Evaluate the usefulness of quantitative methods in sociological research

Quantitative research is done to find the accurate facts by evaluating the problems like opinion, behaviour by using numerical data. This research is based on theories, hypothesis, collecting, analysing the data to make the research accurate.

A key part of engaging in sociology is to adopt a sociological viewpoint or 'think sociologically'. Etymologically, sociology is the 'study of society' but this doesn't differentiate sociology from other forms of social study. Hence, many begin to describe thinking sociologically by what it is not - it is not thinking politically, thinking anthropologically, thinking historically or thinking psychologically, for example (Berger 1966: 11-36; Reiss 1968: 2-3). Others try to determine the nature of sociological thinking by detailing practical phenomena which can be thought about such as social systems and their subsystems, social institutions and social structure, and social aggregates, relationships, groups and organisations (Reiss 1968: 1),

The researcher must set a clear hypothesis, showing the relationship between independent and dependent variables. In quantitative research tools are used to collect numerical data. The information can be gathered using questionnaires or some type of equipment. Quantitative data is efficient at testing a hypothesis, but can miss contextual detail. In quantitative research, the researcher is often objectively separated from the subject matter. One of the ways quantitative research is different from qualitative research is that quantitative research requires extraction of large amounts of statistical data. Qualitative research is focused in on personal viewpoints and opinions of a smaller number of subjects (typically). Qualitative research can take more time than quantitative research (McCusker & Gunaydin,

However, Interpretivist (anti-positivist) sociologists are sceptical about sociology’s scientific status. They argue that human behaviour is not the result of

A source of secondary data that sociologists use is official statistics, official statistics are quantitative data created by the government or other official bodies. A ten-yearly Census of the entire UK population is done on a range of area’s e.g. births, marriages and divorces. Government use official statistics in policy-making and there are several types of sources: registration, official surveys and administrative records.

Quantitative data deals more with, “providing a measure of how many people think, feel or behave

Methods of quantitative research includes surveys and data, which is then presented as statistics. It is then collected by a big group such as the Census. The downfalls of quantitative methods of research include being that it offers less depth in information as they generally place emphasis on a much larger number of cases. The outcomes of quantitative research are more often than not, used to present findings to a wide or whole population (Punch, 1998). Qualitative methods of research is essentially gathering information and data, by creating focus groups, and conducting field research and intensive reviews.

The quantitative approach to research has numerous principles that make it unique compared to other approaches. In this paper, I will break down many of the

It also creates room for an easy comparison of outcomes, is very convenient for the respondents, and eliminates interviewer variability and possible social desirability as a result of the interviewer’s presence (Bryman & Bell, 2015). However, it is not without limitations as the use of self-administered questionnaires leaves no room for probing the respondents’ answers and the respondents also cannot ask questions in case of ambiguity; it also may not be appropriate for some kinds of respondents. However, the use of validated questionnaires enhances some of these

Sociology is the study of how humans experience life. Through studying behaviour, development, cultures and how people function as a society sociologist strive to explain social problems. This is achieved through research methods. Research methods can take many different approaches and rarely is one method used to gain insight and understanding, a mixture of different concepts can be used so the findings are more rigor. This is known as triangulation (Pullinger,2014,p.89).

Quantitative research defines the research that can produce statistics, solid facts, and numbers. It uses measurements and statistical analyses.

Sociology is the study of how humans experience life. Through studying behaviour, development, cultures and how people function as a society sociologist strive to explain social problems. This is achieved through research methods. Research methods can take many different approaches and rarely is one method used to gain insight and understanding, a mixture of different concepts can be used so the findings are more rigor. This is known as triangulation (Pullinger,2014,p.89).

There are different ways in which researcher defines quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative research is a social research that uses experimental methods, questionnaires, numerical data and explains observations usually in tables or charts from. Quantitative research can define the relationship between two or more studies.

As well as there being many advantages there are also many disadvantages to questionnaires. Item B is a source of evidence where a respondent has commented on an experience she has had filling out a previous questionnaire. This does not really support the use of questionnaires and is more in favour of why we should not use this research method. We are able to see a number of disadvantages from a comment of one person. It most definitely can lack validity and we can never be sure if we are getting the truth. As the person in item B said, “I can’t remember if I answered it truthfully or not”. As it lacks validity this therefore means the results received may not necessarily be reliable. Many people do not take them seriously and just see it as a joke and therefore answer falsely “I thought it was a bit of a laugh”. Once the researcher receives the questionnaires they can not be sure in anyway which questionnaires have valid information and which have false information given from each respondent. When people are filling out questionnaires their answers my be influenced because of peer pressure, they may feel pressured into writing an answer down just because it

Quantitative research involves collecting data, which can be expressed numerically. The design is well structured with pre-determined outcomes. It frequently involves testing a hypothesis, which then can be analysed from the data deductively using statistical methods. Using numerical data is easier to analysis mathematical, so larger sample sizes can be utilised compared to qualitative research, therefore giving a better representative of the population; along with simplifying the process of making a generalisation. Another advantage is that studies can easily compare to similar findings (Kruger, 2003). The disadvantages are the results are limited and might not provide a proper understanding of the topic. Also, statistics and leading questions can be used to give a false representation of the data when summarising.