QUANTATIVE METHODS
The systematic collection of data, the results of which are usually expressed mathematically.
SOCIAL SURVEYS
Usually questions. Cases can be a house, a school, a crime etc. Data is quantified and analysed in a systematic way, usually on computers. The survey can be used to test hypotheses by seeking correlations between variables such as religion and divorce gender and educational success etc.
TYPES OF SURVEYS
Longitudinal surveys, follow the development of subjects over time.
Historical surveys, compare behaviour in different periods.
Cross-sectional surveys, study different subjects at one moment in time, e.g. voters before an election.
Cross-cultural surveys, study different cultures and are useful to show that behaviours are learned through socialization rather than being natural.
The Sample Survey
A representative section is applied to the whole to save time and money. The sampling frame is where the group comes from eg. black households.
Sampling methods:
Random, each person has an equal chance of being chosen.
Quota sampling, proportions of group comparable to those groups size in society.
Stratified sampling, making population into strata and choosing at random from within each group. This endures better representation where the sample size is small.
Purposive sampling is deliberately choosing a non-representative sample to test a hypothesis.
Snowball sampling is getting people to introduce other subjects. It is not representative but allows access to secretive groups.
EVALUATION OF DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
QUESTIONNAIRES
Post or in person.
Can be pre-coded and standardised, allowing easy analysis and use for comparative research.
More scientific as easier to replicate later.
Can be used in private.
Limitations
Artificial, not real behaviour.
People can lie or give expected answers.
Leading questions.
Don't know who completed if was done in private.
Artificial situations; invalid data.
INTREVIEWS
eg. Dobash and Dobash on domestic violence.
Uses:
Can explain and probe.
Sensitive subject; can encourage opening up.
Quicker than observation
Informal, they are allowed to talk about whatever they think is important.
Limitations:
Interviewer bias.
Time consuming.
Difficult to analyse.
Hard to replicate; unscientific.
You can talk about interviews, comparing them to qualitative methods (comparing to observation) as well as surveys/questionnaires.
SECONDARY DATA
Collected by someone else, eg. Durkheim's study of suicide.
Extra Information
Interviewer bias can influence outcomes, which can be caused by class, gender etc.
Social facts are often revealed by surveys