articles etc.

8. Official Statistics

   • Disadvantages
     • Sociologist did not create them so cannot check validity.
     • Are socially constructed, where victims or police officer enter data. Some could not be recorded for various reasons.
   • Advantages
     • Are relativley cheap and easy to access.
     • You can examine trends related to specific issue, and help support the primary research