Sociology-Research Methods-Statistics

Types of Statistics

Official-government data such as birth rates, death rates

Unofficial-from private organisations-charities

Official Statistics Practical Advantages and Disadvantages

+cheap and readily available-quantitative data

+collected at regular intervals-comparable over time

-Definitions change over time-hard to compare

-Government statistics are for its own purposes-may not have statistics about specific area of research

Official statistics Ethical Advantages and Disadvantages

+No need for informed consent-readily available

+No physical or psychological harm

-Anonymity/confidentiality—GDPR regulations may refuse to release data

Official Statistics Theoretical Advantages and Disadvantages

Postivism (like-are social facts)

+Representative-large scale, can generalise and covers cross section of society

+Reliable-can compare, compiled in standardised way by trained staff

Interp (dislike-want to investigate how stats are socially constructed-not social facts)

-Lacks validity-softer statistics such as police statistics may not record all crimes

-Lacks depth and Verstehen-no rapport built

Examples of Studies

Family stats-birth and death rates-divorce and marriage rates

Education stats-attendance rates-exclusions rates-exam results