Research Methodologies in Political Sociology

In the first part of this series, we tackle the “Qualitative vs. Quantitative” debate within the field of political sociology. When studying political movements in regions with complex social hierarchies, such as Bangladesh or Malaysia, which data tells the truer story?

Quantitative data provides the “what”—voter turnout numbers, economic growth indicators, and demographic shifts. However, qualitative research, through ethnography and deep interviewing, provides the “why.” To truly understand why a political movement gains momentum, a researcher must look beyond the statistics and into the cultural sociology and religion-driven social dynamics of the population. This post outlines the specific hybrid methodologies I am currently using in my research on foreign investment and its correlation with social stability.