Sociological Research The essay is a critical analysis of the methods, approaches and challenges to social research as discussed by the British sociologist Anthony Giddens. According to Giddens, all researches take place because of the existence of a research problem. A sociologist might observe the developments in the society or the complex behavior of various people around him and do a research on it. This is how sociological research begins. Statistics, languages and the social movement of societies help the researchers to carry on their research. One research might often lead to another result because of the various other issues raised in the previous research. But the important question here is that how do these sociologists …show more content…
Survey is a collection of data and information about various subjects. It is a quick, easily administrable and less expensive mode of sociological research which many researchers undertake in order to collect data from the participants or subjects of the research. It can be used to gather data on an extensive variety of things, including individual certainties, mentalities, past practices and supposition. A survey can be carried out in various forms. Questionnaires and interviews are two of the most important forms of collecting data which help us to carry out the surveys. Questionnaires can be sent out in many ways. Data can be collected through online questionnaires, questionnaires sent in mail, handed out in person and discussed over the phone. Interviews are a more personal form of data collection as compared to questionnaires.The researcher directly works with the respondent and collects data by either asking question face-to-face or over the telephone. But just like a coin has two sides, one cannot ignore the drawbacks of surveys as well. The statistics can be manipulated by the researcher and mended as per his own needs. For e.g.: a researcher conducting a research on national income might survey the upper class of the society only and form an analysis. This is a manipulated research as it ignores some sections of the society as per the discretion of the researcher. Also at times, there are chances that the options of answers given in an questionnaire may not be an exact impression of how the members genuinely
Sociology is a science because methodological study is used to study the behavior of people in society in their environment. The same steps using the scientific method in a research process: observation, hypothesis testing, data analysis, and generalization is used when conducting sociological research.
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Sociologists researchers first make ontological assumptions. That is to say, they decide what they are studying or what should be studied. They decide what the subject matter consists of and the meanings behind it. They must consider the social reality and the nature of being, in relation to the subject matter.
1. The study and science of Sociology is a comparitively new pursuit, as opposed to the general sciences such as physics, archeology and chemistry, that is now being used to explain and help improve our way of life and behaviour. Many benefits are derived from the study of sociology; understanding the social dynamics within communities or certain groups give clarity on why problems and conflicts arise within them, and how those can be solved, as well as impinging upon our individual day to day existence.
Sociologists analyze human society and interaction using varied ideas and trends. There are three main thought processes used when deciphering social interactions. Structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism are used to understand how society works. There are strengths and weaknesses that are attributed to each of the theories.
Sociology was the first social science of its kind so early sociologists used the methods and terms of natural science as a guideline. For example, Durkheim used social facts to back up and support his claims (Chambliss, 2017, p.12). Which is the same as gathering data and conducting research in a natural science experiment. Sociologists use “…methods of observing, classifying, generalizing (making hypotheses), verifying, and systematizing” to gather research to create a sociological theory or notice a trend (Brian, 1947, p.
They do have restrictions, however not one method is better for collecting information than the others. They each just have different means and aims of study, positivist, being neutral scientific data, interpretive, being the meanings humanity attaches to their actions, and critical sociology, being more political, with the desire to make the world a better place. A sociologist who is more politically driven may prefer critical sociology, while one who is nonpolitical, or wants to focus more on scientific data may prefer positivism. All three methods are unique in the ways that the sociologist collects and applies the information they discover, but each approach is useful, depending on one’s goal as a
The questionnaire is a self-completion questionnaire which is sometimes called a self-administered questionnaire. It is to say that respondents completed the questionnaires themselves (Bryman and Bell, 2003). The research conducted an online survey through a professional website called ‘survey monkey’. There is no doubt that it is a cheaper and easier way to collect information for researchers. In addition, it is convenient for respondents as well.
Sociologists develop theories to explain and analyze society at different levels and from different perspectives. Sociologists study everything from the micro level of analysis of small social patterns to the “big picture” which is the macro level of analysis of large social patterns.
The Advantages and Limitations of Social Surveys in Sociological Research To survey something, is to carry out a systematic overview so that a researcher can produce a comprehensive general report on it. Survey method is often used by positivist sociologists seeking to test their hypotheses, and to investigate causes and examine variables. As with every other sociological research, survey has its own advantages and limitations. Positivist research, which is in the scientific tradition, begins with a hypothesis that can be either confirmed or rejected according to the data collected. One of the significant advantages of survey method is that, it can be used to collect data that is a representative of a larger population.
Sociology is described as the study of human behavior in society. A sociologist studies the organizations, institutions and developments of these cultures. Their specific focus is recognizing the reasons for changes in relationships between individuals and groups. Emile Durkheim, a French social scientist during the mid 1800s to early 1900s, developed a dynamic style of combining experiential research with sociological theory (“Emile Durkheim”).
This definition explains that when sociologists study the behavior of particular people, they look for general patterns. Even though every human being is distinctive, the lives of individuals are shaped by the society in patterned ways which is obvious as determined previously that different categories (i.e. men and woman, children and adults, rich and poor) live their lives different from each other .We start to observe the globe sociologically
To Quote Anthony Giddens: "Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behaviour as social beings. The scope of sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street up to the investigation of world-wide social processes“(1989). Gidden’s statement describes sociology as a study that helps us understand our own behaviour as human beings in a social word. Sociologist study everything from the interaction between people in the street to the interaction between different countries. Sociologists aim to study how societies have changed over, how societies are structured and organized, the norms of society. It’s also important to understand that not all sociologists agree with each other, Sociologists often debate with one another to prove/disprove certain theories and concepts. By studying Sociology is it helps us analyze social conflicts on a micro and macro scope. Through a macro level, we can study large-scale social organization and large social categories it also examinees social processes and patterns society as a whole. We can analyze individuals much deeper on a micro level. This way we study a human by face-to face interactions. Its important as humans to understand the way our society came together and the reasons to how elements work and function together. Sociology gives us a deeper
Sociology and psychology is the study of the mind and the environment around us which makes us who we are. These theories assist us to understand behaviour from individual and societal levels.
... Thus, the normative concepts were discarded as “metaphysical”. However, it is rather evident that these concepts compose the very subject matter of the study of sociology. As the result, one must agree that we are limited by the impossibility of experimentation, which signifies that the scientific methods are not applicable to the entire study of sociology. Works Cited for: Giddens, A. (2006)