An Approach To the Study of Social Problems

An examination of Social Constructionist's research methodology

Abstract

This paper is a critical examination of the ‘Social Constructionist’ social problem research methodology, which seeks to overcome the intrusion of subjectivity into social research and ensure research objectivity. The school's position-and that of many of its critics'-is focused on identification of, and the approach to be used in the study of, social problems as well as defining the research boundaries of a sociology of social problems. In critical response, this paper will argue from H. Sacks's insight of Membership Categorization Devices which convincingly demonstrates the essential quality of categories for members' sense making of the world-for good, for bad, or for indifferent. Based on this, we propose an alternative approach to the study of social problems.