Types Of Data, Methods And Research Design: The Differences Between Primary And Secondary Sources Of Data And Between Quantitative And Qualitative Data. (Copy)

Positivism (Auguste Comte, Émile Durkheim)

Core Idea

• Sociology should be scientific, objective and based on measurable data

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Prefer primary data → collected directly by researcher
  • Seen as more reliable and controlled
• Quantitative Data
  • Strong preference for quantitative data
  • Numerical, statistical, measurable (e.g. surveys, official statistics)
  • High reliability and comparability
• Qualitative Data
  • Seen as less scientific and less reliable
  • Harder to measure and replicate
• Methods
  • Structured interviews, questionnaires, experiments
• Application
  • Positivists favour primary, quantitative data for reliability and objectivity

Interpretivism (Max Weber)

Core Idea

• Sociology should focus on understanding meanings and experiences (verstehen)

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Prefer primary data for deeper insight
  • Also value some secondary sources like personal documents
• Quantitative Data
  • Seen as lacking depth and meaning
• Qualitative Data
  • Strong preference for qualitative data
  • Rich, detailed and descriptive (e.g. interviews, observations)
  • Provides insight into motives and meanings
• Methods
  • Unstructured interviews, participant observation
• Application
  • Interpretivists favour qualitative data to understand social behaviour

Functionalism (Émile Durkheim)

Core Idea

• Society should be studied using scientific methods

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Use both, but value secondary data like official statistics
  • Durkheim used suicide statistics
• Quantitative Data
  • Preferred for identifying patterns and trends
• Qualitative Data
  • Less emphasis, but may support findings
• Application
  • Functionalists favour quantitative data for identifying social patterns

Marxism (Karl Marx)

Core Idea

• Research should expose inequality and power structures

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Use both, but critical of official secondary data (may reflect ruling class bias)
• Quantitative Data
  • Useful for showing inequality (e.g. income distribution)
• Qualitative Data
  • Useful for understanding exploitation and lived experiences
• Methods
  • Mixed approach depending on purpose
• Application
  • Marxists use both quantitative and qualitative data but remain critical of bias

Feminism (Ann Oakley)

Core Idea

• Research should reflect women’s experiences and reduce bias

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Prefer primary data to capture women’s voices
  • Critical of male-biased secondary data
• Quantitative Data
  • Seen as too detached and lacking depth
• Qualitative Data
  • Preferred → provides detailed understanding of experiences
  • Oakley used unstructured interviews
• Methods
  • Emphasis on empathy, rapport and non-hierarchical research
• Application
  • Feminists favour qualitative primary data to represent women’s experiences

Postmodernism (Jean Baudrillard)

Core Idea

• No single method or type of data can fully explain society

Application to Types of Data

• Primary vs Secondary Data
  • Both seen as equally valid
• Quantitative Data
  • One of many ways of understanding society
• Qualitative Data
  • Also valid → reflects diversity of experiences
• Methods
  • Methodological pluralism → use multiple methods
• Application
  • Postmodernists support using a mix of quantitative and qualitative data

Key Synoptic Application

• Positivists → prefer primary, quantitative data for reliability
• Interpretivists → prefer qualitative data for meaning and depth
• Functionalists → favour quantitative data for patterns and trends
• Marxists → use both but critique bias in data
• Feminists → favour qualitative primary data for women’s experiences
• Postmodernists → support methodological pluralism and mixed data use