Sociologists often need to use official statistics in their research. The word "official" is used because they come from the Government or its agencies. They are used by sociologists for various purposes including public information and government performance. |
They have advantages, including:
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There are disadvantages, including:
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Therefore statistical data that should be reliable in one topic area often vary between one collection for presentation and another. |
Using this and other information, evaluate the usefulness of official statistics as a source of data for sociologists. |