Methods of research

Methods of research

- Research = process of exploring and gathering evidence, based on TWO main reasons:

- To invent new theories; sociologist seeks to uncover data that will help in the creation of new theory, point towards an explanation.

-To test theories; theories that has been suggested are gathered to see if the idea is true.

TWO types of sources that sociologists use:

o Primary Sources – Data collected by the researchers themselves during the course of their work.

o Secondary Sources – Already existing data that are use by other sociologist or often by other people.

TWO types of data produced:

· Quantitative data – presented in numeric form and derives from large-scale survey methods thus make it high in reliability and low in validity.

· Qualitative data – deals directly with people in-depth feelings and thoughts thus produce high validity and low reliability.