Research Methods and Techniques in Sociology
What the exam tests
This domain tests research design and the choice of technique. You must know the strengths, limits and ethics of observation, interview, questionnaire, survey and case study.
Core rules
- Observation: watching behaviour; participant/non-participant, controlled/uncontrolled. Strong for natural settings; weak on representativeness and observer bias.
- Interview: structured, semi-structured or unstructured; good for depth and clarification; costly and prone to interviewer effect.
- Questionnaire: self-administered, open or closed questions; efficient for large samples; weak if literacy is low or questions are leading. A schedule is filled by the researcher.
- Survey: systematic collection from a sample or census; good for prevalence and comparison.
- Case study: intensive, holistic study of one case; good for process and context; not easily generalisable.
- Ethics: informed consent, confidentiality, no harm, voluntary withdrawal.
Worked example
You study school dropout among tribal students in a Karnataka district. Which methods? Reasoning: a sample survey estimates prevalence and compares villages; interviews with teachers and parents explain reasons; case studies of dropouts show trajectories; observation of school practices reveals exclusion. A questionnaire alone would miss why; a case study alone would not estimate how widespread. Mixed methods fit the research question.
Traps
Do not confuse questionnaire with schedule. Do not treat survey and census as synonyms. Do not think participant observation is unbiased. Do not generalise from one case study. Do not write leading questions or ignore consent and confidentiality.