Moreover, structuralist prefers quantitative research method such as questionnaires as it is able to utilize larger samples, so generalizations are more justified. Statistical data produced from questionnaires ease the replication of research and checking of results, as well as provides a much more reliable and objective data, as compared to qualitative method. Hence, a sociologist who favors structural approach tends to prefer quantitative research methods such as questionnaires and experiments in studying the social world.
On the other hand, interpretivists such as symbolic interactionists see social action can only be understood by interpreting the meanings and motives it is based on, which is unable to be discovered through quantitative methods. As such, interpretivist sees qualitative research method as most appropriate way of research as it allows them to understand the meanings and motives of action. For example, an interview conducted by Howard S. Becker to study marijuana smokers allowed him to discover the motives and circumstances that led them to try drug and continue using it.
Besides, by conducting qualitative research methods such as participant observation, where the researcher is witnessing the actual behavior, it is more difficult for the people being studied to lie or mislead the researcher. As such, interpretivist sees qualitative method as rich in validity through having to examine people in their natural environment and obtain first hand data. Therefore, a sociologist who favors interpretive perspective tends to prefer qualitative research methods such as participant observation and unstructured interviews in studying the human behavior and society.
However, it has been pointed out that a sociologist’s theoretical perspective does not necessarily determine his choice of research method. For example, David Hargreaves, a functionalist has used qualitative research method, participant observation in his study of ‘social relationships in a secondary modern school’. Therefore, it is argued that a sociologist’s theoretical perspective is not the main factor that influences his choice of research method, and definitely not the only one.
Practical considerations such as time, funding, availability of existing data and practicality of collecting data will also have an influence over the sociologist’s choice of research method. Firstly, different methods require varying amount of time. For example, participant observation requires a period of time for observation purposes. This can be well illustrated where Cicourel spent 4 years studying juvenile justice in California. Thus, a sociologist’s who have limited time would opt for research method like social surveys.
Apart from that funding available is also a rather influential factor. Researcher with better financial support can choose certain field they are interested in. some small scale research requires little funding but major research projects can be very expensive. Thus the availability of funding can be seen as one of the factors influencing the sociologist’s choice of research method as all research carried out requires funding no matter what.
Other practical considerations apart from time and funding, such as the availability of existing data or the practicality of collecting data will both have an influence. For example, Durkheim chose to study suicide partly because statistics were available from many European countries. Besides, sociologist will resort to use secondary data when conducting historical studies because it is impossible to collect primary data.
Furthermore, ethical consideration might as well influence the sociologist’s choice of research method. Israel and lain identified some principles which most ethical codes have in common and which can affect the choice of research methods. Firstly, the informed consent from participant before research is allowed. If consent if obtained, this can prevent researcher from carrying out covert research or misleading the participant about the nature of research. Secondly, confidentiality is also a requirement of most ethical codes. Some research may be difficult because government, police or court might require researcher to disclose their research findings. Fitzgerald and Hamilton suspended their research on Australian drugs due to fear that police would issue warrant requiring them to disclose confidentiality information. Hence, these principles of ethical codes would also influence s sociologist’s choice of research method.
Values and beliefs of the sociologist also play some part in influencing his choice of research method. Sociologists are unlikely to devote considerable time and energy to issues that they think are unimportant. For example, Peter Towsend’s value led him to regard poverty as an important problem in contemporary industrial society. Hence, values and beliefs of will play some part in influencing a sociologist’s choice of research method.
Last but not least, the choice research topic would also affect the choice of research method. Studies on highly secretive activities are more likely to adopt covert participant observation. This has made Laud Humphrey’s study of homosexual activity in public lavatories in the USA possible without being active participant by adopting the role of lookout. Besides, research topics which are sensitive are more likely to adopt method like questionnaires to avoid awkwardness or interactions between sociologist and research subject.
As a conclusion, a sociologist’s theoretical perspective is not necessarily the main factor that influences his choice of research method, and definitely not the only one. Take into account the above arguments, the choice of research topic, practical and ethical considerations might as well significantly influence the sociologist’s choice of research method.