Assessment 5: Research Methods (1)
Outline and explain two strengths of using observations in sociological research:
1. One strength of using observations in sociological research is their validity. They collect qualitative data of
how people really live and create an authentic account. They observe natural behaviour. Covert observations
also reduce the risk of the Hawthorne effect.
Another strength of using observations in sociological research is that they are reliable sources of data
collected. If someone were to re-do a non-participant experiment, they will be able to observe the similar,
natural behaviour and make similar findings. For example, the Tearoom Trade observation could be done
again and produce reliable answers or show the progression to society behaviour now.
Outline and explain the weaknesses of using experiments:
2. An experiment uses controlled variables to test a hypothesis in a natural or controlled environment. There
are two main types of experiments: field experiments (natural setting) and laboratory experiments
(controlled setting). Positivist favour lab experiments, whereas interpretivists prefer to use field
experiments. Although they have some strengths, they have a lot of problems.
A practical problem of laboratory experiments is cost because a sociologist may have to rent a suitable
venue for a controlled environment, and the equipment may be expensive. For example, Milgram’s study on
the obedience of authority was expensive as he had to pay for a venue, equipment/props, and he had to pay
all involved e.g., the volunteers and the actor. On the other hand, field experiments take a long time to carry
out, which is a practical disadvantage, because they are a form of longitudinal research. Rosenthal and
Jacobson looked at Pygmalion in the classroom, which required them giving students an IQ test. This study
took a long-time because they had to go back a year later to gather the results of how the IQ tests affected
students e.g., the “spurters.”
Furthermore, field experiments have many ethical disadvantages, such as their negative effect on vulnerable
groups. Vulnerable groups, like children, are people who may be prone to the negative effects of research. In
the 1968, Rosenthal and Jacobson classroom study, children were a negatively affected vulnerable group.
Their study effected children’s futures as their study randomly selected who would be the “spurters.” The
“spurters” benefitted from the study because they were given more help/support from teachers during the
space of the year. However, those who were not labelled as “spurters” had damaged self-esteem, ambitions,
and career goals as they were put at an educational disadvantage.
Moreover, field experiments lack reliability, which is a theoretical problem. Although Rosenthal and
Jacobson’s study could simply be repeated, the results will often vary because the study depends on the type
of students and teachers. For example, their study has been repeated over 200 times within 5 years
however, they have collated many differences. Thus, the study is not reliable because the original cannot be
completely duplicated. On the contrary, laboratory experiments have far more theoretical disadvantages,
such as negative reliability and representativeness. For example, the Stanford Prison experiment, which
consisted of men pretending to be prison guards and inmates, had many unethical problems (emotional
breakdowns, deceit etc) and was of an extreme nature. Due to these problems, this case study could never
be repeated, making it unreliable. Furthermore, this experiment would not be representative because it was
only based on 70 men, which is a relatively small sample.
In conclusion, experiments have proven to have many problems in sociological research, mainly because
they have a lot of ethical disadvantages, which then creates theoretical problems. Although field
experiments are relatively simple to do practically, both experiments generally face a lot of problems.
Outline and explain two strengths of using observations in sociological research:
1. One strength of using observations in sociological research is their validity. They collect qualitative data of
how people really live and create an authentic account. They observe natural behaviour. Covert observations
also reduce the risk of the Hawthorne effect.
Another strength of using observations in sociological research is that they are reliable sources of data
collected. If someone were to re-do a non-participant experiment, they will be able to observe the similar,
natural behaviour and make similar findings. For example, the Tearoom Trade observation could be done
again and produce reliable answers or show the progression to society behaviour now.
Outline and explain the weaknesses of using experiments:
2. An experiment uses controlled variables to test a hypothesis in a natural or controlled environment. There
are two main types of experiments: field experiments (natural setting) and laboratory experiments
(controlled setting). Positivist favour lab experiments, whereas interpretivists prefer to use field
experiments. Although they have some strengths, they have a lot of problems.
A practical problem of laboratory experiments is cost because a sociologist may have to rent a suitable
venue for a controlled environment, and the equipment may be expensive. For example, Milgram’s study on
the obedience of authority was expensive as he had to pay for a venue, equipment/props, and he had to pay
all involved e.g., the volunteers and the actor. On the other hand, field experiments take a long time to carry
out, which is a practical disadvantage, because they are a form of longitudinal research. Rosenthal and
Jacobson looked at Pygmalion in the classroom, which required them giving students an IQ test. This study
took a long-time because they had to go back a year later to gather the results of how the IQ tests affected
students e.g., the “spurters.”
Furthermore, field experiments have many ethical disadvantages, such as their negative effect on vulnerable
groups. Vulnerable groups, like children, are people who may be prone to the negative effects of research. In
the 1968, Rosenthal and Jacobson classroom study, children were a negatively affected vulnerable group.
Their study effected children’s futures as their study randomly selected who would be the “spurters.” The
“spurters” benefitted from the study because they were given more help/support from teachers during the
space of the year. However, those who were not labelled as “spurters” had damaged self-esteem, ambitions,
and career goals as they were put at an educational disadvantage.
Moreover, field experiments lack reliability, which is a theoretical problem. Although Rosenthal and
Jacobson’s study could simply be repeated, the results will often vary because the study depends on the type
of students and teachers. For example, their study has been repeated over 200 times within 5 years
however, they have collated many differences. Thus, the study is not reliable because the original cannot be
completely duplicated. On the contrary, laboratory experiments have far more theoretical disadvantages,
such as negative reliability and representativeness. For example, the Stanford Prison experiment, which
consisted of men pretending to be prison guards and inmates, had many unethical problems (emotional
breakdowns, deceit etc) and was of an extreme nature. Due to these problems, this case study could never
be repeated, making it unreliable. Furthermore, this experiment would not be representative because it was
only based on 70 men, which is a relatively small sample.
In conclusion, experiments have proven to have many problems in sociological research, mainly because
they have a lot of ethical disadvantages, which then creates theoretical problems. Although field
experiments are relatively simple to do practically, both experiments generally face a lot of problems.
