Introducing Research Methods and Ethics

This episode focuses on key aspects of sociological inquiry. It begins by distinguishing between quantitative methods, which gather numerical data through tools like questionnaires, structured interviews, and official statistics to identify patterns, and qualitative methods, which aim for rich, descriptive insights using unstructured interviews, participant and non-participant observation, and case studies. The source emphasises that all sociological research, regardless of method, must strictly adhere to ethical considerations. These include ensuring informed consent, maintaining confidentiality and anonymity, providing protection from harm, and carefully addressing instances of deception to safeguard participants' well-being.