Using material from the item and sociological knowledge, explain
the meaning of the term ethics [5]
Ethics are guidelines that a researcher must always follow in order to protect
themselves as well as the participants. Some ethical guidelines that must be
followed include that the participant must give informed consent to the
research and the researcher must not deceive the participants. In the item,
we can see that the use of semi-structured interviews followed these ethical
guidelines, according to the researcher. However, other research methods
that may be considered unethical include covert participant and non-
participant observations. An example of a study where this was the case was
Humphrey’s Tearoom Trade study, which was deceitful and intrusive of the
participants’ personal lives.
Using material from the item and sociological knowledge, explain
two possible reasons why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach
in their research [10]
The first reason why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach in studies is
to increase the reliability of their findings. When studies gather results
over a long period of time, this decreases the potential for findings to be
anomalous, making the findings more reliable. This also increases the
validity as it means the findings are more likely to be accurate. This is
shown in the item, as the researcher interviewed the police officers four
times over a four-year period which ensures that their findings are accurate
to the whole period.
Another reason why sociologists use longitudinal studies is to identify
trends in their research. By conducting multiple interviews,
questionnaire, etc over a long period of time, the researcher will be able to
analyse how results change over time and how this may have been
impacted by surrounding social factors. This is shown in studies such as the
Census, which conducts a questionnaire every ten years to identify trends
within the general population. Furthermore, the study in the item will be able
to use the results from the longitudinal study to identify how police attitudes
change over time.
With reference to the item and sociological studies, discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research methods [20]
the meaning of the term ethics [5]
Ethics are guidelines that a researcher must always follow in order to protect
themselves as well as the participants. Some ethical guidelines that must be
followed include that the participant must give informed consent to the
research and the researcher must not deceive the participants. In the item,
we can see that the use of semi-structured interviews followed these ethical
guidelines, according to the researcher. However, other research methods
that may be considered unethical include covert participant and non-
participant observations. An example of a study where this was the case was
Humphrey’s Tearoom Trade study, which was deceitful and intrusive of the
participants’ personal lives.
Using material from the item and sociological knowledge, explain
two possible reasons why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach
in their research [10]
The first reason why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach in studies is
to increase the reliability of their findings. When studies gather results
over a long period of time, this decreases the potential for findings to be
anomalous, making the findings more reliable. This also increases the
validity as it means the findings are more likely to be accurate. This is
shown in the item, as the researcher interviewed the police officers four
times over a four-year period which ensures that their findings are accurate
to the whole period.
Another reason why sociologists use longitudinal studies is to identify
trends in their research. By conducting multiple interviews,
questionnaire, etc over a long period of time, the researcher will be able to
analyse how results change over time and how this may have been
impacted by surrounding social factors. This is shown in studies such as the
Census, which conducts a questionnaire every ten years to identify trends
within the general population. Furthermore, the study in the item will be able
to use the results from the longitudinal study to identify how police attitudes
change over time.
With reference to the item and sociological studies, discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research methods [20]
