Types of data: primary, secondary, quantitative, qualitative：練習題

Which of the following research methods is most likely to be favored by a positivist sociologist seeking to ensure the reliability of their data?

A sociologist wishes to study the long-term impact of poverty on the educational attainment of a specific group of children over a period of twenty years. Which research approach would be most effective for this study?

Which of the following describes a postmodernist critique of the positivist approach to sociological research?

Which term, used by interpretivist sociologists, refers to the researcher's attempt to gain an empathetic understanding of the meanings and motives behind human behavior?

A researcher is studying the impact of social media on teenage identity. They decide to use a combination of official statistics regarding screen time and unstructured interviews to understand the personal meanings behind online interactions. Which sociological concept best describes this researcher's choice of strategy?

Explain what is meant by the term subjectivity in sociological research.

Explain one reason why sociologists may choose to use semi-structured interviews instead of unstructured interviews when researching a specific social group.

Analyze why an interpretivist researcher might argue that covert participant observation provides higher levels of validity than structured questionnaires.

Sociologists often use pilot studies as a preliminary stage in their research design.
(a) Describe what is meant by a pilot study.
(b) Explain two practical reasons why a researcher would choose to conduct a pilot study before carrying out their main research.

A researcher is planning to study the impact of social media usage on the self-esteem of teenagers. They are considering using a mixed methods approach.

(a) Explain the difference between triangulation and methodological pluralism in the context of this research design.
(b) Analyze two benefits of using semi-structured interviews rather than structured interviews to explore a sensitive topic like self-esteem.