1. THEORETICAL ISSUES OF RESEARCH METHODS
LO: Know and understand what theoretical issues are, and, how to answer THAT exam question

2. Not me – I want to know the facts.
POSITIVITIST
INTERPRETIVIST
Me too!
But I’m stuck – I want to find out the reasons and the meanings behind this achievement rather than just a statistic...
I want to do some Sociological research into the educational achievement of traveller children. But where do I start?
Not me – I want to know the facts.

3. POSITIVITIST INTERPRETIVIST
So what kind of method should I use and what kind of data do I want?
So what kind of method should I use and what kind of data do I want?

4. POSITIVITIST INTERPRETIVIST
A QUALITATIVE method is better for me as it would allow me to find out the true meanings behind traveller achievement.
A QUANTITATIVE method would be better for me, as it would give me a better overall picture of traveller achievement.

5. POSITIVITIST INTERPRETIVITIST QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONNAIRES
OBSERVATION
OFFICIAL STATISTICS
UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS
EXPERIMENTS
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS
STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS

6. And now – THAT question
EXAMINE THE VIEW THAT THEORETICAL ISSUES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING SOCIOLOGISTS’ CHOICE OF RESEARCH METHODS.
20 MARKS

7. EXAMINE THE VIEW THAT THEORETICAL ISSUES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING SOCIOLOGISTS’ CHOICE OF RESEARCH METHODS.
20 MARKS

8. EXAMINE THE VIEW THAT THEORETICAL ISSUES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING SOCIOLOGISTS’ CHOICE OF RESEARCH METHODS.
20 MARKS
Positivist or Interpretivist approach?
What other factors are there?
Practical?
Ethical?
What’s going to influence a Sociologist more? Practical? Ethical? Theoretical? when choosing a research method?

9. POSITIVITIST INTERPRETIVITIST QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
Ethically more problems with qualitative methods as they involve more deceit.
Ethically less problems with quantitative methods as participants can give informed consent.
However – my results are likely to be more valid, and will be full of rich meaningful data.
However – my results will be easy to replicate, but will lack depth.
Practical problems with qualitative methods include: costly, take a long period of time and are difficult to generalise.
Practical problems with quantitative methods include: ???
Oh wait – they’re great! Or are they... Response rates?

10. What about now – do you think you could answer that question???
EXAMINE THE VIEW THAT THEORETICAL ISSUES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR INFLUENCING SOCIOLOGISTS’ CHOICE OF RESEARCH METHODS.
20 MARKS