Studied by 0 people
did not include all case studies learnt in class- go through class book & write them down . doesnt include in depth info on mixed methods ( textbook has barely any info) go through worksheet given on mixed method in class book - ask teacher if info is neccessary!
What is a social survey, and what types of data does it primarily collect?
A social survey involves the systematic collection of mainly quan data from a large number of people, typically through questionnaires or, less commonly, structured interviews.
What are longitudinal surveys, and can you provide an example?
Longitudinal surveys study the same group of people over a long period to track changes in attitudes and behaviors.
e.g. office of population consensus n surveys have followed 1% sample of uk population regularly since identified in 1971 consensus?( CHECK )
some follow cohorts born in a particular yr
An example is the National Child Development Study, which has followed 40,000 children born in March 1958 and surveyed them at ages 16, 23, and 33 to track the influence of class, education, and family on health.
What are the main problems associated with longitudinal surveys?
Respondents dropping out, reducing representativeness.
respondants may drop out or R’s may lose track of them - undering rep. of study .
The risk of researchers becoming too close to participants, compromising objectivity .
the og sample may become too survey or research friendly n consequently end up working out what researcher wants, n giving it to them - biasing results
High costs.
what r strengths of longitudinal studies:
produce qual data n valid data focused o nppls interpretation of reality - wetershen
allows sociologists to document how influence of social factors e.g. social class impact on ppl lives over a period of yrs
allow hypotheses to be modified as impact of long term influences becomes clearer
draw a diagram of all the research methods n what r preferred by different sorts of sociologists n explain why :
Describe the two main types of questions used in questionnaires.
Closed questions: Provide pre-set answers for respondents to choose from, producing quantitative data.
Open questions: Allow respondents to write their own answers, producing qualitative data.
What are semi-structured questionnaires, and give an example of their use.
use a mix of closed and open questions.
E.G the Breadline Britain survey asked respondents to tick items they believed were necessities, measuring those experiencing relative poverty.
What is a self-report, and what kind of data does it gather? CHECK CHECK CHECK
type of semi structured (????) questionnaire where respondents tick off items they have experienced. It gathers quantitative data, often related to behaviors or experiences.
What r attudinal questionnaires?
type of semi structured ( ???? ) questionnaire where respondants r asked on a scale of 1-5-1 being strongly agreed, 3 being netural n 5 being strongly disagree - whether they subscribe to a particular pov
What are the key considerations for questionnaire design?
should be concise, use clear and simple language, and remain neutral to avoid bias.
Poor design can lead to biased, ‘loaded’ questions (written in way that respondant = provoked into an emotional response that seeks to evade truth), technical terms that respondents may not understand or terms that r subjective (e.g. few or several = interpreted diff. by diff ppl)
What are the strengths of using questionnaires in social surveys?
Ability to reach large and geographically dispersed samples e.g. through postal questionnaires
Cost-effectiveness and time efficiency.
Anonymity, encouraging honesty in sensitive topics.
ensures that sociologist = minomal contact w the respondant - decrese researcher imposition
usually accomapnied w letter asking for informed consent
High reliability, particularly for positivists, since questionnaires can be standardized and repeated with similar results if wuestions r neutral
produces statistical data that can be compared, correlated n turned into tables,charts, graphs
What are the limitations of questionnaires?
Low response rates, especially for postal questionnaires, response rates of <50% can undermine validity bc they r unlikely to reflect the social make- up of the research- reduce rep. and validity.
Difficulty in interpreting closed questions, leading to low validity.
Respondents may misinterpret questions or misrepresent themselves to appear more favourable.
criticized by I bc real life = too complex to categorise in closed questions n responses. therefore may not be suitable for finding out why ppl behave the way that they do - uncovering motives for behaviour
for I = low in validity bc they r articial measuring tools rather than naturalistic or ethnographic - don’t produce rapport n trust required to obtain truly valid data
Closed questions suffer from the 'imposition problem,' where the sociologist’s perspective is imposed on respondents.
refused cooperation bc questions may be on deviancy or sensitive topics n respondents don’t want info used against them or for R to judge them
What is the 'imposition problem' in questionnaires?
occurs when questionnaires measure what the sociologist thinks is important, not what respondents truly experience. the S by choosing particular ? n responses, has alr mapped out experience, interpretations n so on of respondant
Respondents may be forced to choose from predefined answers that do not fully reflect their views - frustration in respondents or lead to non completion
What are structured interviews, and how do they compare to questionnaires?
involve the researcher reading a list of pre-set closed questions from an interview schedule from an interview schedule ( a ?ionaire) n ticking boxes or writing down answers according to pre set fixed categories on behalf of respondany, producing quantitative data similar to questionnaires.
The interviewer plays a passive role and cannot deviate from the schedule, questions or way they r asked
What are the strengths of structured interviews?
High reliability, as all respondents are asked the same questions in the same way.
Ability to ensure the right person is answering, unlike postal questionnaires
Better response rates than questionnaires, as interviewers can return if respondent is not home or reschedule
Scientific credibility for positivists as structured interviews regarded as scientific bc interview schedules r standaridsed - all members of sample r exposed to same stimuli in the form of questions.
also scientific bc they r highly reliable e.g. I trained to conduct each interview in precisely the same way , w same questions, sequencing, tone of voice etc.
use of closed questions n tick boxes generate factual quan data - can be easily converted into tables, charts n graphs for comparison n correlation
time efficient - increases possibility of getting a rep sample from which generalisations can be made
R can explain aims n objectives of research n clarify instructions n make sure respondent is happy to take part in research - may reduce potential non-response
What are the limitations of structured interviews?
High cost and time consumption.
Inflexibility, as the interviewer cannot pursue new leads.
Potential for interview bias, where respondents provide socially desirable answers or are influenced by the interviewer’s characteristics or demeanor.
Interpretivists argue they lack validity as they are artificial devices (not part of normal everyday reality) and do not capture the dynamic nature of real life.
roger gomm argues that major problem of interviews is ‘demand characteristics’ - artificial responses shaped by how those being researched interpret the researcher’s motives n aims:
inrerviwer may produce a social desirability effect - ppl may over report ‘deisarable’ behaviour e.g. giving charity
n may underreport activities or opinions that may be regarded as ‘undesirable’ e.g. prejudice, dv, spanking
SI = only snapshots taken at one moment in time - fail to capture dynamic n changing nature of social life. ppls experiences n attitudes may change n SI unlikely to record this change
success of interviewing depends on what ppl know ab their own behaviour - may be faulty, hazy memory, not conscious that they behave in certain way, denial
What is interview bias, and how does it affect structured interviews?
interview bias occurs when respondents alter their answers based on the interviewer’s characteristics (e.g., age, gender) or demeanor (e.g., tone of voice). This can lead to inaccurate or misleading data, reducing the validity of the findings.
What criticism do interpretivist sociologists have regarding questionnaires and structured interviews?
argue that both questionnaires and structured interviews are artificial tools that impose the sociologist's perspective on respondents, failing to capture the complexity of social reality and producing data that is low in validity.
What is secondary data in sociological research n what r its main types?
Secondary data refers to data that sociologists use but did not collect themselves. 2 types u need to be aware of:
Official and unofficial statistics
Media products such as television and radio programs, newspaper articles, and websites.
What are official statistics, and who collects them?
numerical data collected by government or state agencies, such as the Office for National Statistics.
often gathered through surveys like the Census, which = questionnaire survey that been conducted every ten years since 1851 (excluding 1941), with the last one in 2021. Other examples include the General Household Survey, Family Expenditure Survey, and the Labour Force Survey and registration data
What information is typically provided by registration data in official statistics?
Registration data includes records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, which must be registered by law.
Death certificates provide details such as age, gender, occupation, and cause of death, offering insights into mortality, life expectancy, and social inequality.
What are unofficial statistics, and who typically collects them?
quan data collected by non-gov / non - state sources, such as employers, trade unions, professional bodies, political parties, think tanks, and charities in order to publicise a social problem or state affairs in which they have a vested interest
What are the strengths of using official and unofficial statistics?
Easy and cheap access, often available online n lil effort for S
Up-to-date data providing a contemporary picture of social trends.
Positivists favour official stats bc
bc they’ve been done by trained ppl who use objective standardised categories n collection techniques that follow set scientific procedures that can be replicated by o/
stats r typican n rep.
establish correlations between possible variables ( cause n effects) that can be tested to form theories n uncover social laws
Statistical relationships can be identified by comparing official stats from regularly conducted surveys. E.G. S might see relationship between poverty and mortality by examining groups of stats
Generalizable due to large representative samples.
Identifying trends over time is easy, e.g., life expectancy improvements.
Basis of hypotheses that motivate sociological research
SR that use official stats r unlikely to have direct contact w ppl - so generally avoids ethical obstacles
What are the limitations of using official statistics according to interpretivists?
May not fully rep the s’s topic of interest bc definitions differ from S to S/organisation e.g. S may prefer ‘relative’ measurement of poverty but gov use ‘absolute’ measurement e.g. gov often changes defintion of what counts as unemployment or poverty
OS r open to political abuse or manipulation by gov for political advantage, e.g., unemployment statistics to give a positive impression of their economic policies
OS r socially constructed (didn’t just appear/happen), meaning may be selected or bias in way of collection or what to collect e.g. gov = happy to push stats showing no. of successful prosecutions but not t to publish how many rich ppl avoid paying tax
gov creates stats for its own purpose, not for benefit of S so many be none available on topic S is interested in
I reject OS- statistics r manufactured or constructed by powerful state agencies
stats tell us v lil ab human stories interpretations that underpin them, e.g., the daily struggles of living in poverty.
What is content analysis, and how is it used by sociologists?
Content analysis is a method used by S’s to study media products
aims of CA is to identify how particular social groups/situations r portrayed in the product being analysed
by counting the frequency of particular images, themes, or words.
provides quan data on how certain social groups or situations are represented, often used to examine stereotypes in media.
What are the strengths of content analysis?
it is a cheap method; researchers only need to access media like magazines or TV shows.
Allows for comparisons of media content over time, making it a longitudinal method.
Considered reliable by positivists because other researchers can replicate the study using the same categories or content analysis schedule.
What are the limitations of content analysis?
Time-consuming as media products may need to be checked over long periods.
Can be subjective; categories depend on the researcher’s interpretation of what is important
May take media content out of context.
cannot be assumed from CA that media products n content have an effect upon audience - may not be the case. it is not proven or unproven
media products may only reflect the personal and political biases of media producers.
What is ethnography in sociological research?
Ethnography means writing ab way of life or culture of social groups
at its simplest it involves studying social groups by immersing oneself in their natural setting to observe and participate in daily activities.
informal or unstructured interviews n participant obs r most used ethnographic method
It is used to describe the group’s lifestyle and culture, as seen from their perspective.
What are the strengths of ethnography?
provides most valid and authentic qualitative data by allowing researchers to gain empathy ("verstehen") and a deep understanding of the group being studied.
It captures ordinary activities n how people interpret them in their social context.
Ethnography is preferred by interpretivists who argue that only ethnographic methods allow S to capture the 'lived experience' of social groups.
What are the limitations of ethnographic research?
Qualitative data is often difficult to analyze and may reflect the unconscious biases of the researcher.
Interpretation of data in ethnography is subjective, raising concerns about the validity of the findings.
What is an unstructured interview?
An unstructured interview, also known as an informal interview, is a conversation where the interviewer manages the questions to keep the participant on the research topic.
There is no fixed interview schedule, making it flexible.
The interviewer can follow the respondent's ideas, probe for more detail, and investigate motives and feelings in ways structured interviews and questionnaires cannot.
How do interpretivist sociologists view unstructured interviews?
I argue that unstructured interviews are ethnographic bc they are often conducted in the natural setting of the respondent, making them more comfortable.
These interviews focus on the respondent’s experiences and meanings, which interpretivists believe leads to valid data through close involvement with the participant.
What are the main strengths of unstructured interviews?
Flexibility: The interviewer can ask follow-up questions based on responses.
Unexpected Findings: Interviewees might share information that the researcher had not anticipated.
Sensitive Research: Well-suited for researching sensitive groups (e.g., those hostile to outsiders).
Rapport and Trust: A qualitative relationship with the respondent helps gain trust, leading to more honest responses.
Avoids Interviewer Bias: The respondent feels central, minimizing the risk of bias.
Rich, Valid Data: Provides vivid, detailed qualitative data, often in the respondent's own words, making it highly valid.
Ethnographic Nature: Often conducted in the respondent's natural environment, which makes them more comfortable.
How does flexibility enhance unstructured interviews?
Without a fixed interview schedule, the interviewer can explore new lines of questioning.
This adaptability allows for probing into responses and uncovering deeper insights about why people behave in specific ways.
Why are unstructured interviews suited for sensitive groups?
Unstructured interviews r ideal for groups suspicious of outsiders because the interviewer can build trust over time n explain througoughly the purpose of research/
Anonymity and confidentiality are stressed, which encourages respondents to share more valid data.
How do rapport and trust improve the quality of unstructured interview data?
Rapport puts respondents at ease, encouraging them to open up and provide more genuine responses.
Interviewees feel valued and at the center of the research, which might lead them to discuss sensitive or painful topics they wouldn't reveal otherwise.
How does avoiding interviewer bias contribute to valid data?
The trust built between the interviewer and the respondent reduces the chance that the interviewee will give answers they think the interviewer wants to hear.
This leads to more accurate and valid data as respondents are more likely to speak honestly.
Why is unstructured interview data considered rich and valid?
The qualitative nature of unstructured interviews allows respondents to provide detailed, vivid responses, often including direct quotations.
These responses are more reflective of respondents' true feelings and experiences, enhancing the validity of the data.
What are the main weaknesses of unstructured interviews?
Time-Consuming: Interviews take longer to conduct and analyze due to the volume of data.
Costly: Requires more time and specialized training for interviewers.
Difficult to Analyze: The lack of standardized, pre-coded answers makes qualitative data hard to categorize and quantify - difficult to present in table,chart,graph form - make sit difficult for S to analyse n correlate
Small Sample Size: Fewer participants are involved, making it hard to generalize findings n not rep.
Unreliable: bc data collected is product of unique relationship between S n respondants - research cannot be repeated by another sociologist n verified.
Subjective: too subjective bc interviewers get too friendly w respondents - they r not detached enough to be objecive
Bias in Data Selection: Researchers might unconsciously select data that supports their hypothesis, leaving out contradictory data.
Dependent: highly dependent on what ppl know ab their own behaviour
Why are unstructured interviews time-consuming and expensive?
Conducting and transcribing unstructured interviews can take several hours.
Interviewers need specialized training to build rapport and ask insightful follow-up questions, increasing both time and cost.
Why do unstructured interviews tend to have a smaller sample size?
Due to the time it takes to conduct each interview, fewer participants can be included in a study.
This small sample size makes it difficult to generalize findings to the larger population
How can researcher bias affect the data in unstructured interviews?
Researchers may consciously or unconsciously select data that supports their hypothesis.
The data that is left out could contradict the hypothesis, which can lead to biased conclusions.
Why do positivists criticize unstructured interviews?
P’s argue that the lack of standardized questions makes unstructured interviews unreliable and unscientific.
The data collected is subjective, relying heavily on the unique relationship between the interviewer and interviewee, which cannot be replicated or verified by other researchers.
What are group interviews, and when are they commonly used?
Group interviews r unstructured interviews carried out with groups rather than individuals, often used with children who may feel threatened in one-to-one interviews but reassured by their friends' presence.
can also investigate group dynamics, such as how a nursing team operates as s may believe that truer n more valid pic of their behaviour will only emerge when group is interviewed together
What is the focus group interview method?
Focus group interviews are a variation of unstructured interviews where participants are encouraged to talk to each other, often discussing an issue rather than answering direct questions.
This method was initially used by market researchers and is now common in sociology, media, and politics.
The sociologist introduces a topic and lets group dynamics guide the conversation, with minimal interference
What are the strengths of focus group interviews?
The strengths of focus group interviews include the ability to generate rich data from group interactions.
Participants may offer more detailed responses through group discussions, and the dynamics between them can reveal insights that individual interviews might not uncover.
What are the weaknesses of focus group interviews?
A key weakness is that one or two dominant personalities may influence the opinions of other participants, potentially skewing the data.
Additionally, the natural flow of group conversation might move away from the research topic, making the data harder to control.
What are semi-structured interviews, and how are they structured?
Semi-structured interviews r mix of structured and unstructured interviews, typically containing closed questions to generate facts and a few open questions for more detailed responses.
The open-ended questions allow interviewers to probe for clarification and examples, adding depth to the data.
What are the challenges in the reliability of semi-structured interviews?
The reliability of semi-structured interviews is questioned because the amount of probing required may vary between interviewees.
As a result, each interview may differ, making it difficult to compare data between respondents as they might effectively answer different sets of questions.
CHECK IF NECESSARY Describe the 2009 study by Ingram on working-class boys and educational success.
Ingram's 2009 study focused on two Catholic boys' schools (a secondary school and a grammar school) in a working-class Catholic community in Belfast.
study involved 2 groups of boys, aged 11-12 and 15-16 (beginning n coming to end of cumpolsury secondary education) , n used both group discussions and semi-structured interviews.
The research explored issues of class and education in one of Northern Ireland's most deprived areas, most boys lived in working class area.
How did Ingram's study use interviews to collect data?
Ingram's study first conducted group discussions with eight younger and eight older boys at each school.
These discussions lasted an hour and informed the development of questions/acted as basis for ?s for individual semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with working-class boys In both schools to explore their educational experiences in more depth.
What is the significance of observation in sociological research according to interpretivist sociologists?
Interpretivist sociologists value observation as it provides first-hand insight into how people interpret the social world.
It allows for an ethnographic understanding of why people behave the way they do by observing them in their natural environment
What are the two main types of observation?
non-participant (or direct) observation
participant observation.
What is non-participant observation, and how is it typically conducted?
involves the researcher sitting and observing an activity (e.g., a doctor-patient interaction) w/out playing any active role.
It is often structured and follows a coded observation schedule, focusing on specific types of behavior.
Why is non-participant observation favored by positivist sociologists?
Positivists favor non-participant observation because it generates 'facts' in the form of quantifiable data and follows the principles of scientific method.
What are the advantages of non-participant observation in terms of objectivity and influence?
argue that non-participant observation ensures objectivity as the researcher is detached and less likely to take sides.
also, the group being observed is less likely to be influenced by the researcher, as they are not actively involved.
What is participant observation, and how does it differ from non-participant observation?
involves the researcher immersing themselves in the group's activities / lifestyle
often providing a more 'inside' view compared to the 'outside' perspective of non-participant observation.
What are the two forms of participant observation?
overt, where some or all of the group knows the researcher is observing them
covert, where the researcher conceals their role and pretends to be a member of the group.
What is the aim of participant observation, whether overt or covert?
The aim is to understand the world from the point of view of the participants, to 'get inside their heads' and comprehend the meanings they give to their situation.
What does ethnographic research mean in the context of participant observation?
Ethnographic research is naturalistic and carried out in the environment where respondents normally exist, rather than in an artificial setting created by interviews or questionnaires - so participant observation
What kind of data does participant observation typically produce?
Participant observation generates qualitative data that offers deep insights into people's feelings, motives, experiences, and attitudes, often allowing the data to 'speak for itself.'
Who is Fielding (2001), and what is the role of a gatekeeper in participant observation?
Fielding (2001) highlighted the importance of gatekeepers, who help smooth the entry of the researcher into a social group by speaking to the group and validating the researcher's role.
What is a potential issue with gatekeepers in participant observation?
fielding also notes some gatekeepers, esp institutional ones, may have their own agendas and attempt to control what the researcher observes.
How do social characteristics of the researcher affect the use of covert observation?
The researcher’s social class, gender, age, and ethnicity can limit their ability to infiltrate certain groups.
For example, a male researcher might be unable to observe exclusively female settings.
CHECK TEXTBOOK TO SEE IF MORE INFO CAN BE ADDED What are key strategies for successful participant observation according to sociologists like Brewer (2000) and Fielding?
Key strategies include maintaining a balance between being an insider (building rapport) and an outsider (remaining objective), focusing on looking and listening, and acting as an 'acceptable incompetent' as recommended by fielding to encourage group members to explain their behavior.
What suggestions does Marvasti (2004) offer for building rapport in participant observation?
Marvasti suggests that showing genuine interest in the group's culture and engaging in self-disclosure (sharing personal information) can help build trust and rapport with the participants.
what r the strengths of observation?
Empathetic Understanding
The researcher experiences 'verstehen' by seeing things through the eyes and actions of the group.
Accurate Representation of Behavior
Observation allows sociologists to see actual behavior rather than relying on potentially misleading self-reports.
Supplementation with Informal Questions
Observation can be enhanced by asking informal questions, though caution is needed in covert research to avoid suspicion n it can act as respondant validation
Generation of New Ideas
The process can lead to new insights and ideas that might not emerge from traditional methods like questionnaires.
First-Hand Data Collection
Observations provide first-hand information, free from the researcher’s biases on what is considered important.
Understanding of Social Contexts
Researchers can discover the priorities and meanings of the group’s social reality in their everyday contexts.
Longitudinal Insight
Participant observation occurs over extended periods, allowing for the analysis of changes in attitudes and behaviors.
Access to Hard-to-Reach Groups
It may be the only viable method for researching groups that are typically inaccessible, like criminal gangs or religious sects.
What is 'verstehen' and why is it important in interpretivist sociology?
'Verstehen' is an empathetic understanding that researchers achieve by experiencing situations as the group does.
enhances the validity of research data by allowing the sociologist to comprehend the motives behind behaviors from the group's perspective.
Why is participant observation more reliable than self-reported data?
captures actual behaviors, as ppl often misrepresent themselves through exaggeration or deception in interviews and questionnaires.
provides a more accurate representation of how individuals act in real life.
In what ways can observation lead to new insights?
The immersive nature of observation may reveal unexpected behaviors or interactions that inspire new theories or ideas, which may not emerge from structured methods like questionnaires.
What challenges do researchers face when observing hard-to-reach groups?
Accessing groups such as criminal gangs or religious sects may require covert observation, necessitating the involvement of a gatekeeper or a trusted member to facilitate entry, and may involve ethical considerations regarding the researcher's role.
What are the criticisms of observation as a research method from a positivist perspective?
Observer Effect: The presence of the observer can alter the behavior of those being studied, leading them to act less 'naturally.' This effect is particularly problematic in overt observation, as shown in Whyte's study, where participants changed their behavior due to the observer’s presence. To mitigate this, some sociologists recommend a settling-in period during which no notes are taken to overcome this problem. covert observation is less likely to lead to this effect.
Bias: Observers may become too attached to the group they are studying, losing objectivity. Paul Rock (1999) argues that if observers no longer find the group surprising, the R has lost their opemindedness n objectivity - becomes biased. rock argues good observer should always be critical of studied group
Narrow Focus: Observational studies often provide a limited view of the group or institution under study bc R cannot study the wider social context of R population, failing to account for the broader social context and impact of structural factors like social class or patriarchy. This limits understanding of the influences on observed behavior. observational studies = micro study
Danger: Covert observation can pose significant risks to researchers, as illustrated by the case of Ken Pryce, who was murdered while conducting participant observation in organized drug crime. This highlights the dangers involved in studying potentially dangerous groups.
Practical Challenges: Observational studies are time-consuming and require significant dedication. They can be expensive, and researchers may face difficulties in recording observations without disturbing the subjects. Maintaining a research diary is common to document daily activities and reflect on their impact on participant behavior.
Reliability Issues: Findings from observational studies cannot be easily replicated or verified, as they often depend on the unique relationships established by the sociologist with group members. This raises questions about the reliability of the findings.
Lack of Representativeness: Observational studies tend to focus on atypical groups rather than average individuals. This lack of representativeness, combined with small sample sizes, makes it challenging to generalize findings to broader populations.
Scientific Rigor: Positivists view participant observation as unscientific due to its lack of systematic controls and failure to subject subjects to standardized or controlled stimuli. This absence of rigor undermines the method's scientific validity.
Qualitative Data Limitations: Observational studies often yield qualitative data, such as long quotations and field notes, which are not quantifiable and difficult to compare. Positivists argue that such subjective data lacks the scientific rigor needed for robust analysis.
Ethical Concerns: Covert observation raises significant ethical dilemmas, including deception of participants who are not able to provide informed consent. Researchers may feel compelled to participate in illegal or immoral activities to gain trust. Furthermore, when researchers leave a group, ethical questions arise regarding the authenticity of friendships formed for research purposes and the potential harm their findings may cause.
Access Difficulties: Gaining access to certain groups can be challenging, and even if researchers are permitted entry, full acceptance by all members may not be achieved, complicating the research process and potentially affecting the validity of the findings.
Explain the observer effect and its implications.
The observer effect implies that participants may alter their behavior when they know they are being observed, leading to less authentic interactions.
This can compromise the validity of the study. Researchers suggest using a settling-in period to reduce this effect, though it is never completely eliminated in overt observation.
Discuss the limitation of narrow focus in observational studies.
Observational studies often fail to account for broader societal influences and structural factors, such as class dynamics or systemic issues, limiting the understanding of how these factors interact with the behaviors being studied.
Why is representativeness a concern in observational studies?
The focus on atypical groups and small sample sizes in observational studies makes it challenging to generalize findings to a larger population, raising concerns about the applicability of the research results
What is the case study "Gang Leader for a Day" about?
by Sudhir Venkatesh (2008) documents Venkatesh's experiences between 1989 and 1996 with the Black Kings, an organized gang in Chicago.
gained access through JT, a local leader, allowing him to observe the gang's influence on public housing residents.
noted that the gang provided protection and organized social activities.
However, his association with the gang put him in danger, especially in rival territories, and he faced ethical criticism for being present during criminal activities.
What ethical concerns were raised regarding Venkatesh's participant observation?
Ethical concerns include the potential for complicity in criminal behavior, the risks to his safety in gang territories, and the implications of his presence during illegal activities.
Critics argue that his observations may have normalized or excused the gang's criminal behavior
What are mixed methods in sociology?
Mixed methods refer to the use of a combination of multiple research methods to collect both quantitative and qualitative data in sociological research.
What are the two common approaches to combining research methods?
The two common approaches are triangulation and methodological pluralism.
Define triangulation in sociology.
hobson defines triangulation as use of more than 1 method of research in order to assess the validity of 1’s RM n esp the data produced
usually involves use of method that generates quan data. may be ( quan ) primary data from a survey or secondary data from official sources n they r often combined w more interactive methods such as unstructured interviews or obs. which generates qual data
What is an example of triangulation in research?
a sociologist investigating employer-employee relationships by observing interactions and then verifying findings through questionnaires filled out by employees and unstructured interviews with management.
What are the strengths of triangulation?
It can check the accuracy of data gathered by different methods.
Qualitative research can generate hypotheses that are then tested with quantitative methods.
The combination of methods provides a more complete picture of the studied group.
Qualitative data can illustrate quantitative statistics by exploring the underlying reasons behind patterns
What is methodological pluralism?
Methodological pluralism involves combining different research methods to build a fuller picture of what is being studied, emphasizing the comprehensive understanding of social phenomena.
Provide an example of methodological pluralism in action.
A pluralistic approach to studying the effects of unemployment might include:
Examining official employment statistics to find how many ppl r unemployed
Analyzing local media reports to assess impact of unemployment
Conducting questionnaire surveys of the employed and unemployed to assess local experiences of unemployment
Carrying out unstructured interviews with long-term unemployed individuals to gather qual data ab everyday experience of unemployment
Observing interactions between staff in job centers and unemployed people
What are the strengths of methodological pluralism?
Methodological pluralism helps compensate for the limitations of one method with the strengths of another, providing a more nuanced understanding of social phenomena.
What are some limitations of the mixed methods approach?
It can be expensive and produce vast amounts of data that are difficult to analyze.
The choice of methods is often dictated by the nature of the research topic, potentially ruling out certain methods.
What is a case study in sociological research?
an in-depth examination of a particular instance or case using methodological pluralism.
It may focus on an individual, group, organization, or specific incident to build a comprehensive picture.
