Choosing Research Methods
Bell and Newby's book Doing Sociological Research, asked contributors to describe how well they understood well-known research, rather than asking how it should be done. It looked into the extent to which sociologists theoretical asumptions are a major influence on their view of valid and choice of methods.
THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Positivists favour quantitative and scientific methods. Research should be reliable, generalizable and definable. Social surveys demonstrate the influence of society on individual behaviour.
Interactionists favour qualitative methods, which provide insights into the social meanings given to behaviour. This may involve participant observation.
Feminists often choose interactionist methods to allow women to speak for themselves.
PRACTICAL INFLUENCES
All has uses and limitations
Participant observation needs access
Sample surveys compromise between cost and representativeness.
Different types of interview can be compared on the basis of reliability and insight.
THE TOPIC BEING STUDIED
Historical studies need secondary data.
Large scale studies often use sample surveys or secondary data.
Initially, studies of deviants often use participant observation, and possibly followed up with interviews.
The study of non-literate societies is often PO because no written records and the need to learn their language.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Covert may be deceptive and invade privacy.
May have to commit crimes if studying deviants.
May have to interfere with lives, regardless of method, though may counter that it's all for the greater good.
CHANCE AND INSPIRATION
Many. eg. Malinowski on way to Oz when WW1 began, to not be imprisoned, he stopped at Trobriand Islands and began a lengthy PO study.
SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIOLOGISTS
Bell and Newby thought Money and organisation where sociologist from important.??????????
DOING FEMINIST RESEARCH
Oakley's Socololgy of Housework (1974) pioneered the view that actually doing sociological research involved feminist issues, to her fiminist say same, and most research is 'malestreams'.
Women are subjects.
Gender relationships based on power.
Women are the researchers and treat subjects as equals.
There is no best method but women subjects should speak for themselves.
'malestream' sociology is not value-free and feminist research should try and improve women's lives.
CONCLUSION
There's no best method, eg. large numbers representative but lack depth, all have pro and con. Using more than one method can help..
Extra Information
You might have to explain why certain sociologists use certain methods according to their theories and objectives, and at any question where uses and limitations of studies comes up.