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Sociology · Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Question 1

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Source A Milgram’s Electric Shock experiment. In 1963 Stanley Milgram carried out a laboratory experiment. He told participants that the experiment was to study how punishment affected learning. The research group was divided into ‘teachers’ and ‘learners’. The ‘teachers’ saw the ‘learners’ sit in a chair that looked like an electric chair. The ‘teacher’ was then asked to test the ‘learner’ and if they made a mistake give them an electric shock. The equipment used to give the electric shock was labelled 15 volts to 450 volts. The 450 volts was clearly labelled ‘Danger: severe shock’. The ‘teacher’ was told the shock would be painful but it would not hurt the ‘learner’. The equipment was really a fake. The ‘learners’ were not really in danger but as the voltage went up the ‘teachers’ heard cries of pain. At 330 volts the ‘learners’ went silent. In the experiment none of the ‘teachers’ questioned the activity until the ‘learners’ fell silent. This showed that people will usually follow the instructions of an authority figure without question.

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  • 1(a)[2]

    Identify two reasons why laboratory experiments might not be valid. [2]

    Unnatural environment
    Subjects influenced by values of researcher
    Researcher bias
    Inappropriate design of experiment
    Subjects do what they think is expected
    Subjects do not behave normally, e.g. because they are under stress
    The Hawthorne effect occurs because they know they are being observed
    Any other reasonable answer. One mark for each reason correctly identified (up to a maximum of two).

  • 1(b)[2]

    Identify two methods that might be used to research behaviour, apart from laboratory experiments. [2]

    Interview (any type)
    Questionnaires (any type)
    Observation (any type)
    Field experiment
    Longitudinal studies
    Collecting secondary data, e.g. media materials
    Content analysis
    Any other reasonable response.

  • 1(c)[4]

    Using information from Source A, describe two reasons why laboratory experiments might be unethical. [4]

    Candidates need to recognise that this type of experience has generally been discredited. Candidates can usefully point to the fact that the participants were misled and misinformed about the nature and purpose of the experiment, e.g. told that it would not harm the participants;

    although participants were not harmed, allow responses which comment on the ethical requirement to do no harm. As the experiment may have caused psychological damage to ‘teachers’. Possible responses (other suitable references to Source A may be used):

    Lied to – ‘not really in danger’
    Misled – ‘but it would not hurt the ‘learner’
    Misinformed –‘cries of pain’
    Psychological damage to participants – ‘none of the ‘teachers’ questioned…’
    Manipulation – ‘The ‘teacher’ was then asked to test the ‘learner’ and if they made a mistake give them an electric shock’.
    Any other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–2) Answers at the bottom of the band will offer one reason without reference to Source A. Alternatively answers may be vague or general with little sociological knowledge. Answers at the top end of the mark band may offer two reasons but without reference to Source A. Band 2 (3–4) To reach this band candidates must make reference to Source A. A candidate who gives one reason but makes use of source A would achieve 3 marks. To reach the top of the band candidates will give two reasons with development and reference to the Source A.

  • 1(d)[4]

    Describe two strengths of using experiments in sociological research. [4]

    Candidates will be expected to describe any of the following:

    Possibility of controlling the environment
    Increased reliability
    Ease of replication
    Ease of recording results
    Quantifiable data is produced
    See subjects in their natural surroundings (field experiments)
    Increased validity with reference to field experiment
    Positivism-scientific approach
    Time and cost (only if qualified/explained)
    Any other reasonable response. One mark for each strength correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). One mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of two).

  • 1(e)[8]

    Describe two strengths and two limitations of using positivist methods in sociological research. [8]

    Strengths:

    Quicker than another non-positivist specified method
    Cheap to collect data from a large group of people
    Less need to recruit or train interviewers
    Data easier to quantify
    More reliable
    Easier to standardise questions
    More likely to be representative
    Possible to make generalisations
    Objective-postivists claim their methodology avoids/ reduces bias
    Any other reasonable response. Limitations:
    Lack validity
    Unable to establish social meaning
    Lack insight
    Low response rate may decrease representativeness
    Methods lack flexibility
    Any other reasonable response. One mark for each strength correctly identified (up to a maximum of two) and one mark for description of each strength (up to a maximum of two). One mark for each limitation correctly identified (up to a maximum of two) and one mark for description of each limitation (up to a maximum of two).

  • 1(f)[10]

    Explain why sociological researchers may use triangulation in their research. [10]

    Candidates will be expected to show an awareness that triangulation is used to improve the reliability and/or validity of the research. Researchers will use a variety of methods so they can overcome the limitations of each individual method. Answers may include:

    That a single method may lack validity
    A single method may lack reliability
    Results may not be representative or allow generalisation
    As a means to check results
    To get both qualitative and quantitative data
    Theoretical triangulation may give greater validity
    Any other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers at this level are likely to show limited understanding and be based on common sense or demonstrate little in the way of clear sociological knowledge or terminology, e.g. sociologists use triangulation so they can get their research right. At the top of the band candidates may begin to use some appropriate knowledge or terminology. Candidates may only give one reason. Band 2 (4–7) At the bottom of the band, candidates demonstrate basic understanding of the issue and begin to use some appropriate knowledge and terminology. Supporting explanation may be weak or over simplistic, e.g. sociologists use triangulation because one method of research alone would not be valid. At the top of the band, candidates use appropriate knowledge and terminology but may not fully focus on the question. Candidates are likely to offer more than one reason. Band 3 (8–10) The candidates’ answer is fully focused on the question, e.g. sociologists will use a number of research methods in an attempt to achieve valid and reliable results. They may wish to have both qualitative and quantitative data and to look at an issue from both a macro and mirco sociological view. A single method could not achieve this also as all methods have problems researchers may overcome these by using more than one. There is evidence of good use of sociological terms and candidates may make clear reference to the concept of triangulation and understand the link between this and the validity of the research. At the top of the band, candidates should offer a range of reasons as well as demonstrate accurate use of sociological concepts.

  • 1(g)[15]

    To what extent might the sociological perspectives of researchers shape their research? [15]

    Candidates need to understand that no research is unbiased and that all research is affected by values of the researcher to some extent. Candidates might also usefully explore the impact of other factors on research, like funding, time and access to the group. Arguments for:

    Positivist argument that research should be objective and value free
    Perspective would affect research approach, e.g. Marxist would only take a macro- sociological approach
    Feminists would only focus on certain issues/topics, e.g. patriarchy
    Marxist would focus on conflict between social classes
    Functionalist would look for consensus
    Search for social facts
    Use of quantitative methods
    Need for research to be valid, reliable and representative
    Interpretivism and qualitative data
    Need to establish ‘Verstehen’
    Perspective may impact on interpretation of findings, i.e. certain evidence may be ignored
    Any other reasonable response. Arguments against:
    Need for research to be acceptable to sponsors, e.g. if the government are paying they might what the research to reflect their political perspective
    Need for funding, e.g. funding will only be available for research in certain fields
    Need to avoid criticism of academic peer review
    Depends what they seek to investigate as some methods would be inappropriate or the data may be unavailable
    Ethical issues
    Access to the group
    Limits of time and resources
    Any other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–4) Answers in this band may be largely based on common sense showing limited or no knowledge of sociological terms or concepts. Candidates are unlikely to understand the term perspective, e.g. if they believe in something they might research it. Band 2 (5–8) In this band candidates will tend to offer some basic discussion of the links between perspective and the methods used. They may describe methods and their problems. Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature but there will be no real attempt to address the issue of the links between perspective and methodology. At the top of the band, candidates may offer a description of more than one method or perspective, e.g. researchers always have to plan their research carefully and if they are Marxists they might want to study social class. One sided responses can not score more than 8 marks Band 3 (9–12) Answers in this band will show good use of sociological language and will make some attempt at addressing the issue of the links between perspective and methodology but this may be weak or focus only on either agreement or disagreement with the question. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a good range of points but there might be a lack of focus on the issue. At the top of the band, candidates are likely to show either strong agreement or disagreement with clear focus on the question but are unlikely to discuss both sides. Band 4 (13–15) Answers in this band will be clearly focused on the question and address the ‘extent’ of the impact of sociological perspective on the choice of research method. Candidates will offer a range of arguments both for and against the question but this need not be balanced. They show excellent grasp of sociological terms and knowledge. At the top of the band there will also be an evaluative conclusion, e.g. the extent to which sociological research is a reflection of the researchers perspective may be limited by practical considerations but it will generally be relative to what it is that they seek to investigate which must have some relationship to their perspective. Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation
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