Primary Sources of Data: Quantitative Methods (AQA A Level Sociology): Flashcards

Causality is often unclear in field experiments because it is difficult to isolate variables in real-world settings.

Interpretivists argue that all experiments lack validity because people are conscious actors, so social reality cannot be measured like natural phenomena.

The comparative method was developed by Durkheim in his study of suicide.

The comparative method looks for cause and effect by comparing two groups using existing data.

False.

The comparative method gives researchers less control over variables than field experiments, which reduces certainty about cause and effect.

Laboratory experiments have limited application in sociology because human behaviour is complex and hard to reproduce in lab settings.

Questionnaires mainly collect quantitative data from large numbers of people.

Closed-ended questions are fixed-response questions, such as yes/no, multiple choice or Likert scales.

Interpretivist sociologists prefer open-ended questions because they seek to understand meanings and experiences.

A leading question is a question that reflects the researcher's assumptions or opinions and can influence how people respond, e.g. 'Would you agree that school rules are too strict?'

Questionnaires are favoured by positivist sociologists, who value reliability and generalisability.

True.

Their standardised format means other researchers can easily replicate them.

Researchers should avoid overly technical language because it may confuse respondents who are not familiar with sociological terms, e.g. 'institutional habitus'.

Questionnaires are cost-effective because no interviewers are needed.

Emotionally charged questions can reduce the validity of questionnaire data because they may pressure respondents to answer in a socially acceptable way rather than honestly.

False.

Questionnaires can be distributed in person, by post or online, and respondents answer them in their own time.

Questionnaires are often low in representativeness because they often suffer from low response rates and are not suitable for all populations, e.g. people with literacy difficulties.

Self-completion can reduce the validity of questionnaire data because, without an interviewer to clarify questions, respondents may misunderstand or skip them.

True.

Respondents may feel more comfortable answering sensitive questions when they remain anonymous.

Closed questions often lack validity because they miss the richness of human experience and do not let respondents elaborate on their choices.

Structured interviews are standardised by asking each participant the same set of pre-written questions in the same order, with a consistent tone and delivery.

Structured interviews are also known as formal interviews.

False.

Structured interviews mainly produce quantitative data, as responses are usually closed-ended and can be easily coded.

Positivist sociologists favour structured interviews because they are objective and scientific, reducing researcher bias.

Semi-structured interviews include set questions but also allow the interviewer to probe further based on the participant's responses.

Semi-structured interviews use a mix of closed and open-ended questions.

The interviewer effect is when characteristics of the interviewer, such as their age, gender or ethnicity, influence respondents' answers.

Structured interviews are reliable because their standardised questions mean other researchers can repeat them to check for consistency.

False.

Semi-structured interviews are less reliable because responses vary between participants, making them harder to replicate.

Face-to-face structured interviews can reduce validity because respondents may give answers they think are socially acceptable (social desirability bias).

The imposition problem is when researchers impose their own assumptions on respondents through limited answer options.

Some feminists criticise structured interviews because they reinforce unequal power dynamics and discourage openness.

Face-to-face structured interviews often achieve a high response rate because trained interviewers can build trust with respondents.

Unlike self-completion questionnaires, interviews allow interviewers to clarify misunderstandings.

False.

Structured interviews are more expensive than questionnaires because they require trained interviewers and more time.

A longitudinal study follows the same group of people over an extended period of time, often months or years.

Longitudinal studies make repeated measurements to identify changes and trends in behaviour, attitudes or development.

False.

Longitudinal studies are usually associated with quantitative data, but qualitative longitudinal research is also possible.

Longitudinal studies are useful in education because they can observe the long-term impacts of factors such as class or ethnicity on achievement.

Sample attrition is when participants drop out of a study over time, e.g. due to moving away, loss of interest or death.

Sample attrition can affect the representativeness of a longitudinal study because, if many participants leave, the remaining group may no longer reflect the wider population, so the sample becomes unrepresentative.

Longitudinal studies are flexible because researchers can alter or add new questions as the study progresses.

False.

Longitudinal studies take years to complete and need sustained funding and researcher commitment.

A changing research focus can weaken a longitudinal study by reducing the comparability of data over time.

Close contact over time may lead to bias or over-identification with participants.

Longitudinal studies have high validity because studying the same participants over time gives a detailed, in-depth understanding of social change.

True.

Data collected over time reveals patterns, which can point to possible causes of change.