Basic methods of information gathering

Depending on the source, the information may be secondary or primary. In the second case, the information was obtained during the survey (observation) first-hand. In the first case, the source is already published material.

Methods of collecting sociological information include: survey, observation, analysis of documents.

Last reception means the use of any information recorded in the text (handwritten or printed), sound recordings, photo, film, and video. This method includes analysis of documents (content analysis) and is used in the study of information created in different areas of public communication. All documents are divided into four types. The first include written materials - archival information, press materials, personal documentation. The second type is iconographic documents. These include paintings, videos, photographs. The next type is statistical documents. They are represented by information in digital form. The last, fourth, type of documents include phonetic data. They are sound recordings.

Observation and interrogation are fairly common methods of data collection.

It should be noted that for a sufficiently wide application, these techniques (individually) are not the main ones in the study. Often, information collection methods are used in aggregate.

One of the advantages of observation, as a research method, is the presence of direct personal contact of the researcher with the object or phenomenon. Sociological observation is carried out in the conditions natural to the subject under study. Thus, the researcher has the opportunity to obtain primary information. In the process of studying, the registration of the occurring phenomena takes place.

Depending on the degree to which the researcher participates in the process, they highlight the included and simple observation. In the second case, the researcher fixes everything "from outside", not participating in the occurring phenomenon or activity of the studied group.

Sociological observation (in contrast to the traditional, everyday) has clearly formulated goals and objectives. A characteristic feature of this technique is the presence of a direct indication of the object of research, thought out ways of fixing information, as well as methods of processing and interpreting the results.

Interviews and questionnaires are methods of gathering information through a mass survey. They allow in a short time to obtain primary information from a significant number of people.

The survey calls such a method, in which the researcher (sociologist) addresses directly to the respondents with certain questions. This method is used in those cases when it is necessary to obtain information about the subjective state of people, motivation of actions, attitude to phenomena, opinions, intentions, needs and so on.

Questionnaires and interviews, as a rule, retain full anonymity of the respondents. Using these methods of collecting information, researchers draw the attention of respondents to the lack of any information that allows them to establish their identity. Thus, people can be sure that their participation in the survey will not have negative consequences.

These are the basic methods of collecting information.

Sociometry is used to analyze interpersonal (intragroup) relationships in small groups. This technique allows you to identify the degree of disunity or cohesion of participants, determine their positions in terms of antipathies or sympathies. In addition to identifying leaders and outsiders, this method helps to establish within the group individual subgroups that have their own informal leaders.