THE TWO SOCIOLOGIES

THE TWO SOCIOLOGIES

1. TWO SOCIOLOGIES

   • sometimes argues 2 sociologies (Halfpenny 1984), first based scientific meth use hard quant data and concerned C&E relationships known positivism, second based interpretivist meths use soft qual data concerned understanding meanings make up social reality known interpretivism
   • some soc find this distinction useful, see clear divide between approaches and that pos research distinct int research both in aims/approach, pos aims uncover C&E requires quant data so strength relationship variables measured, int aims understand human action - rich qual data discover meaning behind action
   • Pawson (1989) rejects view 2 sociologies, argues gives false picture relationship between theory, meth and practice sociology, describes the 2 sociologies as a methodoligical myth, instead whole range diff views, assumptions and methodologies, variety cannot be reduced to 2 sociologies
   • Dobash and Dobash demonstrate Pawson's idea, main focus UIs gain rich in-depth qual data achieve verstehen also asked 109 women structured Qs, gave quant data higher in reliability enables identify trends & isolate variables

2. TRIANGULATION

   • using either several quant or several types qual method but not combining the two - this triangulation
   • EVALUATION
     • STRENGTHS
       • diff types data obtained helpful understand complex sit, data from one method used check against other
     • WEAKNESSES
       • limited confidence in using alternative meths, theoretical bias - those want objective/scientific data may have neg view ethnographers or vice versa
   • EXAMPLES
     • Oakley - From Here to Maternity - participant obs and unstructured interviews

3. METHODOLOGICAL PLURALISM

   • using a range methods because acknowledge respective uses secondary/primary data from both pos and int approaches - this is MP
   • EVALUATION
     • STRENGTHS
       • findings regarded as both reliable and valid, able to replicate and gain in-depth insight, build up a fuller picture of soc world
     • WEAKNESSES
       • can be extremely time consuming and costly, not all researchers have skill set use both types data
   • EXAMPLES
     • Barker - Making of a Moonie, overt participant obs (accidental), interviews and questionnaires
     • Dobash and Dobash - example earlier