Research methods chapter 4 comparative methods

The comparative method

Does not take place on the laboratory or in the field, looks at situations, variables are identified and patterns of cause and effect are measured

Durkheim- le suicide

Looked at information and variables, finding the extent to which a person is socially integrated into society, Durkheim proved that suicide is a social fact

Positives of Durkheim

The comparative methods avoids the artificiality of laboratory settings

No ethical concerns

Can build a picture using past events

Large scale social change over long periods of time

Negatives of Durkheim

Untrustworthy- little control over variables, correlation is imposed, no certainty of a cause and effect relationship