Theoretical issues

Not all of this is my own work, but I'm terribly sorry I can;t remember where I found it to credit the author.

1. Theoretical issues

2. Theoretical Issues Validity Reliability The following slide has two definitions Y ou must decide which title goes with which definition

3. Theoretical Issues A true picture of what something is like. Gets as close to the truth as possible. Replicability. Can be repeated and the same results will be found.

4. Theoretical Issues Validity A true picture of what something is like. Gets as close to the truth as possible. Reliability Replicability . Can be repeated and the same results will be found. Which of these do we link with qualitative data and which with quantitative?

5. Answer the question at the bottom of page 165

6. Representativeness Does the sample you are using for your research represent the population as a whole? The characteristics of the subgroup/sample should be the same as the wider group Sampling

7. Random sample Quasi-Random sample Stratified sample Quota Samp le Snowball sample Convenience sample Define these sample types

8. Methodological Perspective A sociologist’s choice of method will be influenced by their methodological perspective These perspectives can be split into two main perspectives Positivism Interpretivism

9. Two Different Approaches to Collecting Data Positivism Interpretivism An Interpretivist sociologist wants to understand how people give meaning to the social world around them. The data that is collected is qualitative – reporting the in-depth experiences of those being studied. The data that is collected is quantitative – facts and numbers that are precise. A Positivist sociologist wants to identify the underlying causes of peoples behaviour.

10. I’m Emile Durkheim and as a Positivist sociologist I’d choose quantitative methods that are reliable . I’m Max Weber and as an Interpretivist sociologist I’d choose qualitative methods that are valid . Any method is fine as long as it involves the systematic collection of evidence . Any method is fine as long as it helps us to understanding peoples motives and feelings .

11. I’m Emile Durkheim and as a Positivist sociologist I’d choose research methods that are reliable . Any quantitative method is fine because they involve the systematic collection of evidence .

12. Positivism The data that is collected is quantitative – facts and numbers that are precise. A Positivist sociologist wants to identify the underlying causes of peoples behaviour. Questionnaires Official statistics Formal or structured interviews

13. I’m Max Weber and as an Interpretivist sociologist I’d choose methods that are valid . Any qualitative method is fine because it helps us to understand peoples motives and feelings .

14. Interpretivism An Interpretivist sociologist wants to understand how people give meaning to the social world around them. The data that is collected is qualitative – reporting the in-depth experiences of those being studied. Informal or unstructured interviews Participant observation

15. Which methods would a Positivist sociologist use and which ones would an Interpretivist sociologist use? Laboratory experiment Questionnaires Informal or unstructured interviews Field experiment Official statistics Formal or structured interviews Diaries and web blogs Direct observation Participant observation