Personal documentsrefer to a wide variety of papers and other documentary material which can be used as a valuable qualitative source of secondary data.
Personal Documents are usually made up of written texts, including diaries, letters, and other expressive documents such as biographies and autobiographies.
Almost any personal document can be of interest to a sociologist, but among those more frequently used are letter, diaries, school reports, photographs, birth, marriage, and death certificates, rent books, and other documents relating to property, and wills.
These can provide a sociologist with a rich source of qualitative data, i.e. about experiences, feelings, attitudes, emotions, motives for behavior etc. They can be contemporary or historical.
However, as with all secondary data, personal documents need to be treated with caution, but they can reveal significant insights, particularly into the past.
Strengths of Personal Documents
Practical IssueThey are a cheap source of large amounts of qualitative data because someone else has already gathered the information.Theoretical IssueSuch documents can give a rich, detailed and valid insight into the everyday experiences, attitudes, feelings and practices of criminals or criminal justice officials whilst in their natural criminal or legal environment.They are often used to supplement quantitative secondary data such as official statistics, e.g. a judge’s diary or letters can be used to support statistics about the treatment of criminals.They may also be used where no other source of data exists. For example, sociologists might not be able to gain access to criminal gangs. The autobiography or diary of a gang member may give us important insights into criminal behavior.They are often the only insight sociologists have into the past. In other words, personal documents may also be historical documents, e.g. a first-hand account in the form of a diary or novel written in the 19th century may give us insight into crime or attitudes towards crime in this period.Interpretivist sociologistsare very keen on personal documents because they believe diaries etc. give a more valid insight into the meanings people apply to their actions. They enable sociologists to get close to people’s interpretation of reality. For example, suicide notes can be taken to be the final thoughts of the individual committing suicide. The biographies of criminals may be nostalgic and sentimental but nevertheless, they can still offer insights into, for example, the role of masculinity, violence and the importance of maintaining a ‘reputation’ among serious criminals.Limitations of Personal Documents
Practical IssueThey are a cheap source of large amounts of qualitative data because someone else has already gathered the information.Theoretical IssueSuch documents can give a rich, detailed and valid insight into the everyday experiences, attitudes, feelings and practices of criminals or criminal justice officials whilst in their natural criminal or legal environment.They are often used to supplement quantitative secondary data such as official statistics, e.g. a judge’s diary or letters can be used to support statistics about the treatment of criminals.They may also be used where no other source of data exists. For example, sociologists might not be able to gain access to criminal gangs. The autobiography or diary of a gang member may give us important insights into criminal behavior.They are often the only insight sociologists have into the past. In other words, personal documents may also be historical documents, e.g. a first-hand account in the form of a diary or novel written in the 19th century may give us insight into crime or attitudes towards crime in this period.Interpretivist sociologistsare very keen on personal documents because they believe diaries etc. give a more valid insight into the meanings people apply to their actions. They enable sociologists to get close to people’s interpretation of reality. For example, suicide notes can be taken to be the final thoughts of the individual committing suicide. The biographies of criminals may be nostalgic and sentimental but nevertheless, they can still offer insights into, for example, the role of masculinity, violence and the importance of maintaining a ‘reputation’ among serious criminals.
Practical Issue
Theoretical Issue
Limitations of Personal Documents
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
