Methods of Investigation in Sociology – Level 3 Health and Social Care Cambridge Technical Revision

Methods of Investigation in Sociology give researchers tools to scrutinise society and study the effects of societal issues on health and social care.
These methods can be categorised broadly into qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
Understanding these methods can assist in discerning the best ways to investigate health and social care topics.

Qualitative research focuses on acquiring in-depth understanding of human behaviour and the reasons behind it.
Methods include interviews, case studies, participant observation, and focus groups.
Qualitative research provides extensive and detailed data, helping researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of a subject.
This approach is particularly useful for understanding the nuances of health behaviours and the individual experiences of people accessing health and social care.

Quantitative research gathers numerical data that can be transformed into usable statistics.
Quantitative methods include surveys and questionnaires, experiments, and longitudinal studies.
This research provides data that can be easily measured and compared, often highlighting trends or correlations.
Quantitative methods can be beneficial in highlighting larger patterns or trends in health and social care, such as in identifying health disparities between groups.

Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches can result in a mixed methods research design.
This approach seeks to draw from the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a topic.
Mixed methods can be particularly valuable in sociology for health and social care, as it combines broad societal data with individual experiences and perceptions.

All investigations in sociology must adhere to ethical guidelines.
Respect for participants’ rights, confidentiality and informed consent are critical elements in ethical practice.
These guidelines ensure that the information collected does not harm the participants or misuse their information, which is especially important when investigating sensitive health and social care topics.

Sound understanding of methods of investigation in sociology is crucial for effectively studying and addressing societal health and social care issues.
It facilitates properly designed research, ensuring the validity and reliability of the data collected.
Different methods cater to different research needs, so knowing which method to employ is key to successful research.