This document discusses different types of survey questions and sampling techniques used in social surveys. It explains that surveys can use either open-ended or closed-ended questions. Closed-ended questions provide response options while open-ended questions allow for any response. The document also outlines various sampling methods like random, stratified, and quota sampling that aim to select a representative sample from a population. It notes some surveys may not use representative sampling due to practical or theoretical reasons.
1. • Social surveys take 2 basic forms: written questionnaires and interviews.
• Whichever method of survey we choose, our questions are either open-
ended or closed-ended.
• Closed-ended questions= is where the respondent must choose
answers from a limited range of possible answers, that the researcher
has decided upon in advance, like yes, no, not sure or multiple choice.
Close-ended questions are often pre-coded, which helps to ease
analysis after, data collected from this type of question is easy to
quantify.
• Open-ended questions= is when the respondent is allowed to give
whatever answer they wish, in their own words, without being offered
any pre-selected choices.
2. Choosing a topic . . .
Choosing a topic is the first step for
research. Sociologists use surveys to
study a wide variety of issues, however
they’re not suitable for all subjects. E.g.
historical topics can’t be surveyed
unless they’re any survivors.
3. Formulating an aim or
hypothesis
Most surveys have a general aim or seek to test a specific
hypothesis for the research.
An aim is the holistic statement which states the intention of the
study or a statement which is to be tested.
The census of the entire population is conducted by the
government every 10years and is designed to collect large
quantities of data about many aspects of British society.
A hypothesis is more specific than an aim . Its an explanation that
can be tested by collecting evidence to prove whether it’s true or
false.
Hypothesis gives direction to research, it gives a focus and
questionnaires and interviews are based around as the aim is to
either prove or disprove the hypothesis.
From our research, if the evidence suggest that the hypothesis, is
false we must discard it, but this helps us to rule out factors and
allows us to formulate new hypothesise.
4. Operationalizing concepts
Means turning a sociological concept/theory
into some thing which can be measured.
Defining: key concepts/ your terms
5. The pilot study
Is the same idea as a ‘prototype’ it’s a study based on your
research to test first, so that you’re research is carried out
well and all things to take into consideration can be adhered
to, pilot studies are used to indicate any problems which
need to be dealt with or that may arise, when conducting the
research.
The basic aim of a pilot study is to iron out any
creases(problems), refine/ clarify questions and they’re
wording and give researcher/interviewers practice, so that
the actual survey goes as smooth as possible.
Pilot studies indicate issues which need to be altered, after
the pilot study is carried out, it is then possible to finalise the
research preparation and then to carry it out.
6. Sampling
Because sociologists often want to
establish generalisations, so that they’re
theory can be applied to everyone in the
population and because we can’t study
everyone within the population, we
therefore need to have a sample. A
sample is a small group drawn from the
wider group(all the people relevant to
our study). This is known as sampling
(selecting + creating sample).
7. The sampling frame…
In order to select a sample to study, we first
need a sampling frame. A sampling frame is
all those people who are relevant to the study.
It’s important that our sampling frame is as
complete and as accurate as possible,
otherwise the sample chosen from it may not
be representative.
Once we have our sampling frame, we then
need to select our sample, though we must
ensure that our sample is typical of the wider
population which is of interest to us.
8. Sampling techniques
Sociologist use various techniques to attain a
representative sample:
Random sampling:
It’s the simplest form of sampling, where the sample is
selected purely at random e.g. names drawn out of a hat.
Quasi-random sample:
Is similar, but it’s a method like selecting every tenth
person on a list etc.
9. Sampling techniques
However, with the above 2 techniques there is always the possibility of
achieving an un-representative sample. There are other more
sophisticated ways to achieving a truly representative sample like:
Stratified random sampling:
Involves dividing a main variable into groups and then picking equal numbers from there
e.g. if the study is concerned with gender that means splitting males and females and
then selecting an equal number from each of these sub groups, this can be applied to
other important variables in a study such as age, income etc.
Quota-sampling:
Is similar, to the above method of sampling, but rather from choosing from the sub-
divided groups, the researcher goes out and collects the write amount of participant
they need e.g. 500 men and 500 women.
Whatever sampling technique a researcher may use, they will often create a
reserve sample, so that in case anyone in the selected sample cannot be
contacted they can rely on the reserve sample to compensate, yet still attain
representative data.
10. Non-representative
sampling
The purpose of sampling, is generally to
ensure that people we include in our study
are typical of the general research
population.
However, for both practical and theoretical
reasons not all studies use representative
sampling techniques.
11. Practical reasons
There are several practical reasons which may limit achieving a
representative sample, even if the researcher wishes to.
o The social characteristics of the research population, may not be
known e.g. age, class, gender, therefore it’s impossible to get a
sample which is an exact cross-section of society.
o It may be impossible to find or create a sampling frame, in the area
which you choose to study as not everyone is included in that frame.
o Potential respondents may refuse to participate in the survey, e.g.
criminals may not want to participate if they believe that information
will be passed onto the police.
12. Sometimes it is not possible to get a representative sample, in such
cases sociologists use 2 alternative types of sampling.
Snowball sampling:
Involves, collecting a sample through contacting a number of key
individuals. Who are than asked to suggest other people who maybe
relevant to the study, in this way the sample gets bigger and bigger
until enough data is collected. This method allows people who
would otherwise be reluctant to be studied.
Opportunity sampling:
Is based on convenience, it involves choosing a sample from those
who are easiest to access, e.g. selecting passers by or a captive
audience, like a class of pupils.
In neither case is the sample likely to be representative of
the target research population.
13. Theoretical reasons
Even when it’s possible to create a representative
sample, sociologists may choose not to, due to their
sociological perspective.
For example, interpretivists believe that it’s more
important to gain valid data and a true understanding of
social actors’ meanings than to discover general laws of
behaviour. Because they're less concerned with making
generalisations, they therefor don’t require a
representative sample.