Theoratical

Question 1

Reliable? Valid? Which perspective is this method likely to work for?

Answer 1

Theoretical

Question 2

Issues

Answer 2

• Sociologists Values - What is their theoretical perspective (Structural, Value-Free, etc.)?
• What are their personal interests or involvements in the topic?
• Aim of Research - Is the research being used to further knowledge or inform social policy?
• Methodological Preferences - What methods are preferred by the researcher conducting the research (positivist / interpretivist)?
• Type of Data Required - Does the research require quantitative or qualitative data?
• Reliability - Is replicability important? Is the research going to be repeated by others? Important to Positivists.
• Validity - Is the purpose of the research to gain an understanding of human behaviour in a specific context? Important for Interpretivists.
• Representativeness - Is the research meant to represent society as a whole or be a window into the lives of individuals?