SOCIOLOGY RESEARCH METHODS
LATEST EXAM 2026 WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Types of questions - answer-Open questions: No pre-set choice of
answers and require more than one word response.
Closed questions: Pre-set limited choice of answers
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Design and layout considerations - answer-Questions should be
understandable and explained.
Unnecessary information shouldn't be included.
It should be clear which answers belong to the questions.
Variety of answers should be included.
Instructions should be provided.
Text and font size should be clear.
Enough space should be left for people to answer questions.
Double-barrelled questions should be avoided.
The question should begin with the quickest and simplest questions.
QUESTIONThe imposition problem - answer-This is when the researcher imposes that own values,
attitudes, or thoughts onto the participant. Clear and neutral language should be used and leading
questions should be avoided.
QUESTIONOperationalising concepts - answer-Questions and key terms need to be defined so they
can be measured. Always ensure that key times are precise and the answers are put into
measurable categories.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Practical issues - answer-Quick and cheap to reach a large sample.
Quick to analyse and present.
Easy to do a pilot study.
,Postal questionnaires can have a poor or slow response rate.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Ethical issues - answer-Useful with consent.
Anonymity good for sensitive issues.
Participants can leave questions unanswered.
May be too impersonal for sensitive issues.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Reliability - answer-High reliability - Usually a large sample and
standardised
Non-operationalised concepts
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Validity - answer-No interviewer affect
Paul validity - Lacks detail and explanation, limited options to select l, dishonesty, imposition
problem
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Examples - answer-The census - A questionnaire that is sent to every
household.
Callender and Jackson (2005)
- 2000 students in England
- Fear of debt arising from university fees
- Higher and lower social classes
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Representativeness - answer-Representative and generalisable if there
is a large sample.
Affected by a poor response rate.
Certain type of participant?
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Theory - answer-Favoured by positivists - Quantitative, reliable,
objective
Criticised by Interpretivists - Low validity
QUESTIONInterviews - answer-Interviews involve a situation where the researcher asks a
participant questions and they can be conducted face-to-face or via the telephone for example.
Interviews involve social interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee.
QUESTIONStructured interviews - answer-Structured interviews tend to be formal interviews.
, An interview schedule is used which is a predetermined set of usually closed questions.
The interviewer is given strict instructions on how to ask the questions.
The interview is conducted in the same standardised way each time.
QUESTIONUnstructured interviews - answer-Unstructured interviews tend to be informal and/or in-
depth interviews.
Often there are basic areas for discussion planned but few if any pre-set questions.
The interviewer has complete freedom and can also encourage in-depth answers with open
questions.
QUESTIONWhat are the three key considerations researchers need to think about when completing
observations? - answer-1. Getting in, staying in and getting out of the group being studied.
2. How involved should the researcher be?
3. How much information should the researcher give to the participants?
QUESTIONObservations - Getting in - answer-How easy is it to make initial contact and enter the
group?
How easy is it to be accepted?
QUESTIONObservations - Staying in - answer-How easy is it to maintain the group's acceptance?
How easy is it to avoid 'going native' (Becoming so involved in a group that all attachment is lost)
QUESTIONObservations - Getting out - answer-How easy is it to leave the group behind without
damaging relationships?
How easy is it to leave the group safely?
How easy is it to re-enter the 'normal' world?
QUESTIONParticipant observation - answer-The researcher joins a group and studies their
behaviour.
QUESTIONStrengths of participant observation - answer-Deeper understanding of the group.
LATEST EXAM 2026 WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Types of questions - answer-Open questions: No pre-set choice of
answers and require more than one word response.
Closed questions: Pre-set limited choice of answers
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Design and layout considerations - answer-Questions should be
understandable and explained.
Unnecessary information shouldn't be included.
It should be clear which answers belong to the questions.
Variety of answers should be included.
Instructions should be provided.
Text and font size should be clear.
Enough space should be left for people to answer questions.
Double-barrelled questions should be avoided.
The question should begin with the quickest and simplest questions.
QUESTIONThe imposition problem - answer-This is when the researcher imposes that own values,
attitudes, or thoughts onto the participant. Clear and neutral language should be used and leading
questions should be avoided.
QUESTIONOperationalising concepts - answer-Questions and key terms need to be defined so they
can be measured. Always ensure that key times are precise and the answers are put into
measurable categories.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Practical issues - answer-Quick and cheap to reach a large sample.
Quick to analyse and present.
Easy to do a pilot study.
,Postal questionnaires can have a poor or slow response rate.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Ethical issues - answer-Useful with consent.
Anonymity good for sensitive issues.
Participants can leave questions unanswered.
May be too impersonal for sensitive issues.
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Reliability - answer-High reliability - Usually a large sample and
standardised
Non-operationalised concepts
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Validity - answer-No interviewer affect
Paul validity - Lacks detail and explanation, limited options to select l, dishonesty, imposition
problem
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Examples - answer-The census - A questionnaire that is sent to every
household.
Callender and Jackson (2005)
- 2000 students in England
- Fear of debt arising from university fees
- Higher and lower social classes
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Representativeness - answer-Representative and generalisable if there
is a large sample.
Affected by a poor response rate.
Certain type of participant?
QUESTIONQuestionnaires - Theory - answer-Favoured by positivists - Quantitative, reliable,
objective
Criticised by Interpretivists - Low validity
QUESTIONInterviews - answer-Interviews involve a situation where the researcher asks a
participant questions and they can be conducted face-to-face or via the telephone for example.
Interviews involve social interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee.
QUESTIONStructured interviews - answer-Structured interviews tend to be formal interviews.
, An interview schedule is used which is a predetermined set of usually closed questions.
The interviewer is given strict instructions on how to ask the questions.
The interview is conducted in the same standardised way each time.
QUESTIONUnstructured interviews - answer-Unstructured interviews tend to be informal and/or in-
depth interviews.
Often there are basic areas for discussion planned but few if any pre-set questions.
The interviewer has complete freedom and can also encourage in-depth answers with open
questions.
QUESTIONWhat are the three key considerations researchers need to think about when completing
observations? - answer-1. Getting in, staying in and getting out of the group being studied.
2. How involved should the researcher be?
3. How much information should the researcher give to the participants?
QUESTIONObservations - Getting in - answer-How easy is it to make initial contact and enter the
group?
How easy is it to be accepted?
QUESTIONObservations - Staying in - answer-How easy is it to maintain the group's acceptance?
How easy is it to avoid 'going native' (Becoming so involved in a group that all attachment is lost)
QUESTIONObservations - Getting out - answer-How easy is it to leave the group behind without
damaging relationships?
How easy is it to leave the group safely?
How easy is it to re-enter the 'normal' world?
QUESTIONParticipant observation - answer-The researcher joins a group and studies their
behaviour.
QUESTIONStrengths of participant observation - answer-Deeper understanding of the group.
