Social researchers ask and answer sociological questions in many different ways, shapes and forms. A social researcher needs to know what kind of question they want to ask. These can be from technical questions wanting to use certain methods like interviews to carry out your research and to get the answers to your question. Epistemological questions can also be asked where social researchers want to find facts are true or if other work social researchers are telling the truth. However before any social research can start the researcher must ask why they are doing the research and what effect it will have on society. They must also follow guidelines set out by The British Sociological Association. Through all these ways a sociologists can answer
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Laud Humphreys wanted to look at men having anonymous and instant sex in public toilets. The main reason for Laud Humphrey doing this research was to show just how much not only gays but also straight men would go just to meet up for sex and how society should be more accepting so they did not have to go to these levels. Humphrey can be seen as using queer theory for his research as he looked at how society was bias as straight men had a voice but gay men did not. (Macionis and Plummer 2012). Humphrey wanted to use a positivism approach and use methods such as observation and to interview the men to get the answers. Through observation Laud Humphreys found some very interesting answers and facts about the men. He found out just how popular anonymous sex in public was becoming. Laud Humphrey found out that public toilets were getting just as popular as cars for anonymous sex and in April through October the bathrooms overpassed any other area for male sex. (Humphreys 2009). This fact helped Humphrey answer his question as it did show just how popular these bathrooms were. Through observation Humphrey also confirmed that it was not only gays who took part in the sexual activates but a majority of men who did not identify themselves as being gay or were not used to the gay scene. This surprised Humphrey as it was only gay men he thought he would be looking at but it showed even straight men were taking part in the activity. Laud Humphrey also used the technique of interviews to find out the reasons men wanted to take part in this sort of activity. He interviewed some of the men to ask them why they were having sex with other men. One of the responses were “, it is a matter of sex real quick.” (Humphrey 2009). Another response “I know lots of guys who stop by on their way towards work and during the day.” The interviews let Humphrey see the reasons in a better light as it
Laud Humphreys wanted to look at men having anonymous and instant sex in public toilets. The main reason for Laud Humphrey doing this research was to show just how much not only gays but also straight men would go just to meet up for sex and how society should be more accepting so they did not have to go to these levels. Humphrey can be seen as using queer theory for his research as he looked at how society was bias as straight men had a voice but gay men did not. (Macionis and Plummer 2012). Humphrey wanted to use a positivism approach and use methods such as observation and to interview the men to get the answers. Through observation Laud Humphreys found some very interesting answers and facts about the men. He found out just how popular anonymous sex in public was becoming. Laud Humphrey found out that public toilets were getting just as popular as cars for anonymous sex and in April through October the bathrooms overpassed any other area for male sex. (Humphreys 2009). This fact helped Humphrey answer his question as it did show just how popular these bathrooms were. Through observation Humphrey also confirmed that it was not only gays who took part in the sexual activates but a majority of men who did not identify themselves as being gay or were not used to the gay scene. This surprised Humphrey as it was only gay men he thought he would be looking at but it showed even straight men were taking part in the activity. Laud Humphrey also used the technique of interviews to find out the reasons men wanted to take part in this sort of activity. He interviewed some of the men to ask them why they were having sex with other men. One of the responses were “, it is a matter of sex real quick.” (Humphrey 2009). Another response “I know lots of guys who stop by on their way towards work and during the day.” The interviews let Humphrey see the reasons in a better light as it