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# Sociology Daily Answer Writing (29-06-2022)
- URL: https://www.upscprep.com/socio-29-june-2022/
- Published: 2022-06-29T00:32:17.000Z
- Updated: 2022-08-05T13:25:17.000Z
- Description: Sociology Paper 1: Fundamentals of Sociology Research Methods and Analysis: (a) Qualitative and quantitative methods. (b) Techniques of data collection. (c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.
- Author: Abhijeet Y
- Tags: Socio Daily Writing, #show-toc

## Questions - PDF

[ Sociology Daily Answer Writing - Week 1 Day 3 QCAB 29 June 2022 Sociology Daily Answer Writing -Week 1, Day 3 (QCAB).pdf 105 KB download-circle ](https://www.upscprep.com/content/files/2022/06/Sociology-Daily-Answer-Writing--Week-1--Day-3--QCAB-.pdf "Download") 

## Model Solutions - PDF

[ Sociology Daily Answer Writing - Week 1 Day 3 Model Structures Sociology Daily Answer Writing - Week 1, Day 3.pdf 204 KB download-circle ](https://www.upscprep.com/content/files/2022/06/Sociology-Daily-Answer-Writing---Week-1--Day-3.pdf "Download") 

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[All Questions ](https://www.upscprep.com/Sociology-daw)

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1. What is reliability and validity? Critically examine its importance in sociological research. (20 Marks)
2. Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts. Discuss Critically. (10)

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### Model Structure 1.

**Introduction**

- Reliability and Validity are the two important parameters that determine the correctness and effectiveness of an observation.
- Both are two major challenges in sociology as the environment of social experiment (society) is not controlled.

  
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aH8hx8RrfFgH6HStVy-nOSeEWFyT78XteZzK9Uw1-SEDDToNUUgdi1dGAK6icNBSUoKsKFxVAYSmLSN1YvvliRdW6keXKwuJZ-94sJJvRd_-0BDRHQ0RkPsSbFYV6vkFyil-hJQErPW7p1xaZg)

**Main Body**

Reliability

- Repetition of the same results
- Types: Temporal reliability and comparative reliability
- Examples of research methods with high reliability- sampling, surveys etc

Validity - 

- Extent to which an instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.
- Degree of achieving intended results

Importance of Reliability and Validity

- To produce useful results.
- Gives more legitimacy to quantitative analysis
- Makes sociology as a positive science
- Positivism claims reliability and validity.
- Furthers objective analysis in sociology

Concerns

- Reliability and validity (R&V) cannot be tested as there is little scope for controlled experimentation in social domain
- Marxist, Feminist and sub-altern perspectives criticises it by saying reliable and valid sociological researchs are nothing trying to advocate status quo in the society.
- Obsession with R&V might incentivise researchers to spend their time accumulating and manipulating data to claim validity
- Interpretivists deny the possibility of using scientific methods in sociology thereby making it impossible to check validity. (Human consciousness cannot be captured using any method)

****Conclusion**

- Lincoln and Guba: to overcome limitations of Reliability and Validity, alternative terms like trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, and conformability can be used to suit the nature of research
- Sociologists should focus on the relevance of a research by looking beyond the reliability and validity debate. (Hammersly)

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## Model Structure 2.

**Introduction**

- Definition of Participant Observation method - The participant observation method, also known as ethnographic research, is *when a sociologist actually becomes a part of the group they are studying in order to collect data and understand a social phenomenon or problem.*

**Main Body**

Emergence -

- Influence of Anthropological Field View - Malinowski

Features -

- Field View - Talcott Parsons, M N Srinivas, S C Dube
- Actual participation

Benefits (add examples in each of following points)

- Actual Ground Reality
- Identify Manifest and Latent functions
- Discards personal Biases
- Reliable data

Limitations (add examples in each of following points) -

- Social Desirability Bias
- Ethical concerns
- Alienation by the Target Groups
- Opposition from the Target Groups
- Time and resource consuming
- Observer might get involved with the subjects can’t see the reality as outsider
- Observer may develop sympathy for the group to be observed resulting in an emotional attachment (William Whyte)

**Conclusion**

- Enriching the understanding of Villages, tribals, castes, minorities etc in Indian Society