Sociology Theory & Methods

• What type of research methods are favoured by positivists?

  Quantitative research methods
• Why do positivists favour quantitative research methods?

  Because they are objective and numerical
• What are the main types of quantitative research methods?

  • Laboratory Experiments
  • Field Experiments
  • Questionnaires
  • Structured Interviews
  • Official Statistics
• What is the main characteristic of laboratory experiments?

  They test hypotheses in a controlled environment
• What is the role of the independent variable in laboratory experiments?

  The researcher changes the independent variable
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of laboratory experiments?

  Advantages:

  • Highly reliable
  • Can identify cause and effect relationships

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Artificiality
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Ethical issues
  • Unrepresentative
  • Difficulty controlling all variables
• What is a key advantage of field experiments?

  They are set in real-world situations
• Why do field experiments have higher validity than laboratory experiments?

  Participants are unaware of the experimental situation
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of field experiments?

  Advantages:

  • Less artificiality
  • Higher validity

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Ethical issues
  • Less control over variables
  • Limited application
• What are questionnaires typically composed of?

  A list of pre-set closed-end questions
• What is a key advantage of using questionnaires in research?

  They are cheap and quick to administer
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires?

  Advantages:

  • Practical
  • Quantifiable data
  • Representative
  • Reliable
  • Limited ethical issues

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Low response rate
  • Low validity
  • Unrepresentative
  • Lack of follow-up questions
• What characterizes structured interviews?

  They use a list of pre-set questions asked in the same way
• What is a key advantage of structured interviews?

  Results are easily quantifiable
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews?

  Advantages:

  • Practical
  • Representative
  • Easily quantifiable
  • Reliable

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Lack of validity
• What are official statistics?

  Quantitative data collected by government bodies
• Why do positivists favour official statistics?

  Because they are quick, cheap, and easy to access
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of official statistics?

  Advantages:

  • Cheap and easy to obtain
  • Allow for cross-examination
  • Representative
  • Reliable

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Misinterpretation by sociologists
  • Different definitions
  • Potential unreliability
• What are qualitative research methods favoured by?

  Interpretivists
• Why do interpretivists prefer qualitative research methods?

  They provide deep, subjective, and meaningful insights
• What are the main types of qualitative research methods?

  • Unstructured Interviews
  • Participant Observation
  • Documents
• What is the main characteristic of unstructured interviews?

  They mainly ask open-ended questions
• What is a key advantage of unstructured interviews?

  They allow for a strong relationship between interviewer and interviewee
• Why is participant observation considered valid?

  Groups are observed in natural and authentic settings
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of unstructured interviews?

  Advantages:

  • Rapport
  • Flexibility
  • Validity

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Time-consuming
  • Costly to train interviewers
  • Unrepresentative
  • Not reliable
• What is participant observation?

  The researcher joins in the activities of the group being researched
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of participant observation?

  Advantages:

  • Valid
  • Richly detailed data

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Unreliable
  • Unrepresentative
  • Not valid due to the Hawthorne effect
  • Ethical issues
  • Practical issues
• What are personal documents?

  Diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, and letters
• Why are personal documents considered valid?

  They are written for personal purposes
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of personal documents?

  Advantages:

  • Valid
  • Practical
  • Illuminates social life
  • Can confirm or question other interpretations

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Some groups may not produce them
  • Personal bias is likely present
• What are historical documents used for?

  To allow comparisons over time
• What is a disadvantage of historical documents?

  Some documents may have been lost or destroyed
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of historical documents?

  Advantages:

  • Allow comparisons over time
  • Useful for assessing policy outcomes

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Unrepresentative
  • Validity and authenticity issues
• What do positivists argue about sociology as a science?

  Sociology can be a science by modeling itself on natural sciences
• What do interpretivists argue about sociology?

  Sociology cannot be a science because humans are governed by internal meanings
• What are the views of Kuhn regarding sociology and science?

  • Sociology will never pass the stage of pre-science
  • There is no dominant perspective in sociology
  • Sociology may never have a unifying theory
• What did Comte believe about sociology?

  It is possible to discover laws that control social behavior
• How did Durkheim view sociology?

  He believed sociology can be studied as a science through observable facts
• What is inductive logic in positivism?

  • Makes general conclusions from specific facts
  • Uses examined objects and conducted experiments
• What is Popper's view on sociology as a science?

  Sociology must undergo falsification to be considered a science