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ScotlandSociology

Research Methods

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do sociologists use observation and experiments, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

Observation and experiments in sociology: participant and non-participant observation (covert and overt), and laboratory and field experiments, with their strengths and weaknesses.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on observation and experiments. Covers participant and non-participant observation, covert and overt approaches, laboratory and field experiments, the data each produces, and their strengths and weaknesses for validity, reliability and ethics.
11 min answer →

How do sociologists judge whether research is good, and what ethical rules must they follow?

Judging sociological research: reliability, validity and representativeness, and the main research ethics including informed consent, confidentiality, avoiding harm and honesty.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on how to evaluate research. Covers reliability, validity and representativeness as the criteria for judging a study, the main ethical principles, informed consent, confidentiality, avoiding harm and honesty, and why ethics can limit the methods sociologists use.
11 min answer →

How do sociologists plan research, and what kinds of data do they use?

The sociological research process and the main types of data: primary and secondary data, and quantitative and qualitative data, with their uses and limitations.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on the research process and the types of data sociologists use. Covers the stages of a study from aim and hypothesis to conclusion, the difference between primary and secondary data and between quantitative and qualitative data, and the strengths and limitations of each type.
11 min answer →

How do sociologists choose who to study, and why does sampling matter?

Sampling in sociological research: the target population and sampling frame, the main sampling techniques (random, stratified, quota, snowball and opportunity), and why a representative sample matters.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on sampling. Covers the target population and sampling frame, the main sampling techniques (random, stratified, quota, snowball and opportunity), the difference between representative and non-representative samples, and why sampling decisions affect how far findings can be generalised.
11 min answer →

How do sociologists use questionnaires and interviews, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

Survey methods in sociology: questionnaires and the main types of interview (structured, unstructured and semi-structured), with their strengths and weaknesses for reliability, validity and representativeness.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on survey methods. Covers questionnaires and the main types of interview, structured, unstructured and semi-structured, the kinds of data each produces, and their strengths and weaknesses for reliability, validity, representativeness and ethics.
11 min answer →