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Not all of this is my own work, but I'm terribly sorry I can;t remember where I found it to credit the author.
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THEORETICAL ISSUES
Theoretical Issues
Validity
Reliability
• The following slide has two definitions
• You must decide which title goes with which definition
Theoretical Issues
• A true picture of what something is like.
• Gets as close to the truth as possible.
• Replicability.
• Can be repeated and the same results will be found.
Theoretical Issues
•Validity
• A true picture of what something is like.
• Gets as close to the truth as possible.
•Reliability
• Replicability.
• Can be repeated and the same results will be found.
Which of these do we link with
qualitative data and which with
quantitative?
Answer the question at the bottom of page 165
Representativeness• Does the sample you are using for your research represent the population as
a whole?
• The characteristics of the subgroup/sample should be the same as the wider group
Sampling
Random sample
Quasi-Random sampleStratified sample
Quota Sample
Snowball sample
Convenience sample
Define these sample types
Methodological Perspective• A sociologist’s choice of method will be influenced by their methodological
perspective
• These perspectives can be split into two main perspectives
Positivism
Interpretivism
Two Different Approaches to Collecting Data
Positivism Interpretivism
An Interpretivist sociologist wants to
understand how people give meaning to the
social world around them.
The data that is collected is qualitative – reporting the in-depth
experiences of those being studied.
The data that is collected is quantitative
– facts and numbers that are precise.
A Positivist sociologist wants to identify the underlying causes of peoples behaviour.
I’m Emile Durkheim and as a Positivist sociologist I’d choose quantitative methods that are reliable.
I’m Max Weber and as an Interpretivist sociologist I’d choose qualitative methods that are valid.
Any method is fine as long as it involves the systematic collection of evidence.
Any method is fine as long as it helps us to understanding peoples motives and feelings.
I’m Emile Durkheim and as a Positivist sociologist I’d choose research methods that are reliable.
Any quantitative method is fine because they involve the systematic collection of evidence.
Positivism
The data that is collected is quantitative – facts and numbers that are precise.
A Positivist sociologist wants to identify the underlying causes of peoples behaviour.
QuestionnairesOfficial
statistics
Formal or structured interviews
I’m Max Weber and as an Interpretivist sociologist I’d choose methods that are valid.
Any qualitative method is fine because it helps us to understand peoples motives and feelings.
InterpretivismAn Interpretivist sociologist wants to
understand how people give meaning to the social world around them.
The data that is collected is qualitative – reporting the in-depth experiences of those
being studied.
Informal or unstructured interviews
Participant observation
Which methods would a Positivist sociologist use and which ones would an Interpretivist sociologist
use?
Laboratory experiment
Questionnaires
Informal or unstructured interviews
Field experiment
Official statistics Formal or structured interviews
Diaries and
web blogs
Direct
observation
Participant observation
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