Quality Criteria in Sociology An Analytical-empirical Perspective

Abstract

From a perspective of analytical-empirical sociology, this contribution develops an inventory of eleven quality criteria for sociological science. This inventory encompasses standards for theory development as well as empirical social research. We distinguish two basic criteria, which pertain to the entire research process, nine core criteria, which refer to single stages of this process, and several sub-criteria, which specify the core criteria. The criteria are developed along a stylized research process which is common in quantitative social research. Nonetheless, the criteria are formulated in a way that makes them applicable to qualitative social research as well. Grounded in the analytical tradition of sociology, our paper seeks to provide the scientific community with a framework which may guide high-quality research and support the criteria-based review of research output.