Approaches To Sociological Research: The Use Of Approaches Drawing On Different Research Methods, Including Case Studies, Social Surveys, Ethnography And Longitudinal Studies. (Copy)

Positivism (Auguste Comte, Émile Durkheim)

Core Idea

• Prefer scientific, large-scale and quantitative approaches

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • Provide detailed insight
  • Limitations
    • Low representativeness → not generalisable
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • High reliability and representativeness
    • Large samples → generalisable findings
  • Limitations
    • Low validity → lack depth
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • Rich data
  • Limitations
    • Subjective and difficult to replicate
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Identify trends over time
    • High reliability if consistently conducted
  • Limitations
    • Time-consuming and expensive
• Application
  • Positivists favour social surveys and longitudinal studies for scientific analysis

Interpretivism (Max Weber)

Core Idea

• Prefer approaches that provide deep understanding of social meanings

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • High validity → detailed understanding of individuals or groups
  • Limitations
    • Not generalisable
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • Provide overview
  • Limitations
    • Lack depth and meaning
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • Very high validity → immersive understanding
    • Captures real-life behaviour
  • Limitations
    • Time-consuming
    • Risk of researcher bias
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Track changes in meanings over time
  • Limitations
    • Difficult to maintain over long periods
• Application
  • Interpretivists favour ethnography and case studies for validity and depth

Functionalism (Émile Durkheim)

Core Idea

• Research should identify patterns and social facts

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • Provide supporting detail
  • Limitations
    • Limited generalisability
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • Identify large-scale social patterns
  • Limitations
    • May oversimplify behaviour
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • Insight into social behaviour
  • Limitations
    • Not representative
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Show changes and trends over time
  • Limitations
    • Expensive and time-consuming
• Application
  • Functionalists favour social surveys and longitudinal studies to identify trends

Marxism (Karl Marx)

Core Idea

• Research should expose inequality and power relations

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • Reveal detailed experiences of exploitation
  • Limitations
    • Limited scope
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • Show patterns of inequality
  • Limitations
    • May not explain underlying causes
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • Reveals lived experiences of working class
  • Limitations
    • Time-consuming
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Show long-term effects of inequality
  • Limitations
    • Expensive and difficult to manage
• Application
  • Marxists use a mix but focus on revealing class inequality

Feminism (Ann Oakley)

Core Idea

• Research should represent women’s experiences and reduce bias

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • Provide detailed insight into women’s lives
  • Limitations
    • Not generalisable
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • Show patterns of gender inequality
  • Limitations
    • Lack depth
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • High validity → captures lived experiences
  • Limitations
    • Researcher bias possible
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Track changes in gender roles over time
  • Limitations
    • Time-consuming
• Application
  • Feminists favour ethnography and case studies for depth and empathy

Postmodernism (Jean Baudrillard)

Core Idea

• No single approach is sufficient; society is complex and diverse

Application to Research Approaches

• Case Studies
  • Strengths
    • Capture unique experiences
  • Limitations
    • Limited generalisation
• Social Surveys
  • Strengths
    • Provide broad patterns
  • Limitations
    • Oversimplify reality
• Ethnography
  • Strengths
    • Reflects diversity and lived experiences
  • Limitations
    • Subjective
• Longitudinal Studies
  • Strengths
    • Show change over time
  • Limitations
    • May not capture rapid social change
• Application
  • Postmodernists support methodological pluralism (mix of approaches)

Key Synoptic Application

• Positivists → favour social surveys and longitudinal studies
• Interpretivists → favour ethnography and case studies
• Functionalists → use surveys and longitudinal studies for patterns
• Marxists → use mixed approaches to expose inequality
• Feminists → favour qualitative approaches for women’s experiences
• Postmodernists → support combining all approaches