Theory and Methods –
Complete Revision Sheet
Research
Methods
Research
What aremethods
they? are the
systematic approaches sociologists
use to investigate aspects of
society. Sociologists utilise both
quantitative and qualitative
methods to explore social
phenomena.
Key Aspects:
Quantitative Methods – favoured by Positivists
These methods aim to collect numerical data that can be used to identify
patterns and relationships.
o They are favoured by Positivists, who seek objective and
generalisable findings.
o Examples include - structured interviews, questionnaires,
experiments, and official statistics.
o A key strength is high reliability, meaning the study can be
replicated with similar results.
o However, they can lack depth and may miss important nuances in
human behaviour.
o Study Example: Durkheim’s Suicide - Durkheim employed statistic
analysis to uncover social facts that influence suicide rates.
Complete Revision Sheet
Research
Methods
Research
What aremethods
they? are the
systematic approaches sociologists
use to investigate aspects of
society. Sociologists utilise both
quantitative and qualitative
methods to explore social
phenomena.
Key Aspects:
Quantitative Methods – favoured by Positivists
These methods aim to collect numerical data that can be used to identify
patterns and relationships.
o They are favoured by Positivists, who seek objective and
generalisable findings.
o Examples include - structured interviews, questionnaires,
experiments, and official statistics.
o A key strength is high reliability, meaning the study can be
replicated with similar results.
o However, they can lack depth and may miss important nuances in
human behaviour.
o Study Example: Durkheim’s Suicide - Durkheim employed statistic
analysis to uncover social facts that influence suicide rates.
