Typically, sociologists who work with quantitative data (such as ...

[jake]

Typically, sociologists who work with quantitative data (such as surveys) wait until after they have concluded their research before they engage in data analysis.
 
  However, ethnographers usually engage in data analysis while they are conducting their investigations. Is this behavior reasonable given the nature of these types of methods? Why?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Polygamists believe that monogamy is not a natural state for human beings. They feel that people should have multiple spouses at the same time rather than just one spouse.
 
  Although polygamy is illegal in the United States, there are many people around the world who engage in this practice, including some who do so in the United States, despite the legal restrictions. Polygamists who live in the United States are an example of a __________.
  a. subculture
  b. mainstream culture
  c. hegemony
  d. counterculture

[tdewitt]

Answer to Question 1

The data collection period for quantitative research methods, relative to that of qualitative methods, is less lengthy. For this reason, the sociologist using quantitative methods is able to wait until after observations are complete to engage in data analysis, following the tenets of the scientific method. However, ethnographers are not able to take this route, as their data collect very slowly over extended periods of time. If ethnographers were to wait until the end of the observation period to engage in data analysis, they could easily be overwhelmed by reams of unanalyzed field notes and have lost valuable opportunities throughout the period of observation to apply analytical and theoretical frameworks to situations as they unfolded.

Answer to Question 2

d