S O C I O L O G Y

Research methods and researching social inequalities

Positivism

An approach to sociological research which advocates using similar methods to natural sciences, for example analysis of quantitative data

Interpretivism

an approach to sociology which advocates using methods which allow sociologists to understand the meanings and interpretations of those they study, typically using qualitative methods.

Aims

a purpose or proposed outcome for example a sociologist might aim to show a relationship between poverty and crime

Hypotheses

An informed guess that something might be true that can be tested by constructing a particular research tool