Sociological Research Methods UNFINISHED

Sociological Research Methods UNFINISHED

1. Conducting sociological research

   • Approach
     • What research method do they use?
     • Are they Functionalists, Marxists, etc..?
     • Are they either positive (Functionalists, Marxists, New Right) or interprevists (Interactionists, Post modernists).
     • Positivists like quantitative data, they are going to use the methods that give them that data.
       • They want to find out about patterns of behaviour and they think sociology is a science and when they study society, they study in a macro scale (LARGE)
     • Interprevists are the opposite, they like qualitative data. They will use participants data and personal documents. They want to understand the meaning that people give to situations and they take what is called as a micro view (SMALL SCALE). They do not think that sociology is a science
   • Theoretical issues
     • They are about validity
   • Practical issues
   • Ethical issues