The three main factors that influence a researcher’s choice of method are practical, theoretical and ethical issues. These are considerations influencing the choice of topic, choice of research method and the conduct of research. Practical issues would include things like time and money whereas ethical issues would revolve around genuine morality and values. Theoretical issues are, as sociologists say, the most crucial issue of the research being viewed as it helps us picture a society and how we think it can be studied in an accurate and most truthful picture. The three factors coincide with each other and have impacts on each other as a whole.

Sociological research involves confronting and resolving practical factors relating to the choice of topic and research method. Practical factors would include effects and situations like time and money, funding bodies, personal skills and characteristics, subject matter and research opportunities. Large scale research is expensive and beyond the means of most sociological researchers as well as publisher deadlines would mean time pressure would be enhanced and work would be less detailed. If the research is on large scale than more staff and employers would be required increasing the amount of money going into the research where as if it was on a small scale the money would be less but then more employers would mean less time and less employers would take more time for the task to be complete. To help with the time and money issue funding bodies will be required to help. For example Government backed up research will have more money potentially available to them as well businesses, organisations, research institution’s etc. who fund the research. But this also links