Practical issues influencing choice of methods

Time and money

Different methods require different amounts of time and money. Large-scale surveys may employ dozens of interviewers and date staff, costing a lot of money. Small-scale involving a lone researcher may be cheaper to carry out, but a long time.

Requirement of funding bodies

Research institutes, businesses and other organisations that provide funding for reasearch may require results to be in a particular form. Sociologists will have to use a method capable of producing data like questionnaires or strucutured interviews.

Personal skills and characteristics

Each sociologisr possesses different skills which may affect their ability to use different methods. For example, participant observation requires the ability to mix easily with others as well as good powers of observation and recall.

Subject matter

It may be harder to study a particular group or subject by one method than by another. For example, it may be difficult for a male sociologist to study an all-female group.

Research opportunity

Sometimes the opportunity to carry out research occurs unexpectdlt meaning it may not be possible to use structured methods as they take longer to prepare.