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Primary and Secondary Data (Quantitative data (Numerical data. For example…
Primary and Secondary Data
Primary data
Information collected by sociologists themselves for their own purposes. These purposes may be to obtain a first hand 'picture' of a group or society, or to test a hypothesis.
Primary data methods:
Social Surveys- involve asking people questions in a written questionnaire/interview.
Participant observation- Sociologist joins in with group activities that they're studying.
Experiments- Sociologists don't really use lab but use field and comparative method.
May be able to gather precise info they need to test hypotheses. However can be costly and time consuming.
Secondary data
Information collected by someone else for their own purposes but can be used again in someone else's research.
Secondary data methods:
Official statistics- Produced by government on wide range of issues, e.g. education, crime, divorce and unemployment. Also other stats such as charities, businesses, churches and other organisations.
Documents- e.g. letters, email, diaries, photographs, official reports, novels, newspapers, internet and TV broadcasts.
Quick and cheap way to use research. However the people who produce it might not be interested in the same questions as sociologists so it may not provide the information needed.
Quantitative data
Numerical data. For example stats on how many girls passed 5 or more GCSE's. Or the percentage of marriage that ends in divorce. Information collected by opinion polls and market research surveys come in this form.
Strengths- Test for cause and effect relationship.
Results easy to compare and establish trends.
Easy to analyse and interpret.
Allows for large scale research to be collected, use of large sample size.
Research can be repeated to test reliability of data.
Weaknesses- Numerical data doesn't give depth info about how/why somethings happened.
Official stats unreliable not all info included with them.
Qualitative data
Data in a written format and so therefore gives reasons why people have certain opinions, etc. giving more in depth and detailed data.
For example evidence gathered by participant observation aims to give an idea of what it feels like to be part of a group.
In depth interviews- look at peoples opinions and why they have them.
Strengths- Very in depth, giving info about topic being researched.
Allowing elaboration of answers in interview to gain more detail.
Researcher can build trust in sensitive topics.
Don't have to force people to give particular answer as sometimes done in questionnaires.
Weaknesses- Difficult to repeat because there's so much info.
Very time consuming- so small sample sizes.
Researcher can misinterpret info as it's subjective.
Info not easily dispalyed in graph/chart.
Ethical issues
Ethical is a reference to morals. British Sociological Association sets ethical guidelines for research that need to be followed.
Informed consent
this is when pp is told about what the research is about and can give consent before the study begins. If it takes longer, consent needs to be given at intervals.
Confidentiality and privacy
so keeps identities secret preventing negative effects. Privacy should be respected, personal info kept confidential.
Harm to participants
aware of possible effects of study on pp's. Including police intervention, harm to employment prospects, social exclusion, psychological damage. So prevent harm from occurring.
Vulnerable groups
Take extra care when people are vulnerable so age, disability, physical/mental health. e.g. children in school need consent from them and their parents if under 16. Provide information children will understand.
Covert Research
Researchers identify and purpose is hidden from study group. Creates ethical issues as deception occurs to win trust. Can't get informed consent so can't withdraw. However, can be justified when used to gain access to secretive, dangerous/powerful groups.
Theoretical issues
Refers to questions about what society's like. Accurate, truthful picture. This affects the method being used.
Validity
Valid method produces a true picture of what the study aimed to achieve. Sociologists say qualitative methods, e.g. participant observation, are more valid as there's a deeper insight through experience.
Reliability
Sociologists say that quantitative data is more reliable as it's the one that's more able to be replicated in the future if another person was to carry out the research as with qualitative they may not gain the same in depth data and opinions.