Social surveys

Define census

This is a survey conducted on a entire population. Typically done by the government in official statistics.

Operationalising a concept and pilot study definition

Operationalising a concept is understanding a concept before starting research around it.

A pilot study is testing out the study - such as making practice questionnaires - to understand all the faults and advantages of the experiment before it officially begins.

Stages of conducting a survey

1. choose a topic

2. determine aim/hypothesis

3. operationalising concepts

4. conduct pilot study

5. analyse data

6. conduct survey

7. decide whether face to face, postal etc

8. Select sample

4 representative sampling techniques

1. Random sampling - The sample is selected purely by random chance - names drawn out of a hat

2. Quasi-random sampling/systematic sampling - When a researcher selects every nth person from a list by dividing the total population (of the targeted group) by the sample size, and it is most representative when the list is randomised.

3. Stratified sampling - Stratified sampling divides the population into social groups (e.g. gender or age) and randomly samples from each to ensure the sample reflects the population.

4. Quota sampling - similar to stratified by choosing the samples for each category (e.g. male and female), but quota sampling does not have the element of random selection that is present in stratified sampling and is therefore considered less reliable.

Practical limitations of representative sampling

1. Hard to know social characteristics: gender, class age etc

2. People could refuse to participate

2 types of sampling sociologists would use as a replacement of representative sampling

1. Snowball - contacting key individuals of the research and them suggesting others who might also be helpful towards the research

2. Opportunity sampling: Choosing individuals who are easiest to access