Research methods in Sociology
Primary & Secondary Data Validity & Reliability
Primary data = information Factors influencing what topic to research: ‘How good will my
which was not present Values of the researcher data be?’ ideally want
before research began. Likely to study something they consider to be important, what they data which is valid &
Generated by researcher see as important influences values. E.g. Sociologist who believes in reliable.
during process of research. equality of opportunity may study relationship between social class
and educational attainment since evidence shows class inequality Validity = data valid if
Secondary data = data prevents equality of educational opportunity. presents true &
which already exists. accurate
Includes data from statistics, Values of society description/measurem
historical records, diaries, Often reflect values on society. E.g. Feminists believe in male ent.
novels etc. dominated world, criticised sociology for being male value based
Quantitative & and therefore male dominated. Ann Oakley broke new ground when Reliability = data
qualitative data chose to research housework, until then topic was considered by reliable when different
Quantitative data = data many male sociologists unimportant. researchers using
in form of numbers. same methods obtain
Useful for measuring Funding same results
strength of relationships Is it affordable? Most research projects conducted by professional continuously.
between various factors. sociologists require outside funding. Research funds available from
charitable foundations and government organisations. Reliable data may not
Qualitative data = refers be valid, if sociologist
to all types of data not in Availability of data went to USA for
form of numbers Makes no sense to choose research topic where little/no data basketball + knew
including descriptive data available and little chance of producing it in future. E.g. Little chance nothing about it. May
e.g. Description of of conducting systematic study of secret service organisations e.g. fail to understand
behaviour in class and MI5. crowds responses to
quotes from interviews. game, description of
Provides richer and more Theoretical position crowd behaviour
in-depth information Every theoretical position sees certain aspects of society as reliable as same every
than numbers in important e.g. Marxism sees class system as foundation of capitalist time but not accurate
quantitative data. society. descriptions.
, Research methods in Sociology
Factors influencing choice
Ethical issues
of research method Theoretical considerations Ethics = moral principles – beliefs about what
•Interpretivism = some sociologists argue is right & wrong. Research terms – ethics the
Practical considerations understanding human behaviour involves moral principles which guide research.
•Some methods more seeing world through eyes of those being Should participants be informed about what
suitable than others for studied. People give meaning to their research involves + purpose? Should
conducting particular types behaviour + to behaviour of others. researchers make every effort to ensure they
of research. E.g. Studying •To understand their behaviour, essential to don’t come into physical harm?
teenage gang whose discover + interpret meanings + definitions
members commit legal which guide their actions. Informed consent
acts. •View of human activity = interpretivism. Researchers argue those they are studying
•Asking gang members for Soc who support this view may favour should be given opportunity to agree or
interviews or methods such as participant observation, refuse to participate in research.
questionnaires unlikely to observing people being studied by joining
produce required data. their activities, suitable method for Deception
Joining in + gaining trust discovering meanings which guide actions. Information withheld from participants
allows researcher to obtain •Interpretivists favour in-depth and/or provided with false info. May be
info by observing unstructured interviews, gives them chance unaware they are participating in research
behaviour. to talk about behaviour. study or misled about purpose + research.
•Researcher can only •Positivism = models itself on ‘natural’
observe + record behaviour sciences such as biology and chemistry. Privacy
of small number of people. Favours ‘hard’ quantitative data. Less Agree privacy should be respected but most
Sociologists claim working concerned with meanings people attach to research intrudes into people’s lives.
class more likely to commit behaviour, more with behaviour itself.
crime – would take lifetime •Positivist sociology = attempts to measure Confidentiality
of observation to assess behaviour by translating it to numbers. Agreed identity of participants should be
claim. Sociologists turn to Statistics to measure strengths between kept a secret unless told clearly otherwise.
official statistics of crime to various factors.
observe relationship •More likely to produce data in numerical Protection from harm
between social class + form. Questionnaires – fairly easy to Includes any harmful effects of participating
crime. translate answers into numbers. in research + consequences of research.
Primary & Secondary Data Validity & Reliability
Primary data = information Factors influencing what topic to research: ‘How good will my
which was not present Values of the researcher data be?’ ideally want
before research began. Likely to study something they consider to be important, what they data which is valid &
Generated by researcher see as important influences values. E.g. Sociologist who believes in reliable.
during process of research. equality of opportunity may study relationship between social class
and educational attainment since evidence shows class inequality Validity = data valid if
Secondary data = data prevents equality of educational opportunity. presents true &
which already exists. accurate
Includes data from statistics, Values of society description/measurem
historical records, diaries, Often reflect values on society. E.g. Feminists believe in male ent.
novels etc. dominated world, criticised sociology for being male value based
Quantitative & and therefore male dominated. Ann Oakley broke new ground when Reliability = data
qualitative data chose to research housework, until then topic was considered by reliable when different
Quantitative data = data many male sociologists unimportant. researchers using
in form of numbers. same methods obtain
Useful for measuring Funding same results
strength of relationships Is it affordable? Most research projects conducted by professional continuously.
between various factors. sociologists require outside funding. Research funds available from
charitable foundations and government organisations. Reliable data may not
Qualitative data = refers be valid, if sociologist
to all types of data not in Availability of data went to USA for
form of numbers Makes no sense to choose research topic where little/no data basketball + knew
including descriptive data available and little chance of producing it in future. E.g. Little chance nothing about it. May
e.g. Description of of conducting systematic study of secret service organisations e.g. fail to understand
behaviour in class and MI5. crowds responses to
quotes from interviews. game, description of
Provides richer and more Theoretical position crowd behaviour
in-depth information Every theoretical position sees certain aspects of society as reliable as same every
than numbers in important e.g. Marxism sees class system as foundation of capitalist time but not accurate
quantitative data. society. descriptions.
, Research methods in Sociology
Factors influencing choice
Ethical issues
of research method Theoretical considerations Ethics = moral principles – beliefs about what
•Interpretivism = some sociologists argue is right & wrong. Research terms – ethics the
Practical considerations understanding human behaviour involves moral principles which guide research.
•Some methods more seeing world through eyes of those being Should participants be informed about what
suitable than others for studied. People give meaning to their research involves + purpose? Should
conducting particular types behaviour + to behaviour of others. researchers make every effort to ensure they
of research. E.g. Studying •To understand their behaviour, essential to don’t come into physical harm?
teenage gang whose discover + interpret meanings + definitions
members commit legal which guide their actions. Informed consent
acts. •View of human activity = interpretivism. Researchers argue those they are studying
•Asking gang members for Soc who support this view may favour should be given opportunity to agree or
interviews or methods such as participant observation, refuse to participate in research.
questionnaires unlikely to observing people being studied by joining
produce required data. their activities, suitable method for Deception
Joining in + gaining trust discovering meanings which guide actions. Information withheld from participants
allows researcher to obtain •Interpretivists favour in-depth and/or provided with false info. May be
info by observing unstructured interviews, gives them chance unaware they are participating in research
behaviour. to talk about behaviour. study or misled about purpose + research.
•Researcher can only •Positivism = models itself on ‘natural’
observe + record behaviour sciences such as biology and chemistry. Privacy
of small number of people. Favours ‘hard’ quantitative data. Less Agree privacy should be respected but most
Sociologists claim working concerned with meanings people attach to research intrudes into people’s lives.
class more likely to commit behaviour, more with behaviour itself.
crime – would take lifetime •Positivist sociology = attempts to measure Confidentiality
of observation to assess behaviour by translating it to numbers. Agreed identity of participants should be
claim. Sociologists turn to Statistics to measure strengths between kept a secret unless told clearly otherwise.
official statistics of crime to various factors.
observe relationship •More likely to produce data in numerical Protection from harm
between social class + form. Questionnaires – fairly easy to Includes any harmful effects of participating
crime. translate answers into numbers. in research + consequences of research.
