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Sociological Research Methods

Paul Blokker

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Overview CourseWeek 11. Introduction to Sociology and Social

Research2. Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Week 23. Research Design: Theory, Research

Questions, Data4. Quantitative Research Design5. Collection and Analysis of Quantitative Data6. Qualitative Research Design

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Overview CourseWeek 37. Collection and Analysis of Qualitative

Data8. Mixed Methods9. Comparative Research10. Research in the Social Sciences:

Summary and Review

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Overview CourseWeek 11. Main themes:a. General introduction to sociology and

economic sociologyb. A concise history of sociology and its key

problématiquesc. Theoretical approaches/traditions in

sociologyd. The nature and philosophical assumptions

of social science and sociologye. 3 philosophical dimenions of social researchf. Sociological traditions and 3 dimensions

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Overview CourseWeek 12. Relevance:a. Understanding of different ways

sociological analysis can be applied to the analysis of (local) economic development, local democracy, interaction micro and macro

b. Understanding of how to research social and socio-economic interaction

c. Understanding of possibilities/limits of social research

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Overview CourseWeek 13. Relevant literature of the reading list:• Gilbert chapters 1, 2• Coleman chapter 1• Outhwaite chapter 1

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Overview CourseWeek 14. main concepts:• society• integration, cohesion, solidarity, trust, embeddedness• desintegration, fragmentation, conflict, distrust• modernization/modernity• social change• paradigms/theories of knowledge• ontology• epistemology• methodology• methods

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1Introduction to Social

Research

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1. Social SciencesWhat are the Social Sciences (about)?• the Social Sciences engage in the scientific

study of human behaviour• the main focus is the study of social

interaction, social groups and society• Social sciences comprise various

disciplines: Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Cultural Studies, etc.

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1. Social SciencesKey problem of classical sociology

the origin and persistence of social order

(given that the state of nature is ‘a war of all against all’)

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1. Social SciencesOrientation of sociology• Sociology is interested in 'human

social interaction as people take one and another into account as each behaves toward the other'.

• It analyses 'systemic units of interaction within social groups, social relations and social organizations'.

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1. Social SciencesWhat are the object domains of

(classical) sociology?

• modern society• Modernity (‘dual revolutions’)• integration, cohesion, solidarity

(stability)• deviation, fragmentation, conflict

(change)

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1. SociologyKey concepts of sociology• classes/social groups• integration, solidarity, cohesion, trust• deviance, disintegration, divergence,

conflict• stability• transformation• revolution• differentiation

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1. SociologyEconomic sociology (see Smelser and Swedberg)

definition: the sociological perspective applied to economic phenomena

laborate: the application of the frames of reference, variables, and explanatory models of sociology to that complex of activities which is concerned with the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of scarce goods and services.

e

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1. SociologyEconomic sociology (see Smelser and Swedberg)

Key elements:• personal interaction (patterns, underlying norms, e.g.,

non-contractual side to contractual relations)• groups (interest groups, classes, corporate groups, social

movements)• social structures (institutions, norms rules, culture)• social controls (norms, sanctions, values)• social networks• cultural contexts

• e

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1. Sociology

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history

• Early modernity (19th century): Dual political and economic revolutions

– the problem of integration and social order (Gemeinschaft – Gesellschaft)

– The ‘social question’ (late 19th century)

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1. SociologyThe problem of integration and social

orderTraditional Society/Gemeinschaft- Famility relations, friendship- Customs- Barter-Traditions- Habits- Inertia- Religion- Man as social man- Comunal property

Modern society/Gesellschaft- Anonymity of social relations- Contract- Exchange for money- Innovation- Novelty- Progress- Secular- Individualism- Private property

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1. SociologyThe ‘social question’ (late 19th century)

The social problems emerging with the dynamic periods of transformation wrought by the Industrial Revolution:poverty, inequality, labour conditions, workers’ health, urban problèmatique, social inclusion and participation

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history

• Early sociology– Emphasis on the empirical study of social

phenomena or ‘social facts’ (Durkheim), social problems, deviation, social order

– Significant influence of emerging statistics and positivism/probabilism: sociology as science

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history

• Economic sociology:- understanding of capitalism and the Great Transformation of society (Durkheim, Weber, Polanyi)- role of wage labour in modern society- class relations/class conflict

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history• Sociology: establishment and expansion

– the question of integration and social order (‘organic solidarity’, legitimacy)

– the question of the integration of the new masses

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history– A strong emphasis on the empirical study of

‘social facts’.– The observation of new social phenomena in

modern society (organic solidarity, anomie, legimitation of power)

– The emergence of dual objective:1. the study of objective social facts;2. the study of subjective meaning-giving

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1. SociologyThe emergence of sociology as a

science: A concise history• Post- or late Modernity: the

transformation of modern societies– questioning of methodological nationalism– post-industrial society (disintegration of

classes, individual plural identity, increasing cross-societal interaction)

– post-society?

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1. Sociology

Four ‘knowledge paradigms’

1. positivism, post-positivism2. constructivism3. critical theory4. pragmatism

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1. Sociology1. positivism, post-positivism• referred to as the ‘scientific method’, ‘quantitative

research’, or ‘ empirical science’• positivism was at the basis of classical sociology, in

order to enhance its scientific status• emphasis on relation between causes and effects,

experimental research or objectively ‘controlled’ forms• reductionistic in its emphasis on few variables and

parsimony• knowledge generated by careful obsefvation and

measurement of objective reality• researcher checks theory with reality

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1. Sociology2. Constructivism• became a contender view of sociology in the early

20th century• individuals are seen as developing subjective

meanings of their experiences (rather than being directly stimulated by external reality)

• researcher looks for complexity of meanings, rater than narrowing down meanings in few categories

• strong reliance on participants’ views, and interactive construction of meaning

• researcher constructs theory from observations of meaning-constructions by social actors

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1. Sociology3. Critical theory• A third approach, emerging first in the 1920s and 30s,

is a critical approach towards social reality. • The emphasis is on exposing social reality as

oppressive for marginalized groups.• There is thus an explicit normative touch to critical

theory in that its advocates an action agenda for political reform.

• Specific issues addressed are empowerment, inequality, domination, oppression, and alienation.

• Participants' views in this regard (but not always, see marxist tradition) can be of primary importance in empirical research.

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1. Sociology4. Pragmatism• The approach is grounded in the pragmatist

philosophical tradition (Dewey, Pierce, Mead, James).• Knowledge claims arise out of actions, situations,

and consequences rather than being a prioristically defined.

• The emphasis in social research is on “what works” and on solutions to problems.

• Pragmatist research is thus neither confined to objectivity or to meaning-construction, but refers to both, when appropriate in dealing with the research questions.