The document discusses theoretical issues in sociology, focusing on concepts of validity and reliability in research methods. It contrasts the positivist approach, which emphasizes quantitative data and replicability, with the interpretivist approach, which seeks qualitative insights into people's meanings and experiences. The text also highlights the importance of representativeness in sampling and the methodological perspectives influencing sociological research choices.

1. THEORETICAL ISSUES

2. Theoretical Issues
Validity
Reliability
• The following slide has two
definitions
• You must decide which title
goes with which definition

3. Theoretical Issues
• A true picture of what
something is like.
• Gets as close to the truth as
possible.
• Replicability.
• Can be repeated and the same
results will be found.

4. Theoretical Issues
•Validity
• A true picture of what
something is like.
• Gets as close to the truth as
possible.
•Reliability
• Replicability.
• Can be repeated and the same
results will be found.

5. Answer the question at the bottom of
page 165

6. Representativeness
• Does the sample you are using for your research represent the population as
a whole?
• The characteristics of the subgroup/sample should be the same as the wider
group

7. Random sample
Define these sample types

8. Methodological Perspective
• A sociologist’s choice of method will be influenced by their methodological
perspective
• These perspectives can be split into two main perspectives
Positivism
Interpretivism

9. Two Different Approaches
to Collecting Data
Positivism Interpretivism
An Interpretivist
sociologist wants to
understand how people
give meaning to the
social world around them.
The data that is
collected is qualitative
– reporting the in-depth
experiences of those
being studied.
The data that is
collected is quantitative
– facts and numbers
that are precise.
A Positivist sociologist
wants to identify the
underlying causes of
peoples behaviour.

10. I’m Emile Durkheim
and as a Positivist
sociologist I’d choose
quantitative methods
that are reliable.
I’m Max Weber and
as an Interpretivist
sociologist I’d
choose qualitative
methods that are
valid.
Any method is
fine as long as
it involves the
systematic
collection of
evidence.
Any method is
fine as long as it
helps us to
understanding
peoples
motives and
feelings.

11. I’m Emile Durkheim and as
a Positivist sociologist I’d
choose research methods
that are reliable.
Any quantitative
method is fine
because they involve
the systematic
collection of
evidence.

12. Positivism
The data that is collected is quantitative – facts and
numbers that are precise.
A Positivist sociologist wants to identify the underlying
causes of peoples behaviour.
Official
statistics

13. I’m Max Weber and
as an Interpretivist
sociologist I’d
choose methods
that are valid.
Any qualitative method is
fine because it helps us to
understand peoples
motives and feelings.

14. Interpretivism
An Interpretivist sociologist wants to
understand how people give meaning to the
social world around them.
The data that is collected is qualitative –
reporting the in-depth experiences of those
being studied.
Participant
observation

15. Which methods would a Positivist sociologist use
and which ones would an Interpretivist sociologist
use?
Laboratory
experiment
Field
experiment
Official
statistics
Participant
observation