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Sociology · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Question 1

0495

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Read Source A and then answer the questions below. 1 Source A Triangulation is an approach that combines different research methods in one sociological study. An example of triangulation is a 2017 study of women’s experiences of paid work. The study was done by three male researchers from a university in Ghana. Firstly, the researchers sent online questionnaires to 219 women, aged 35-55, who worked in education, medicine or law. The aim of the questionnaire was to gain quantitative data on the women’s salaries, opportunities for promotion and experiences of discrimination. The data from the questionnaires was then analysed and patterns and trends in the women’s experiences of work were identified. The second research method in the study was unstructured interviews to gather qualitative data. Fifteen of the women from the original sample were interviewed. Access to the fifteen women was easy as all of the women worked in the university in Ghana and many knew the three male researchers. The researchers concluded that most women had no experience of discrimination at work and were treated the same as male colleagues in terms of pay and promotion.

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  • 1(a)(i)[2]

    From Source A, identify the two research methods that were used in the study. Award one mark for each point correctly identified from Source A (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:

    (online) questionnaire;
    (unstructured) interviews.

  • 1(a)(ii)[4]

    Using information in Source A, explain two reasons why triangulation was a useful approach for studying women’s experiences of paid work. Award one mark for each point correctly identified from Source A (up to a maximum of two). Award one mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:

    the researchers used questionnaires and unstructured interviews – this enables researchers to check the reliability of data (via standardised closed questionnaire) and validity of data (via open interview questions);
    the methods used were questionnaires and unstructured interviews – this mix enables researchers to gain a more complete, holistic picture of social reality, combining the quantitative overview with the depth and detail of data from unstructured interviews allows more data than just one method alone, giving a fuller and more accurate picture of women;
    the triangulation involved two methods – this allows for more data to be collected than just using one method, giving a bigger picture overall;
    the triangulation involved three researchers – allowing for the findings to be cross-checked by each other which will be more accurate than just using one researcher whose work cannot be checked by others in the research project;
    the data gathered was both qualitative and quantitative – allowing researchers to understand reasons why those selected for interview answered as they did;
    any other reasonable response.

  • 1(a)(iii)[6]

    Using information in Source A, explain three problems with the research for studying women’s experiences of paid work. Award one mark for each point correctly identified from Source A (up to a maximum of three). Award one mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of three). Possible answers:

    the research took place in 2017 – it may not be accurate to the experiences of women working in these fields today;
    the team of researchers were all male – this may have affected the women being interviewed due to the interviewer effect (based on the sex of the researcher), hence the women may not have been entirely truthful;
    the sample size was 219 questionnaires and 15 interviews – this sample was too small to represent all women’s experiences of paid work;
    the researchers used a questionnaire – the response rate from questionnaires tends to be low suggesting that the data is likely to be unrepresentative and not generalisable;
    the researcher used a questionnaire – some people may not take them seriously and give false answers or tick false answers due to having too few answers to choose from;
    the women were all aged between 35-55 – no data is available for women under 35 or over 55 meaning that the findings are not representative and findings cannot be generalised more widely;
    all the women worked in education, medicine or the law – this means that it is not safe to generalise from the experiences of these professional women to women working in other fields;
    the researchers used unstructured interviews – these contain no preset, standardised questions and the women may have been asked different questions so reliability will be low;
    all 15 women interviewed worked in the university – they have the same employer and this means that the range of experiences will be narrow and likely unrepresentative;
    many of the women interviewed knew members of the research team – social desirability may take place which would lower the validity of the data.
    the women were asked for personal details such as salary and experiences of discrimination – they may wish to keep such matters private and hence not answer or give a false answer lowering validity;
    any other reasonable answer.

  • 1(b)[2]

    Give two examples of secondary evidence. Award one mark for each example correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:

    official or non-official statistics (also credit specific examples such as census data, crime statistics, evidence gathered by the government etc);
    books e.g. Gang Leader for a Day;
    historical documents (also credit examples – birth, marriage and death records etc);
    personal documents (also credit examples such as photos, letters and diaries);
    digital sources (also credit examples such as websites, social media, emails, blogs, online scholarly articles etc);
    media content (also credit examples such as documentaries, newspapers, etc);
    previous sociological research;
    any other reasonable answer.

  • 1(c)[4]

    Explain one strength and one limitation of non-participant observation. Award one mark for a strength correctly identified. Award one mark for development of the strength. Award one mark for a limitation correctly identified. Award one mark for development of the limitation. Possible strengths:

    it avoids the Hawthorne Effect – the researcher is less likely to affect participants’ behaviour because they are either not present or not visible;
    it allows the researcher to observe people in normal social situations/naturalistic setting (e.g. a school inspector or observing via hidden cameras when observing a gang) which may make them behave more naturally;
    the observer can easily record data as they are not taking part in the group and this may mean the data gathered is more accurate;
    it can be used to produce quantitative data by counting the frequency of a behaviour e.g. how many times students disobey school rules;
    any other reasonable answer. Possible limitations:
    researchers cannot investigate why people behave or act as they do – this is because in a non-participant observation the researcher does not usually ask questions;
    because the researcher does not question the participants the data gathered may simply reflect the assumptions and interpretations of the researcher, reducing validity;
    if the research is covert then observing a group may be unethical as they do not give their informed consent to be observed by a researcher;
    if the group do become aware that they are being researched then their behaviour may change leading to inauthentic results;
    because the researcher is not participating with the group it is impossible to gain verstehen or understand the action from an insider’s point of view;
    any other reasonable answer.

  • 1(d)[10]

    Evaluate the view that random sampling is the best sampling technique to use in sociological research. Your answer should include:

    at least two arguments for and two arguments against
    a conclusion. Use Table A to mark answers to this question. Possible arguments for:
    it is the fairest sampling method to use because everyone in the sampling frame has an equal chance of being chosen for the sample;
    if the sample is big enough a random sample is likely to be representative that reflects the characteristics of the target population and hence findings are generalisable;
    it is the least complex, easiest and quickest/most time efficient sampling technique to use and it does not require much preparation unlike stratified or quota sampling where you need to find people with particular characteristics;
    random sampling means there is less chance that the researcher can influence or bias the results as they have no say as to who is picked – this reduces the impact of researcher effects;
    any other reasonable answer. Possible arguments against:
    random samples are not always representative because the researcher has no control over selection, e.g. even if a sampling frame contains the same number of males and females, random selection might produce a sample that is mostly male or mostly female;
    random sampling requires an accurate sampling frame so cannot be for groups if no sampling frame is available or difficult to access e.g. list of prisoners in the UK;
    snowball sampling is better in its ability to reach, small or deviant groups – by drawing on people’s social networks, snowball sampling can be an effective way to study hard-to-reach groups as once researchers gain the trust of a few members of the group, those people can help the researchers recruit other people;
    stratified sampling is a better reflection of the target population as the population is sub-divided into the required categories (e.g. gender, class, age etc), so researchers can be sure the sample will be broadly representative of the target population;
    quota sampling is more effective when researchers want to target a stratified group with certain characteristics – they would simply sample until a preset quota (or number) is reached;
    stratified samples can be relatively small (and hence possible more time and cost saving) because it’s possible to ensure an accurate reflection of the target population whereas random samples have to be large to stand a chance of being representative;
    any other reasonable answer.

  • 1(e)[12]

    investigate why people migrate from one country to another. Give reasons for your choices.

    Your answer should include:

    two primary methods with relevant sampling
    one source of secondary evidence.

    Use Table B to mark answers to this question.

    Possible primary methods:

    interviews;
    questionnaires;
    surveys observation (all types);
    case studies;
    longitudinal studies;
    any other reasonable method.

    Possible sampling points:

    the group to be studied;
    the size of sample;
    the type of sample;
    the composition of the sample;
    access to the sample;
    any other reasonable sampling choice.

    Possible sources of secondary evidence:

    official and other statistics (on migratory patterns etc); previous sociological and other research on migration;
    media materials e.g. social networking sites, magazine articles, blogs, forums, TV documentaries, newspaper articles etc. that look at issues to do with migration;
    personal documents/diaries/social network entries of migrants, families etc discussing ethnicity and inequality;
    any other reasonable evidence.

    Methods and evidence

    4

    Reasons for choices

    4

    Application to context

    4

    Define the term role.

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