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A common distinction is often made in sociology between quantitative and qualitative research methods and traditions. The former are associated with functionalism and positivism, the latter with interactionism and the search for meanings and understanding. As the term suggests, quantitative methods try to measure social phenomena and will use mathematical models and, often, statistical analysis to explain them. Qualitative methods attempt to gather detailed, rich data, allowing for an in-depth understanding of individual actions within the context of social life. As a rough-and-ready guide to a diverse range of sociological research methods, this distinction is a useful starting point. Many sociologists do tend to specialize or even favour one tradition over the other. However, there is a danger that the two traditions will be seen as opposing ‘camps’ with entirely different approaches to research. This would not be very productive, nor does it adequately describe the situation that exists.

In fact, many research projects use mixed methods – both quantitative and qualitative – in order to gain a more comprehensive and rounded understanding of the subject being studied. The findings from separate quantitative and qualitative studies can also be combined. For example, some feminist sociologists favour qualitative methods, which, they argue, allow the authentic voices of women to be heard in ways that quantitative studies just cannot match. This latter point is undoubtedly correct. But without quantitative studies it would not have been possible to measure the full extent of gender inequality in society or to set those individual women’s voices into a wider societal context. Sociologists have to be prepared to use the most appropriate methods for the specific questions they want to answer.

Next, we look at some of the various research methods sociologists commonly employ in their work (see table 2.2).