Principles of Sociological Research
Chapter 16 Discussion Questions

• Do official statistics tell us anything about the way that people live their lives?
  
• How should research be designed to ensure coherence and credibility? What are the essential elements of any good proposal?
  
• Identify three areas of social life for which participant observation would be an appropriate research instrument for collecting data, and explain.
  
• Is research just a justification for sociologists to stick their nose into other people's business? Are there any limits to what we should research?