| Answers to the WJEC Unit 2 2023 exam that received 5/5, 10/10, and 19/20
| Includes reference to the words highlighted by the examiner when awarding marks
| 5 marker - ethics
| 10 marker - longitudinal studies
| 20 marker - qualitative research methods
| Other FULL MARK answers to Unit...
Using material from the item and sociological knowledge, explain
the meaning of the term ethics [5]
Ethics are guidelines that a researcher must always follow in order to protect
themselves as well as the participants. Some ethical guidelines that must be
followed include that the participant must give informed consent to the
research and the researcher must not deceive the participants. In the item,
we can see that the use of semi-structured interviews followed these ethical
guidelines, according to the researcher. However, other research methods
that may be considered unethical include covert participant and non-
participant observations. An example of a study where this was the case was
Humphrey’s Tearoom Trade study, which was deceitful and intrusive of the
participants’ personal lives.
Using material from the item and sociological knowledge, explain
two possible reasons why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach
in their research [10]
The first reason why sociologists adopt a longitudinal approach in studies is
to increase the reliability of their findings. When studies gather results
over a long period of time, this decreases the potential for findings to be
anomalous, making the findings more reliable. This also increases the
validity as it means the findings are more likely to be accurate. This is
shown in the item, as the researcher interviewed the police officers four
times over a four-year period which ensures that their findings are accurate
to the whole period.
Another reason why sociologists use longitudinal studies is to identify
trends in their research. By conducting multiple interviews,
questionnaire, etc over a long period of time, the researcher will be able to
analyse how results change over time and how this may have been
impacted by surrounding social factors. This is shown in studies such as the
Census, which conducts a questionnaire every ten years to identify trends
within the general population. Furthermore, the study in the item will be able
to use the results from the longitudinal study to identify how police attitudes
change over time.
With reference to the item and sociological studies, discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research methods [20]
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller erraticpigeon24. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.46. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
