Abstract:
Abstract
This study examines sociological research methodologies through historical,
epistemological, and global perspectives, highlighting the interaction
between theoretical frameworks and empirical practices across diverse
cultural contexts. It traces classical roots from positivism, interpretivism,
and critical theory, emphasizing their distinct ontological and
epistemological commitments and their influence on method selection. The
work addresses ongoing debates about objectivity, reflexivity, and
positionality, underscoring the importance of methodological pluralism to
capture social realities’ complexity. It explores various research typologies,
including basic and applied research, exploratory, descriptive, and
explanatory designs, as well as comparative, interdisciplinary, participatory,
and action-oriented approaches. The sequential and reflexive nature of the
research process is detailed, covering problem identification, literature
synthesis, strategy design, data collection, and analysis. Specific methods
such as historical sociology, case studies, content analysis, descriptive
inquiry, experimental designs, quantitative and qualitative techniques, and
ethnography are discussed with attention to their theoretical foundations and
practical applications. Emerging trends in digital data, big data analysis,
network analysis, relational sociology, and computational social science are
examined, alongside ethical considerations, power dynamics, and epistemic
justice in knowledge production. The integration of diverse epistemologies,
especially contributions from Global South scholarship, is emphasized to
promote inclusivity and address inequalities within sociological research.
This comprehensive overview advocates for reflexive, context-sensitive, and
theoretically informed methodological choices to advance sociological
inquiry in a globally interconnected environment.
