You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 10 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
Theoretical issues in research methodology are concerned with the fundamental question: what kind of knowledge does a particular research method produce, and how good is that knowledge? The three central theoretical concepts are validity, reliability, and representativeness. Alongside these, we consider the role of objectivity, the concept of triangulation, and the relationship between theory and method. Understanding these concepts is essential for evaluating any piece of sociological research and for constructing sophisticated exam answers.
Validity refers to the extent to which a research method measures what it claims to measure and produces a true, authentic picture of the social phenomenon being studied.
Key Definition: Validity — the degree to which a research method or instrument accurately measures or captures what it is intended to measure or capture. Valid data provides a genuine, truthful representation of social reality.
Subscribe to continue reading
Get full access to this lesson and all 10 lessons in this course.