research methods

sociology

Case study

Pros- can generate large amounts of information.

cons- time consuming.

Non participant observation

pros-reliable-replicable

cons-expensive/time consuming

Ethnography

pros-see context

cons-ethical issues

Participant observation

pros-studied in natural setting

cons-difficult to gain access

Longitudinal study

pros-have lots of detail-valid

cons-time consuming

Content analysis

pros-cheap/easy to carry out

cons-may be time consuming

Questionnaire (close questions)-quantitive data

pros-easy to interpretative.

cons-doest give detailed info

Questionares (open questions)-qualitive data

pros-good quality answers

cons-time consuming

Structured interviews-quantitive data

pros-reliable, set questions provided so bale to repeat interviews

cons-less valid, questions are set

Unstructured interviews-qualitive data

pros-valid, able to answer in own words spoken get a true pictureecons-expensive

secondary data:official statistics-quantitive data

pros-see trends overtime

cons-validity, can’t see the reasons behind response