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Sociological research methods are usually divided into the positivist methods and interactionist methods. Positivists prefer having large scale, quantitative methods which allow them to make generalizations, such as the use of methods like questionnaires and official statistics to explain social behavior. Interactionists, on the other hand, use small-scale, qualitative methods in their attempt to understand human behavior. They prefer using methods such as observation and field experiments to collect information as well as personal documents like diaries. The choice of research methods is based on several key concepts and factors such as validity, reliability and representativeness. Any piece of research can be analyzed in terms of these concepts as well as other practical factors.
Practical factors like time, finance and access are key issues which need to be taken into consideration by the researcher before implementing specific methods. ... This is probable because research findings are required, for instance, to inform policy. On the other hand, it is essential that the researcher has an estimated idea of how long the research may take. ...
Financing a research is a major issue which researchers have most often a limited budget for. Research involves expense, e. ... The Joseph Rowntree Foundation provides financial support to sociologists like Gordon and Kempson to investigate poverty. These are resources for research. However, when sociologists begin researching, they may be faced with problems from both positivist and interpretist methods. ... Some social groups may be reluctant to become the subject of research with various reasons. ... Sociologists who want to study the relationship between divorce and domestic violence may not be able to obtain information from hospitals because it is disclosed and can only be seen by the patient and the doctor.
Approximate Word count = 1320
Approximate Pages = 5.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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