In this section, you will find an overview of different research methods in sociology. You will find links to tools and resources in the library related to the different types of research and writing.
Research in Psychology is categorized into two general methods:
Qualitative Research
Non-numerical evidence, usually examined in its raw form
Used when a researcher wants to understand people's opinions, idiosyncratic responses to an event, motivations, or underlying reasons for actions or decisions.
Learn about the Types of Qualitative Research Methods. link will open in a new window
Example: Interviewing the victims of a natural disaster to gather a range of emotional responses.
Quantitative Research
Numbers! Collected as numerical data or converted into numerical data and examined using statistical methods of analysis.
Used to examine trends and compare populations.
Learn about the Types of Quantitative Research Methods. link will open in a new window
Example: Asking victims of a natural disaster to rank their feelings of anxiety using a pre-determined scale.
When to use them
Psychological research is best when it uses complementary quantitative and qualitative approaches together in the same study, a method called triangulation.
Example: Observing parent-child interactions while watching tv then comparing those observations to measured rates of social and cognitive development in the children who participated in the study.
The Research Continuum
Observational Studies
The researchers record data by studying participants at a distance. Researchers try not to influence the participants or their actions.
Types of observational studies include: Naturalistic Observation link will open in a new window, Participant Observation link will open in a new window, or Ethnography. link will open in a new window
Case Studies
The researcher will collect and write detailed accounts of individual lives. A case study can combine a few research approaches, including interviews, observational data, and archival data.
Examples of Case Studies include Freud's history of Anna O link will open in a new window., and the stories related in Oliver Sacks's best selling book The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat.
Qualitative Research by 
Archival Research
A researcher applies their own analytical model to data that has already been collected. They attempt to answer a new question or discover a new trend by looking at old data.
Typical sources of archival data include: census datalink will open in a new window , court records will open in a new window , medical records, and even case files from other researchers.
Questionnaires
Participants are asked a standard set of questions. These questions may be delivered in writing or through an interview format.
There are three main types of questionnaire methods: Random Sampling link will open in a new window , Stratified Sampling link will open in a new window , and Convenience Sampling link will open in a new window .
Applied and Field research
Researchers are trying to find a solution to an immediate, practical problem. Examples include reducing drug use or improving worker happiness.
Field research is a type of applied research that is undertaken in a non-laboratory setting. These settings may include a hospital or workplace.
Experimental Research
Research conducted in a controlled environment. The results help scholars in the field to learn more about psychological processes such as cognition or emotional development.
Analyzing Quantitative Data by Observational Studies
The researchers record data by studying participants at a distance. Researchers try not to influence the participants or their actions.
Types of observational studies include: Non-Participant Observation windowor Participant Observation.
Case Studies
The researcher will collect and write detailed accounts of individual lives. A case study can combine a few research approaches, including interviews, observational data, and archival data.
A classic example of Case Studies in sociology is Erving Goffman's classic Asylums. link will open in a new window
Interviews
Information is gathered one-on-one by asking questions orally. Structured Interviews can sometimes be used to gather quantitative data, because the structure allows the interview to function like a questionnaire.
More qualitative types of interviewing range from the Unstructured Interview which functions like a conversation based around a set list of topics, to the In-Depth Interview which may range widely with only a loose guide to direct it.
Ethnographies
In-depth studies of groups in their natural setting. These studies utilize multiple type of research to create a multi-layered report. In addition to Participant Observation, a researcher may use interviews, questionnaires, or analysis of secondary research related to the group.
Some good examples of ethnographies available through the Library's online resources include: Recovery's Edge : An Ethnography of Mental Health Care and Moral Agency Link will open in a new window by Neely Laurenzo Meyers, Sex Work and the City Link will open in a new window by Ysmina Katsulis, and The breakup 2.0 : disconnecting over new media Link will open in a new window by Ilana Gershon.
Archival Research
A researcher applies their own analytical model to data that has already been collected. They attempt to answer a new question or discover a new trend by looking at old data.
Typical sources of archival data include: census datalink will open in a new window , court records will open in a new window , medical records, and even case files from other researchers.
Social Surveys
Participants are asked a standard set of questions. These questions may be delivered in writing or through an interview format.
There are three main types of questionnaire methods: Random Sampling link will open in a new window , Stratified Sampling link will open in a new window , and Convenience Sampling link will open in a new window .
What is Experimental Research?
Experimental Research is a sub-type of research in sociology. It may utilize the same methods as other research, but it differs in that it attempts measure variables as precisely as possible.
Experimental Research starts with a hypothesis and uses a variety of research methods to test that hypothesis. Ususally involves testing causal relationships.
Field Experiments
Researchers study the cause and effect of variables in a natural setting, such as a classroom or workplace.
This allows the researcher to study participants or phenomena in their natural setting, so results might be more accurate. But they have less control over the variables, so results might not be as precise.
Laboratory Experiments
Research conducted in a controlled environment.
Participants' reactions may be influenced by the unnatural setting, but researchers have more control over variables.