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# Sociology Daily Answer Writing (07-10-2022)
- URL: https://www.upscprep.com/sociology-daily-answer-writing-07-10-2022/
- Published: 2022-10-07T08:02:31.000Z
- Updated: 2022-10-07T08:02:31.000Z
- Author: UPSCprep.com
- Tags: Socio Daily Writing

### Questions

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

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### Model Solutions

**1\. What is reliability and validity? Critically examine its importance in sociological research. 20**

**Model Structure** 
**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/dRE2Y8orUdxusns4QzSz7KSmIlNDwKjxIgsSgZsio1ySx6XzTAvzubql2ke_ndwWlCL7DIK5E0apKn-_EI5louoAxB79O9Eycrb1yduO1y1AKwdeyPmvFN-xdLqsUGt44ZoMbP--KqhDaTtlabIzOxfoE8d-w4zjCabN7fIT0W2sOvsM3L8-dfPr)

**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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**2\. Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts. Discuss Critically. 10**

**Model Framework:** 
**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

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