Quantitative research methods

What are social surveys?

Obtaining information in a standardised manner from a large group of people, usually through questionnaires and interviews.

What are the different aims of social surveys?

• Find out facts about the population,

• uncover differences in beliefs, values, and attitudes,

• and explain aspects of social life.

What are longitudinal surveys?

Surveys that get around the problem of social surveys only providing a ‘snapshot’ of social life at one time. They do this by studying the same people over a long period of time.

What are the problems with longitudinal surveys?

• Practically, they’re expensive and time-consuming.

• Once they’ve started, you can’t collect retrospective information so you have to be sure you have the right questions.

• Theoretically, participants may drop out of the survey because they get bored of answering the same questions or they move away. If too many people drop out, the survey becomes unrepresentative.

• People may change their behaviour as a result of taking part of the survey because they’re likely to reflect more on their behaviour.

What are the different types of sampling?

• Random sampling means each person has an equal chance of being selected.

• Systematic sampling is where a method is devised to enable systematic selection from a list.

• Stratified random sampling is when the population is divided into groups according to important variables such as class, then the sample is chosen in the same proportions as their prevalence in the population.

• Quota sampling involves establishing a quota that determines how many people with particular characteristics are studied, and once it’s filled no more people in that category are included.

• Snowball sampling is when a member of the sample puts the researcher in touch with other potential members of the sample.

• Theoretical sampling is when people are chosen for the sample who have particular unusual characteristics.

What is a case study?

A detailed study of one particular group or organisation. They’re usually extremely detailed and provide a depth of information not usually available. However, they’re not representative and the group may change their behaviour as they’re studied intensely.

What is an experiment?

Research where all the variables are closely controlled, so that the effect of changing one or more of the variables can be understood. They involve trying to isolate the effects of independent variables on a dependant variable.

Why are experiments unlikely to be used in sociology?

• It’s impossible to recreate normal life in the artificial environment of experiments.

• There’s ethical problems in performing experiments on people.

• There’s the possibility of the experimenter effect, where the awareness of being in an experiment affects the behaviour of participants.

• Experiments can’t be used to study long-term or major social change.

What is the comparative method?

When a sociologist compares differences across groups or societies, or across one society over time, by comparing the different social variables in the different societies and their effects upon the issues being studied.

What research used the comparative method?

Emile Durkheim used the comparative method in his classic study of the different levels of suicide in society. He collected official statistics from a number of different countries and then compared the different levels of suicide, linking them to cultural differences, including religion and family relationships.

How has experimental research been used to investigate education?

Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968) gave false information to primary school teachers in the USA about the IQ of pupils. They found pupils that were believed to have high IQ by teachers made greater progress, suggesting a self-fulfilling prophecy can occur.

What is a practical problems of experimental research into education?

Problems gaining permission to conduct experiments and take children out of school.

What are ethical problems of experimental research into education?

• Informed consent may not be possible with young children.

• Some research may damage educational progress, for example the low IQ labelled children in Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study.

What are theoretical problems of experimental research into education?

• The experiments involve the creation of artificial situations which may lead to their lacking in validity.

• The research isn’t usually reliable, for example attempts to reproduce Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study have produced inconsistent results.

• It’s difficult to control variables in field experiments.