Sociologists (research methods)

Question 1

Howard Becker (Interactionism)

Answer 1

What He Did: Focused on labelling theory, studying how society labels certain individuals or groups as “deviant.”

Key Contribution: Showed how labels, such as “troublesome” or “criminal,” influence individuals’ behaviour, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 2

Karl Popper (Philosophy of Science)

Answer 2

What He Did: Introduced the concept of falsifiability, arguing that for a theory to be scientific, it must be able to be proven wrong.

Key Contribution: Proposed that sociology should follow the scientific method, focusing on testing and disproving theories.

Question 3

Paul Willis (Research Methods)

Answer 3

What He Did: Used ethnography and qualitative research to study how working-class boys resist school culture.

Key Contribution: Through participant observation, he demonstrated how students’ resistance to school led them to low-status jobs.

Question 4

Ann Oakley (Feminism & Research Methods)

Answer 4

What She Did: Criticised traditional research methods for being gender-biased and advocated for more inclusive and reflexive research methods.

Key Contribution: Highlighted the dual burden of women, performing both paid work and domestic chores.