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