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Doing Sociology: Research Methods – Class 11 Sociology notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 11 Sociology, chapter 5. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Sociologists use research methods to study society systematically and objectively. Because sociologists are part of the society they study, they must deal with bias and practise reflexivity. Major methods include participant observation (fieldwork), surveys, interviews and the use of secondary data; methods may be quantitative or qualitative. Each method has strengths and limitations, and researchers often combine methods.

Objectivity and methods

Objectivity is difficult because researchers have their own values; sociologists practise self-reflexivity, examining how their own background affects research.
Quantitative methods use numbers and statistics, as in surveys; qualitative methods seek meanings and experiences, as in participant observation and in-depth interviews.
Methods are chosen according to the research question.

Major methods

Participant observation involves living with the people studied for a long time, learning their language and observing everyday life; M. N. Srinivas's study of Rampura is an example.
Surveys collect information from a sample of a population through questionnaires; a sample should be representative, often chosen by random selection.
Interviews may be structured or unstructured; secondary data includes census reports, records and documents.

Key terms

Participant observation: research by living with and observing a community over time
Survey: collecting information from a sample using questionnaires or interviews
Sample: a smaller group selected to represent a population
Reflexivity: the researcher's awareness of how their own position affects research
Secondary data: information already collected by others, such as census data

Important questions with answers

What is a sample?2 marks

A sample is a smaller part of a population selected for study so that it represents the whole population. A good sample is representative and is often selected through random methods so that every unit has an equal chance of being chosen.

What are the merits and limitations of the survey method?3 marks

Surveys can cover a large population, produce data that can be quantified and generalised, and are relatively quick. However, they may miss deeper meanings, depend on honest answers, can suffer from poorly designed questions, and require careful sampling.

Explain participant observation as a research method.5 marks

Participant observation, also called fieldwork, is a qualitative method in which the researcher lives among the people being studied for a long period, often a year or more, participates in their daily life and observes their behaviour, relationships and practices. The researcher learns the local language, builds trust, and records observations in field notes, often supplemented by informal interviews, genealogies and maps. Social anthropologists such as Bronislaw Malinowski developed this method, and in India M. N. Srinivas used it in his study of the village of Rampura in Karnataka. The method has several strengths: it gives a detailed, in-depth and holistic understanding of a community from the insider's point of view, reveals the gap between what people say and what they do, and helps understand meanings, customs and relationships. It also has limitations: it is time-consuming, it covers only a small group, so findings may not apply to larger populations, the researcher's presence may change people's behaviour, and the researcher's own values and position may influence interpretation. For these reasons, sociologists practise reflexivity and often combine fieldwork with other methods such as surveys.

Quick revision

Objectivity; reflexivity.
Quantitative and qualitative methods.
Participant observation; survey and sampling.
Interviews; secondary data.

Exam tips

Make a table of methods with one strength and one limitation each.
Remember: Srinivas studied Rampura village using fieldwork.

Practice MCQs

Living with a community to study it closely is called
1. survey
2. census
3. participant observation
4. experiment
Show answer
Answer: (c) participant observation. It is also called fieldwork.
A smaller group chosen to represent a population is a
1. sample
2. census
3. interview
4. questionnaire
Show answer
Answer: (a) sample. It should be representative.
Census reports are an example of
1. primary data
2. interviews only
3. participant observation
4. secondary data
Show answer
Answer: (d) secondary data. They are collected by others.
M. N. Srinivas studied the village of
1. Rampura
2. Shamirpet
3. Kishan Garhi
4. Senapur
Show answer
Answer: (a) Rampura. He used participant observation.
Methods based on numbers and statistics are
1. qualitative
2. ethnographic only
3. reflexive
4. quantitative
Show answer
Answer: (d) quantitative. Surveys are an example.
A limitation of participant observation is that
1. it covers only a small area and may reflect the researcher's views
2. it is very quick
3. it uses only numbers
4. it cannot study culture
Show answer
Answer: (a) it covers only a small area and may reflect the researcher's views. Findings are hard to generalise.
Why do sociologists practise reflexivity
1. to hide their identity
2. to examine how their own background and values may affect research
3. to avoid fieldwork
4. to increase bias
Show answer
Answer: (b) to examine how their own background and values may affect research. It improves objectivity.
In random sampling
1. the researcher chooses friends
2. every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected
3. only rich people are chosen
4. the whole population is studied
Show answer
Answer: (b) every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. It reduces selection bias.

All chapters of Class 11 Sociology

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.