Realists and Suicide

Steve Taylor looks at both Durkheim’s realist approach and the interpretivist views of Douglas and Atkinson

Sociologists should look at ‘underlying, unobservable structures and casual processes’ which lie behind suicide

Disagrees with Durkheim’s opinion that ‘official suicide rates are a most inappropriate source of data’

Believes that case studies are most appropriate method – you must look at each person’s intentions and social situation  

5 people a month die under London Transport trains

Taylor studied 32 cases -  attended inquests in coroner’s…