Should sociologists make use of official statistics?

Should sociologists make use of official statistics? Official statistics are notoriously problematic. They often distort or fail to show the complete social truth. Subjective interpretations of what sociology should be clearly impact upon any understanding of the use of official statistics. Tim May in his book "issues, methods and process" sets down the fundamental sociological assumptions that lie at the foundation of sociological view of official statistics. He divides sociological though on this issue into …

…the assumption that underlies any understanding of sociology. I would advocate that official statistics are heavily based upon individual opinion and subjectivity and therefore must always be made with this in mind. As long as they alone are not cited as evidence of social phenomena but instead used along side other research types then I believe it is possible to arise at a true social answer. It is a problem of research not of truth.