Evaluating Sociological Research Methods

representativeness

sample is a fair representation of the population to prevent generalisations

validity

presenting a true picture → deeper insight into the truth

usually qualitative data

reliability

can the research be checked and get the same results?

quantitative data (more scientific)

practical issues

cost, access to sample/group, & time

ethical issues

consent, deception, invasion of privacy, & possibility of harm

theoretical issues

positivist & interpretivist sociologists

positivist sociologists

more scientific, quantitative methods to identify trends & patterns

interpretivist sociologists

more qualitative methods to gain insight & understand meaning

leading questions

wanting to confirm information by pushing respondents to answer in a specific way (biased)

hawthorne effect

changing behaviour due to knowing about being observed

artificial environment

laboratory experiments which the environment has been manufactured →lacks validity

going native

ethnographers become too involved in the community studied → losing objectivity & distance

objectivity

unbiased researcher, who is not influenced by emotions, personal prejudices, or personal preferences