Research Methods and Data Types

This page delves into specific research methods used in sociology and explains the difference between quantitative and qualitative data.

Questionnaires are sets of written questions completed by sample participants. Interviews involve one-on-one discussions with sample members. Observations involve watching participants to investigate behavior, while experiments are designed situations to test participants.

Definition: Statistics are quantitative data collected by official organizations, private companies, or other researchers.

The page also mentions other sources of secondary data, such as media reports, blogs, forums, letters, emails, profile pages, and research studies conducted by other researchers.

Vocabulary: Quantitative data refers to numerical information like numbers and measurements, while qualitative data includes worded descriptions and pictures.

The concept of sampling methods is introduced, explaining how a sample is selected from a population. Stratified sampling involves picking people from different groups within the population, such as different genders, ethnicities, ages, or social classes.

Example: In stratified sampling, researchers might ensure they have equal representation from different age groups or social classes in their sample.

Highlight: Understanding various sampling methods is crucial for GCSE Sociology research methods questions and exams.

Questionnaires and Official Statistics

This page discusses different types of questionnaires and the use of official statistics in sociological research.

Postal or email questionnaires involve researchers sending out questionnaires via post or email, which participants then return. This method is quick to distribute and easy to send to many people. However, it often has a low response rate, which can reduce reliability and representativeness.

Highlight: The low response rate of postal/email questionnaires (typically only 10%) is a significant weakness that affects the reliability of results in GCSE sociology research methods.

Direct questionnaires involve the researcher waiting with the participant as they fill in the questionnaire. This method ensures all questionnaires are completed and allows the researcher to explain questions if needed. However, the researcher's presence may influence participants' responses, potentially reducing validity.

Official statistics are published by the government or government agencies like the police or NHS. These statistics are often representative of the whole population but may be out of date or politically biased.

Example: Crime statistics from official sources might change frequently, making it challenging to use them in long-term studies.

The page also touches on media reports as a source of secondary data. While media reports are easy to access and can provide historical context, they may be biased or sensationalized to sell more papers or magazines.

Vocabulary: Bias in research refers to a tendency to favor one perspective or outcome over others, potentially skewing the results.

Understanding these different research methods and their strengths and weaknesses is crucial for GCSE Sociology research methods revision and answering GCSE Sociology research methods questions effectively.