Data Collection

Information collected by sociologists themslevs for their own purposes. These purposes may be to obtain a first-hand 'picture' of a group or society, or to test a hyopthesis.

These involve asking people questions in a written questionnaire or interview.

The sociologist joins in with the activities of the group he or she is studying.

Sociologists rarely use laboratory experiments, but they sometimes use field experiments and the comparitive method.

Information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purposes, but which the sociologists can then use.

Produced by the government on a wide range of issues, such as crime, divorce, health and unemployment, as well as other statistics produced by charities, businesses, churches and oher organisations.

The likes of letters, diaries, photographs, official reoprts, novels, newspapers and television broadcasts.

Refers to information in a numerical form.

Any data that is not numerical. GIves thoughts feelings and opinions on a subject.