A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

What is a common issue associated with social surveys?

1. Lack of informed consent

2. Demand characteristics

3. Low response rates

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

Social surveys face several issues that can affect their validity and reliability, and one such issue is low response rates. When fewer people respond to a survey, it can lead to biased results because the sample may not represent the larger population accurately. This can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as survey fatigue or lack of interest in the topic. Another issue involves demand characteristics, which refers to respondents' tendency to alter their answers based on what they believe the researcher expects or wants to hear. This can lead to skewed data and does not provide an accurate reflection of true attitudes or behaviors. Lack of informed consent is also a common concern, especially in social research, where participants may not fully understand how their data will be used or the implications of their participation. This can raise ethical issues regarding participant autonomy and the integrity of the research process. Considering all these points, the presence of low response rates, demand characteristics, and issues with informed consent highlight a range of potential complications that researchers must navigate when conducting social surveys. Therefore, recognizing that all of these factors contribute to the difficulties associated with social surveys provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges in this methodology.