Sociological research Methods

Sociological research Methods

1. Mixed methods or triangualtion

   • Sociologist often use two or more approaches

2. Theoretical and ethical issues

   • How ethical issues influence research
     • Influence choice of research topic
     • Ask researcher to consider the effects of the reasearch
     • Influence who is chosen to be researched
     • Raise issue to whether researched may act immorally or illegally during the research
   • How theoretical issues influence researcher
     • Suggest one research to pick rather then another
     • Influence research method chosen
     • Influence interpretation of research findings

3. Secondary data

   • Why use it?
     • Allows historical research
     • Good with 'primary methods' (survey)
   • Problems
     • Inaccuracy or bias in original source
     • Censorship
   • Types of secondary data
     • Previous research
     • Official publications
     • Diaries and letters
     • Novels and fiction
     • Oral and family history
     • The media

4. What does sociological research do?

   • Gathers data
     • primary data
     • Secondary data
   • Makes correlations
   • Suggests/confirms correlations