The Advantages and Limitations of Social Surveys in Sociological Research To survey something, is to carry out a systematic overview so that a researcher can produce a comprehensive general report on it.
Survey method is often used by positivist sociologists seeking to test their hypotheses, and to investigate causes and examine variables. As with every other sociological research, survey has its own advantages and limitations. Positivist research, which is in the scientific tradition, begins with a hypothesis that can be either confirmed or rejected according to the data collected. One of the significant advantages of survey method is that, it can be used to collect data that is a representative of a larger population. Positivists believe that by “dipping” into a part of society their findings and results can be broadened (generalised) to reveal wider social patterns and trends. This means, with survey method properly conducted, generalisations can be made about the whole population without having the whole population to take part in the research.
Not only it reduces the cost and time of conducting the research, but also these generalisations can be used to compare with generalisations in other places (as a result of the same surveys taking place in those other places too). For example the British Crime Survey, which used a sample of 20,000 households to measure the total amount of crimes committed in England and Wales. Aside from that, the data collected is highly reliable. This is because the data collection process is objective – because positivists believe that hypotheses without evidences are subjective, and positivists . .
hat few white people had ever gained access to. To an unusual extent he was able to see and understand the men as they saw and understood themselves. He was able to learn their views and experience of employment, family life and their own futures. Regardless of these limitations, the survey method is still a valuable tool of sociological research.
All primary research can be difficult to finance and time-consuming, but whatever the practical or theoretical limitations the survey method is always useful for investigating areas of social life that can’t be observed, for example political attitudes, religious beliefs and private lives of couples. Finally, the survey method can always be combined with other interactionists’ methods to balance out the quantity and quality of data collected, a process called triangulation.
