Theory and Methods Topic 1
Questions answered below:
Outline and explain two reasons why positivists prefer to use quantitative research methods
(10 marks)
Evaluate the claim that quantitative research methods may have many advantages, but they
tell us little about what people really think and do. (20 marks)
Teaser:
Outline and explain two reasons why positivists prefer to use quantitative research methods
(10 marks)
Positivists use numerical data because they believe it is, really the only way we can easily
study and compare large groups within society or do cross national comparisons. Qualitative
data by contrast is too in-depth and too difficult to compare.
One reason they prefer to use quantitative research methods is due to reliability. For
example questionnaires (often described as a ‘standardised measuring instrument’) are
attractive to positivists because if another researcher repeats the method they are more
likely to gain the same set of results (replica) as the first researcher. Reliability is also
important because it allows scientists findings to be checked, confirmed and easily falsified
by others. If others repeat research and obtain the same results, we can have more
confidence findings are true and if results differ, we can assume there is a real difference in
the times we are comparing.
However, the validity of questionnaires depends on the ability of respondents to provide
accurate answers. In Schofield’s research on the sexual behaviour of teenagers when
asking ‘are you a virgin’, one girl answered ‘no not yet’ implying people may not admit
whether they do not understand as to not appear unintelligent. Similarly, respondents may
try giving ‘respectable’ answers to impress or because they feel pressured.
Overall, positivist see numerical data and quantitative research methods combined as
allowing us to easily make comparisons once we have reduced the social data down to
numbers. It is makes it easy to put into graphs and charts and to make comparisons whilst
also finding correlations, enabling us to see how one thing affects another. An example is
the link between knife crime in the UK and poverty. Akala noted Scotland saw a significant
decrease in knife crime by tackling poverty which was a contributing factor to this social
issue.
The second reason…
Questions answered below:
Outline and explain two reasons why positivists prefer to use quantitative research methods
(10 marks)
Evaluate the claim that quantitative research methods may have many advantages, but they
tell us little about what people really think and do. (20 marks)
Teaser:
Outline and explain two reasons why positivists prefer to use quantitative research methods
(10 marks)
Positivists use numerical data because they believe it is, really the only way we can easily
study and compare large groups within society or do cross national comparisons. Qualitative
data by contrast is too in-depth and too difficult to compare.
One reason they prefer to use quantitative research methods is due to reliability. For
example questionnaires (often described as a ‘standardised measuring instrument’) are
attractive to positivists because if another researcher repeats the method they are more
likely to gain the same set of results (replica) as the first researcher. Reliability is also
important because it allows scientists findings to be checked, confirmed and easily falsified
by others. If others repeat research and obtain the same results, we can have more
confidence findings are true and if results differ, we can assume there is a real difference in
the times we are comparing.
However, the validity of questionnaires depends on the ability of respondents to provide
accurate answers. In Schofield’s research on the sexual behaviour of teenagers when
asking ‘are you a virgin’, one girl answered ‘no not yet’ implying people may not admit
whether they do not understand as to not appear unintelligent. Similarly, respondents may
try giving ‘respectable’ answers to impress or because they feel pressured.
Overall, positivist see numerical data and quantitative research methods combined as
allowing us to easily make comparisons once we have reduced the social data down to
numbers. It is makes it easy to put into graphs and charts and to make comparisons whilst
also finding correlations, enabling us to see how one thing affects another. An example is
the link between knife crime in the UK and poverty. Akala noted Scotland saw a significant
decrease in knife crime by tackling poverty which was a contributing factor to this social
issue.
The second reason…
