Cambridge International A Level · Sociology (9699)

Types of data: primary, secondary, quantitative, qualitative: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Types of data: primary, secondary, quantitative, qualitative.

10 questions23 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

Which of the following is an example of primary data collected using a quantitative method?

Question 2

1 mark

Why do positivists prefer to use structured interviews rather than unstructured interviews in sociological research?

Question 3

1 mark

From an interpretivist perspective, why are official statistics, such as crime or suicide rates, often considered to lack validity?

Question 4

1 mark

Which of the following is a key advantage of using secondary data in sociological research?

Question 5

1 mark

When a researcher's presence or the knowledge that a study is taking place alters the typical behavior of the subjects, what methodological issue has occurred?

Question 6

2 marks

Give two ethical issues a sociologist must consider when conducting research on human participants.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 7

3 marks

Explain why an interpretivist would argue that official statistics are social constructions rather than objective social facts.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 8

5 marks

Discuss how theoretical considerations, such as the researcher's perspective, influence the choice of a specific research method.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 9

3 marks

(a) Describe the difference between covert and overt participant observation.
(b) Describe two practical limitations of using longitudinal studies in sociological research.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 10

5 marks

The following data shows the preference for research methods in a survey of 100 sociology students:
- Structured Interviews: 40
- Unstructured Interviews: 35
- Questionnaires: 15
- Observation: 10

(a) Explain one reason why a researcher might prefer unstructured interviews over structured interviews.
(b) Explain the importance of a sampling frame in selecting participants for a survey.
(c) Evaluate the claim that qualitative methods provide more valid data than quantitative methods.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

* The content provided by thinka is generated by AI and may not always be accurate or up-to-date. Please use it as a supplementary resource and verify with official materials.

You've seen the model answer. Now get yours marked.

This page can show you how a good answer looks. It cannot tell you what your answer was missing. thinka marks your written work against the real mark scheme in about 15 seconds.

Get My Answers Marked Back to the notes

Want more questions like these? Get a fresh set on this topic, marked as you go.