(Part - 1) - Doing Sociology: Research Methods Class 11 Sociology

Introduction

• Sociology is a field that deals with various issues related to society more than any other field. Since we all live in society, we are all familiar with social groupings, organizations, norms, relationships, and other sociological concepts.
• Sociology is a valuable tool for understanding the problems that affect us both as individuals and as members of larger organizations.
• Sociology is concerned with the study of people's lives. Sociologists seek to understand not only what bystanders observe but also the beliefs and attitudes of those who participate in various social activities such as friendship, religion, or market trading. Sociologists try to view the world through the eyes of their subjects.
• Sociological research provides data and information that can be used as evidence to support a claim. This evidence comes from multiple sources, and research provides the means to collect and analyze sociological data.

Some Methodological Concerns

Let's start by examining how sociologists aim to produce knowledge that qualifies as scientific.

Objectivity and subjectivity in sociology

In order to achieve objectivity, it's necessary to set aside our individual emotions or opinions about a matter. Conversely, the term "subjective" pertains to something that's based on personal beliefs and inclinations.

Objectivity

• Social scientists study the social dimension of human connections - the world they inhabit. This presents exceptional difficulties for achieving objectivity in a social science like sociology.
• The primary concern is partiality, given that sociologists are also part of society and share the same preferences and aversions as others.
• For instance, when examining a caste or religious group other than their own, sociologists may be impacted by attitudes towards that group prevailing in their own social environment, either currently or previously.

How do sociologists protect themselves from these dangers?

• Through rigorous and persistent questioning of one's own ideas and emotions related to the research topic.
• Self-reflexivity involves adopting an outsider's viewpoint and considering the research through the perspective of others. However, even if sociologists practice self-reflexivity, there's always a possibility of unconscious bias. To address this, sociologists openly disclose any relevant aspects of their own social history that may potentially influence their opinions on the topic being investigated. This alerts readers to the potential for bias and allows them to mentally account for it while reviewing the research paper.
• By actively adopting the perspectives of the individuals under examination.
• Maintaining a comprehensive record of all actions taken, procedures followed, and citing all sources of evidence in a formal manner.

Subjectivity

• Subjectivity pertains to the cognitive content that originates from the thinking subject, rather than the object of thought.
• Individuals attach significance to their actions, and during sociological investigation, the researcher must acknowledge and attempt to decipher these meanings.
• Sociological research is driven by values that are cultural products, and knowledge status is subject to variation across cultures due to its subjective character.
• When undertaking social research, it's important for the sociologist to not overlook the subjectivity inherent in the social realm. Instead, they should utilize it to decipher meanings that can furnish solutions to the research inquiries.

Multiple methods and choice of methods

Given the existence of multiple truths and perspectives, it's not surprising that there are different methodologies in sociology. As a result, there is no one definitive approach to uncovering social truth. Each methodology has its own strengths and weaknesses, and therefore, debating the superiority or inferiority of various methods is futile.

Quantitative vs qualitative research

• Quantitative research focuses on variables that can be enumerated or measured.
• Qualitative research centers on more elusive variables that are harder to quantify, such as attitudes, emotions, values, and so forth. Examples of qualitative research methods include interviews, observations, and content analysis of items like paintings or advertisements.

Primary research vs. secondary research

• Primary research aims to produce fresh or "primary" data, with interviews being a key source of primary data.
• Secondary research relies on pre-existing or "secondary" data that has already been gathered, such as documents, records, and artifacts. Historical methods frequently incorporate secondary material collected in archives.