Despite the fact that sociology today has gained not say great, but the sheer authority in society, that she recognized a voice in the analysis of large groups and strata of the population that the data of sociological surveys are often the only basis for decision-making and broad social causes, however, some wariness to a specific sociological research, the reliability of their data still remains. Often it is expressed in the question that respondents answer truthfully to the questionnaire. Sometimes, when accountable to the customer, introduce him to the results of the survey and suddenly I hear: "why do You think that people respond to You sincerely?" Really, where did the social scientists there is a belief that the Respondent meets sincere?
First of all it must be said that a direct and rigid connection between the sincerity of respondents ' answers and accuracy in the study, there are no results. Some people who are far from sociology directly linked the reliability of the research results with the sincerity of respondents ' answers. Of course, the accuracy of the data of sociological research depends largely on the sincerity of respondents ' answers. But the whole picture of the study factor "sincerity-insincerity of answers" is not the most essential in obtaining reliable results. Paradoxically it sounds, even with the insincere answers of respondents it is possible to obtain reliable information. Why? Before answering this question, you need to understand what is meant by insincere and sincere answers.
About, or say softer insincere response, i.e., a case where the Respondent deliberately refuses to answer, most appropriate, in his opinion (it must be emphasized that according to his opinion), some objective process, and selects another answer that does not correspond to objective reality (again in his opinion), there is in fact a conscious denial of the answer, which in his opinion is the correct one. If you understand the sincerity of answers of respondents as adequate compliance of the objective process, phenomenon, that in some cases the Respondent will not be able to answer, matches or does not match his view of the studied phenomenon. At best, he may declare that such is his opinion only. Demand more from him is impossible. Business of the sociologist to determine how the opinion of the Respondent or group of respondents corresponds to objective reality. Thus, the notions of truth and falsity of answers will lose substantial value. The opinion of the Respondent cannot be sincere and insincere, cannot be true or false, it can only either match or not match some objective process or match it partially. Even if the Respondent deliberately chooses the answer that, in his opinion, does not correspond to the true answer, and in this case he gets during the analysis of a group of people whose opinion does not correspond to a certain process, the occurrence that establishes the researcher's own methods of analysis.
First of all it must be said that a direct and rigid connection between the sincerity of respondents ' answers and accuracy in the study, there are no results. Some people who are far from sociology directly linked the reliability of the research results with the sincerity of respondents ' answers. Of course, the accuracy of the data of sociological research depends largely on the sincerity of respondents ' answers. But the whole picture of the study factor "sincerity-insincerity of answers" is not the most essential in obtaining reliable results. Paradoxically it sounds, even with the insincere answers of respondents it is possible to obtain reliable information. Why? Before answering this question, you need to understand what is meant by insincere and sincere answers.
About, or say softer insincere response, i.e., a case where the Respondent deliberately refuses to answer, most appropriate, in his opinion (it must be emphasized that according to his opinion), some objective process, and selects another answer that does not correspond to objective reality (again in his opinion), there is in fact a conscious denial of the answer, which in his opinion is the correct one. If you understand the sincerity of answers of respondents as adequate compliance of the objective process, phenomenon, that in some cases the Respondent will not be able to answer, matches or does not match his view of the studied phenomenon. At best, he may declare that such is his opinion only. Demand more from him is impossible. Business of the sociologist to determine how the opinion of the Respondent or group of respondents corresponds to objective reality. Thus, the notions of truth and falsity of answers will lose substantial value. The opinion of the Respondent cannot be sincere and insincere, cannot be true or false, it can only either match or not match some objective process or match it partially. Even if the Respondent deliberately chooses the answer that, in his opinion, does not correspond to the true answer, and in this case he gets during the analysis of a group of people whose opinion does not correspond to a certain process, the occurrence that establishes the researcher's own methods of analysis.