Presented by,
Sameena M.SUGC Junior Research Fellow,Dept. of SociologySree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady, Kerala, India
Research- “systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach valid conclusions”
This systematic investigation progresses through a method or logic of enquiry
Method that has been adopted Competency of method In what way it has contributed to theoretical
understanding Therefore, success of any research is greatly
influenced by the methods adopted
Methods- “tools of data generation and analysis”
Chosen on the basis of criteria dictated by the major elements of the methodology in which they are embedded
Methodology- “the science of methods” Contains standards and principles employed
to guide the choice, structure, process and use of methods as directed by the underlying paradigm
“Methods refer to particular procedures and tools of research (e.g. interview) whilst methodology is about theory of how research is carried out or the broad principles of how to conduct research and how theory is applied (e.g. Survey research methodology or experimental methodology)”
-Harding
1830s- modern social science began Applied scientific method to study human
thought and behaviour By 1930s- social sciences divided Formed separate departments in Universities Divisions on the basis of research methods Later there was a shift away from seeing
scientific method (quantitative) as the only valid way of gaining data – but also a realization that both methods are needed
“consist of the process of seeking answers to questions about the social world”
To answer these questions, social scientists employ wide range of methods
QuantitativeSocial research methods
Qualitative
“The term quantitative method refers in large part to the adoption of natural science experiment as the model for scientific research , its key features being quantitative measurement of the phenomena studied and systematic control of the theoretical variables influencing those phenomena”
-Hammersely
Positivistic Collect data using standardized
approaches on a range of variables Test given theory by confirming or
denying precise hypothesis Conceptualizes reality in terms of
variables and relationships between them
It rests on measurement Prestructures data, research questions,
conceptual framework, design etc. Larger sample and generalization
through sample Well developed n codified methods for
data analysis Common quantitative methods- surveys
and experiments
most commonly used Based on using statistical sampling
methods Takes representative sample from a given
population, apply standardized and structured instrument
Enables descriptive and explanatory generalization.
Used to study the causal relationships between variables
Studying the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable by keeping the other independent variable constant through some type of control
Produces data which is clear, powerful and easily verifiable
Conclusions reached are scientific, objective, reliable and valid
Generalization possible Clear data analysis strategy Easily replicable
Do not pay attention to social meanings No place for participants Very artificial Closed method, strictly planned Instrument chosen before the study begins
and no option for correction or adjustment Can’t be so precise, people change Social situation is too complex for numerical
description
“Methods that are associated with a variety of theoretical perspectives and uses a range of tools which focus on the meanings and interpretation of social phenomena & social processes in the particular contexts in which they occur”
-SAGE Dictionary of Social Research Methods
“Interpretative”, Tries to explore subjective meaning through which people interpret the world
Deals with cases and researcher gets closer to what is being studied
Aims at in-depth holistic understanding Less formalized methods Greater flexibility Sampling- theoretical not probabilistic
Open ended to explore interpretations Allow collection of detailed information Commonly used qualitative methods-
interviewing, ethnography, observations, focus groups, case studies and content analysis
“a two way systematic conversation between an investigator and an informant, initiated for obtaining information relevant to particular study”
Involves conversation, learning from respondent’s gestures, facial expressions and pauses and his environment
A method of enquiry through observation of institutions, cultures and customs
Helps the researcher to understand systematically about the world people see and to develop theories about the social world, irrespective of his preconception
“systematic viewing of a specific phenomenon in its proper setting, for the specific purpose of gathering data for a particular study”
Includes seeing, hearing and perceiving
Held with a group of participants to stimulate discussion among people and bring to the surface responses that otherwise might lay dormant.
“an in-depth comprehensive study of a person, a social group, an episode, a process, a situation, a programme, a community, an institution or any other social unit”
Most common qualitative method
A method for making inference by objectively and systematically identifying specified characteristics of contents of documents
Gathers data from archival records, documents, newspapers, diaries, letters etc.
Presenting a more realistic view of the world
Stressing interpretations and meanings Achieving a deeper understanding of the
respondent’s world Humanizing research process by raising the
role of the researched Researching people in natural settings Allowing higher flexibility
Problem of reliability caused by extreme subjectivity
Risk of collecting meaningless & useless information
Very time consuming Problem of representativeness &
generalisability of findings Problem of objectivity & detachment Problem of ethics (entering the personal
sphere of subjects)
“there’s no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0”
-Fred Kerlinger “all research ultimately has a qualitative
grounding”-D.T Campbell
Comparison dimension
Qualitative method Quantitative method
Objective To understand underlying reasons
Quantify data & generalize results
perspective interpretative positivisticsample Small no, non-
representative cases
Large no, representing the population
Type of research
exploratory descriptive
Data collection Unstructured/semi structured
structured
administration Requires interviewer with special skills
Fewer special skills required
analysis Subjective, interpretive
Statistical, summarization
Ability to replicate Low highHardware Tape recorders,
projection devices, videos..
Questionnaires, computers, printouts..
Data Involves words Involves numbersRole of the researcher
Objective observer
Subjectively immersed in the subject matter
generalization inductive Deductive, time and context specific
Flexibility of design
Flexible, can be changed
Not flexible, Standardized and fixed design
theory Builds theory Tests theory
Combing qualitative and quantitative methods
To capitalize strengths, to compensate weaknesses
Success of any research is greatly influenced by the method adopted
Qualitative and quantitative methods present only a choice of alternative methods according to the appropriateness of research problem
Sound mix of both is always advisable “whether we use words or number, we
might as well use them right”-Lewis Beck
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