The way you choose to do research in sociology really affects what you discover. Here’s a simple breakdown:

1. Qualitative Methods (like interviews and observations):

   • These methods help us understand people's feelings and behaviors deeply.
   • They allow for some flexibility since you can change questions based on how people answer.
   • You can collect rich, personal stories, but the findings can be a bit subjective, meaning they vary from person to person.

2. Quantitative Methods (like surveys):

   • These methods give you numbers and data that are easier to analyze.
   • They often use larger groups of people, which helps make results more general.
   • However, they might miss important details about individual experiences.

So, depending on what you want to learn—whether it’s personal stories or wider trends—the method you choose can lead to very different results!