Official Statistics (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note
Exam code: 7192
Official statistics
Official statistics are quantitative data collected and published by government agencies
They include data such as
birth rates
death rates
unemployment
crime
education
These statistics are typically produced through:
Registration – e.g., births and deaths must be officially recorded
Official surveys – such as the UK Census or General Household Survey
Government reports – such as those by Ofsted, the ONS, or the Home Office
Sociologists use official statistics as a secondary source of data
They may analyse it to identify patterns and trends, compare groups, or assess social policies
Theoretical perspectives
Positivists
Positivists favour official statistics for their reliability, objectivity, and representativeness
They view them as hard statistics, which are 'social facts' that can be measured and compared scientifically
Positivists use statistics to test hypotheses and identify cause-and-effect relationships
E.g., Durkheim used suicide statistics to explore levels of social integration
Interpretivists
Interpretivists view official statistics as soft statistics, which are not facts
They believe that statistics are socially constructed, shaped by the values and decisions of officials rather than the people surveyed
Interpretivists argue they don’t measure reality but instead reflect policing priorities, public willingness to report, or how data is recorded
Interpretivists prefer qualitative data for understanding the meanings behind actions
Marxists
Marxists argue that official statistics often serve ideological purposes
They may reflect the interests of the ruling class by underreporting inequality, racism, or dissent
E.g., crime statistics might downplay state crime or exaggerate working-class crime
Evaluation of official statistics
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Practical – Official statistics are a quick and cheap source of data. They already exist, are easily accessed online, and are published regularly by government departments. | Lack of insight – Interpretivists argue that statistics such as unemployment or divorce figures do not reveal the personal meanings or experiences behind these events. |
Large samples and representativeness – Often based on whole populations (e.g., the census), increasing the generalisability of findings. | Lack of validity – Some statistics may not measure what they claim to. For example, domestic violence statistics often underreport actual incidents. |
Enable trend analysis – Useful for identifying long-term social changes, such as crime or divorce rates over decades, especially when linked to policy changes. | Social construction – Interpretivists argue that statistics are shaped by those who create them. E.g., a police officer may choose not to record a crime, which distorts crime statistics. |
Reliable – The use of standardised definitions and consistent methods over time allows replication by other researchers. | Limited relevance – Some statistics may not match a sociologist’s research question. For instance, divorce statistics show legal endings but not separations or unhappy marriages. |
Useful in mixed methods research – Quantitative data from official statistics can be compared with qualitative findings. E.g., gender differences in subject choice can be explored using both statistical data and interviews. | Lack of control over data collection – Researchers are limited in how and why the data was collected, reducing flexibility in how it can be analysed. |
Ethically sound – As secondary data, there are no issues around informed consent or harm to participants. | Potential bias or political influence – Data might be selectively gathered or reported to support government agendas, undermining objectivity. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In a 10-mark Theory & Methods question, you could be asked why official statistics should not be seen as social facts. To score well, you must:
Know what 'social facts' means: Positivists (Durkheim) see stats as objective measures of reality
Give a reason why they are not 'facts': stats are socially constructed (e.g. based on definitions, reporting, and recording)
Explain with examples: crime figures depend on reporting/recording practices; unemployment rates change with government definitions
Link to interpretivism: stats reflect labelling and meanings, not objective facts (Douglas, Atkinson, Taylor)
Show integration of methods and theory: this type of question requires you to combine methods knowledge (limitations of official statistics) with theory (positivist vs interpretivist views of social facts)
Don’t just say stats lack validity — show why this means they can’t be treated as facts.
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