Rock the A Level Sociology OCR Exam 2025 – Get Psyched to Ace It!

Oakley believed that sociologists should actively engage with the lives of their respondents. This perspective aligns with her belief in the importance of understanding individuals' experiences and the contexts in which they live. She viewed sociology as not just an abstract discipline but as a field that should be concerned with real people's lives, thereby promoting a more interactive and empathetic approach to research.

By advocating for this interventionist role, Oakley sought to emphasize the importance of qualitative methods that allow sociologists to gather deeper insights into social phenomena. Her work particularly highlighted the value of personal narratives and the lived experiences of women, illustrating how sociologists can contribute to broader social understanding and change.

This contrasts sharply with a purely objective or detached stance, which would prioritize distance and neutrality over engagement, as well as with strictly quantitative approaches that may overlook the nuanced, subjective elements of human experience.