Theoretical Factors Affecting Choice of Methods (AQA GCSE Sociology)
Revision Note
Written by: Raj Bonsor
Reviewed by: Cara Head
Positivism versus interpretivism
One of the key stages of planning research is deciding which method(s) to use
Some of the research methods available to sociologists include:
questionnaires
interviews
observations
content analysis
The method(s) sociologists decide to use is influenced by:
practical issues e.g. time and money available
ethical issues e.g. informed consent, confidentiality and data protection
theoretical issues e.g. the debate about positivism and interpretivism
Differences between positivism and interpretivism
Positivism | Interpretivism | |
|---|---|---|
Scientific vs non-scientific methods | The only way to obtain knowledge about the world is through scientific methods like those natural scientists use. Positivists prefer a scientific approach to studying the social world, i.e., developing hypotheses and testing them to discover the facts. | Interpretivists believe that sociologists should use non-scientific methods to study the social world. This is because people are completely different from the subject matter studied in the natural sciences, so scientific methods are inappropriate. |
How they aim to understand behaviour | Positivists focus on behaviour that can be observed and measured rather than on people's feelings or emotions | Interpretivists like to explore people's behaviour and intentions and understand the meaning behind their behaviour. |
Research methods preferred | Positivists prefer research methods such as large-scale surveys; these are known as quantitative methods as they gather facts and figures to describe society in statistical terms. | Interpretivists prefer research methods such as in-depth interviews and participant observation; these are qualitative methods as they collect rich, detailed accounts rather than statistics. |
Criticisms | Critics argue that scientific methods can't be applied to sociology because people are completely different from the things studied in the natural sciences. | It is difficult to achieve objectivity in research as the researcher's own beliefs, interpretations, and cultural preferences can affect the research outcomes. |
The mixed methods approach
Nowadays, the distinction between qualitative and quantitative approaches is less rigid
Sociologists acknowledge that both can be combined and are crucial for gaining knowledge about society
In order to produce both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study, sociologists employ a mixed methods approach, which allows them to:
create a complete picture of the topic they are researching
enable connections and comparisons to be made
take advantage of the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data
cross-check the results of a qualitative and quantitative approach; this is referred to as triangulation
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