Public & Personal

• What type of sources are documentary sources primarily considered in sociology?

  They are largely qualitative but can be quantitative.
• What are the different types of documentary sources?

  They can be written, sound, image, etc.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of documentary sources?

  Advantages:

  • High validity
  • Cheap and quick to use
  • Easy access

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Lack of reliability
  • Ethical concerns with personal documents
  • Potential bias and unrepresentativeness
• What are public documents?

  Documents produced by organizations such as government departments and schools.
• Give an example of a public document.

  OFSTED reports.
• What are personal life documents?

  First-person accounts of social events and personal experiences.
• What is an example of a personal life document?

  The diary of Anne Frank.
• What is a theoretical advantage of documentary sources according to interpretivists?

  They provide qualitative insight into people's feelings and motives.
• How did Hey gain insights into girls' feelings about friendships?

  By studying notes passed around in class.
• What is a limitation of documentary sources regarding reliability?

  They are often unstandardized.
• What is a practical advantage of using documentary sources?

  They are usually cheap and quick to use.
• What is a potential issue with accessing some documentary sources?

  Some are not freely available to sociologists.
• How can comparisons be made using documentary sources?

  By using a wide range of personal documents from different sources.
• What ethical concerns exist with public documents?

  There are few ethical concerns as they are in the public domain.
• What ethical concerns arise with personal documents?

  Informed consent is needed for their use.
• What is a theoretical disadvantage of documentary sources according to positivists?

  They often lack objectivity and may reflect bias.
• How might the same event be described differently in documentary sources?

  Different individuals may have varying opinions and interpretations.
• What is a potential issue with the reliability of documentary sources?

  They may not be standardized and can lack consistency.
• What is a concern regarding the authenticity of documentary sources?

  One cannot always question their authenticity and credibility.
• What special skills might a researcher need when working with documentary sources?

  They may need skills to translate documents or spot inaccuracies.
• What ethical issues arise when using documents from deceased individuals?

  There could be exploitation of the documents for sociological gain.
• What is a specific ethical concern when dealing with sensitive areas in documents?

  Exploitation of the documents can occur, especially in sensitive topics.