Human society is a complex network, and there are many ways to study it. In this lesson, we’ll look at three approaches to sociology: positivist, interpretive and critical. Social research is research conducted by social scientists and which follows by the systematic plan. Social research methods can generally vary along a quantitative/qualitative dimension. Social scientists are divided into camps of support for particular research techniques. These disputes relate to the historical core of social theory. While very different in many aspects, both qualitative and quantitative approaches involve a systematic interaction between theory and data. The choice of method often depends largely on what the researcher intends to investigate. The present book serves as an invaluable resource for approaching research with an open mind. The contents of this book map the field of social research methods using an approach that will prove valuable for both students and researchers.
