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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Research methods & data types

How often Research methods & data types comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Research methods & data types, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Research methods & data types.

(a)What is qualitative data?
  1. Numerical data suited to graphs
  2. Descriptive data on views and experiences
  3. Data only from government sources
(b)What makes a sample representative?
  1. It includes only people who volunteer to take part
  2. It is as small as possible to save time
  3. It mirrors the make-up of the population
(c)What is a key strength of a census compared with a sample survey?
  1. It covers the whole population
  2. It gives in-depth personal stories
  3. It is cheap and quick to run
Show the answers

(a) Descriptive data on views and experiences

(b) It mirrors the make-up of the population

(c) It covers the whole population

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Research methods & data types.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q2
2024Q2
2023Not asked
2022Q1h, Q2
2021Q2
2019Q2
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Research methods & data types questions

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

What is the margin of error in an opinion poll?

  1. The number of spoiled or blank answers in the poll
  2. The share of people who refused to answer at all
  3. The range the true figure probably lies within
Show the answer

The range the true figure probably lies within

A poll showing 40% with a margin of 3 points means true support is probably between 37% and 43%. Small gaps between parties may not be real.

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

What is a focus group?

  1. A count of the whole population
  2. A guided discussion with a small group
  3. A large national survey
Show the answer

A guided discussion with a small group

Focus groups produce qualitative data on why people think as they do. They are small and can be swayed by strong voices, so they are not representative.

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

What is an open question in a survey?

  1. One people answer in their own words
  2. One with only yes or no options
  3. One that suggests the right answer
Show the answer

One people answer in their own words

Open questions give rich qualitative detail but are harder to count. Closed questions are quick to analyse but limit what people can say.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q3, Q4
2024Q1d, Q1g, Q3
2023Q1f, Q3
2022Q1d, Q3
2021Q1q, Q3
2019Q1u, Q3
2018Q1e, Q1o, Q3

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Research methods & data types questions

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

Which of these is quantitative data?

  1. A student's account of feeling ignored
  2. Quotes from a focus group
  3. 62% of students said they felt heard
Show the answer

62% of students said they felt heard

Quantitative data are numbers that can be measured and compared. Qualitative data are words, views and experiences that give depth but are harder to generalise.

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

What is a representative sample?

  1. A group made up only of TDs and senators
  2. A smaller group that reflects the whole population
  3. Only the people who were quickest to answer the survey
Show the answer

A smaller group that reflects the whole population

If a sample matches the population by age, gender, region and class, findings can be generalised. A small or skewed sample makes results unreliable.

Research methods & data types, 2 marks

What is a focus group?

  1. A small group discussing a topic, led by a researcher
  2. A national count of every household on one night
  3. A survey sent out to thousands of randomly chosen people online
Show the answer

A small group discussing a topic, led by a researcher

Focus groups produce qualitative data: views, feelings and reasons. They give depth but are small, so results cannot be generalised to the whole population.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society