In the summer exam you will be asked a series of questions on research methods including an essay worth 20 marks. 10 marks are available for AO1 (Knowledge and understanding) and 10 marks for AO2 (interpretation, analysis and evaluation)
Step 1: What is the question actually asking you to do?
It is really important that you answer the question, you may construct a wonderfully written essay on the advantages of official statistics but if it does not answer the question you may only get a maximum of 8 marks!
EG: Examine the disadvantages of using official statistics in sociological research
So if you have a question such as this you need to remember that your essay should FOCUS on the disadvantages, you should refer to key concepts, especially reliability, representativeness and validity.
Your AO1 marks here will be awarded for your knowledge of the disadvantages of official statistics. You should refer to the positivist – Interpretive debate too.
Your AO2 marks will be awarded through your evaluation, this is where you can discuss the advantages of official statistics briefly, try to link a strength to a limitation as you go along. Don’t just provide a list at the end. You can also gain marks for comparing official statistics to other methods.
Introduction
Official statistics are quantitative data gathered by the government and other funding bodies.
Gathered in 2 ways: Registration, Official Surveys – give examples
Positivists favour official statistics because they provide objective social facts
Practical Issues (In this essay you will start with the disadvantages)
- Government collects stats for + Save time and money
Own purposes
+ Allow Comparisons between
- Definitions that the state use social groups
May be different to sociologists
+ trends over time/cause and
effect
Representativeness
- statistics produced from + However usually much bigger
Official surveys may be less than Sociologists could carry
representative, eg British Crime out
Survey as based on a sample
+ registration stats highly
representative
Validity (main problem with stats) Do they measure what they claim to?
- Stats may tell us what + Hard stats can be said to
Is happening but not why be valid
- Major validity issues in
Stats such as crime and unemployment
Figures (explain and give examples)
Discuss reasons why interpretivists reject them here
Conclusion (link back to question.)
Many disadvantages to the use of official statistics in sociological research, however they are a valuable tool…..example of study perhaps that used them???
Other top tips:
- Make sure you use connectives when providing evaluation, eg
However, on the other hand, alternatively, in contrast to.
- Make sure you answer the question, tell the examiner your doing this by starting…
One disadvantage of using official statistics to conduct sociological research is…
A further disadvantage of using official statistics in Sociological research is…
Link your conclusion back to the question.
Now you have had an example you can use the same principles to plan other essays
So if the question was…
Assess both the advantages and the disadvantages
We know the examiner is looking for a balance
Examine the reason why some sociologists choose to use
We know the examiner is looking for mainly advantages
Examine the reasons why some sociologists choose to use structured interviews when conducting research
Examine the reasons why some sociologists choose not use questionnaires when conducting research
Assess the strengths and limitations of using official statistics in sociological research
Examine the reasons why some sociologists choose not use overt observation when conducting research
Use this guidance as a tool to practice questions and plan essays for your revision.
