Strengths and limitations of different research methods

    AQA
    GCSE

    The study of research methods in Sociology centers on the methodological dispute between Positivism and Interpretivism, evaluating how sociologists gather data to understand social reality. Candidates must assess methods based on the PET framework: Practical issues (time, cost, access), Ethical issues (consent, harm, privacy), and Theoretical issues (validity, reliability, representativeness). The scope includes the analysis of quantitative methods (experiments, surveys, official statistics) aimed at establishing social facts and causality, versus qualitative methods (observations, unstructured interviews) aimed at achieving Verstehen and deep insight. Mastery requires linking specific methods to the underlying epistemological stances of structural and action theories.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit explicit use of the PET framework (Practical, Ethical, Theoretical) to structure evaluation.
    • Award marks for correct application of methodological concepts: validity, reliability, representativeness, and generalisability.
    • Responses must distinguish between quantitative (numerical/patterns) and qualitative (descriptive/meaning) data strengths.
    • Higher-level responses must contextualize the method's suitability for the specific group studied (e.g., vulnerable groups, gatekeepers).

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit explicit use of the PET framework (Practical, Ethical, Theoretical) to structure evaluation.
    • Award marks for correct application of methodological concepts: validity, reliability, representativeness, and generalisability.
    • Responses must distinguish between quantitative (numerical/patterns) and qualitative (descriptive/meaning) data strengths.
    • Higher-level responses must contextualize the method's suitability for the specific group studied (e.g., vulnerable groups, gatekeepers).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Always apply the 'PET' acronym: Practical issues, Ethical issues, Theoretical issues.
    • 💡When evaluating, use 'However' to juxtapose a strength with a limitation or a counter-perspective.
    • 💡In 12-mark questions, ensure the conclusion reaches a judgment on the 'best' method or the extent of usefulness.
    • 💡Reference the Item explicitly; quote the text or cite data trends to support AO2 application marks.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'validity' (truthfulness/depth) with 'reliability' (replicability/consistency).
    • Providing generic practical limitations (e.g., 'it takes time and money') without explaining *why* for that specific method.
    • Failing to link the method's strengths/weaknesses to the specific context of the Item provided in the exam.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss how far
    Evaluate
    Examine

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