Theory and Methods

Weber

Sociology should understand social action through Verstehen.

Becker and Gouldner

Sociologists should be value-committed in research.

Left Realism

Victim-centric and focusses on social causes of crime.
+Balanced and practical

Comte

Sociology is a science.
- Assumes society is like natural sciences.

Durkheim

Used quantitative and statistical methods for research.

+Studied sociology scientifically

- Undermines subjectivity

Sayer

Sociology can be scientific in underlying structures.
+Balances positivism and interpretivism

-Difficult to operationalise due to subjectivity

Kuhn

Science progresses via paradigm shifts, not linear social changes

-Too focused on natural sciences

Popper

Science is based on falsifiability, not verificationism

Interactionalism

Focuses on micro interactions and meanings.

+Detailed insight into individuality.

-Ignores wide structures

Postmodernism

Society is fragmented and subjective.

+Explains changes and choices.

Transgression

Challeneges fixed boundaries in research and society.

+Promotes innovation.

Feminist methodologies

Use qualitative, participatory methods to empower participants.

Postivism

Scientific and quantitative methods

Interpretivism

Subjective and qualitative.