lecture 2 strategies

7/30/2019 Lecture 2 Strategies

1/26

Lecture 2

Social research

strategiesWednesday 24 July

Lesing 2

Sosiale navorsing-

strategie

Woensdag 24 Julie

Departement Sosiologie en Sosiale Antropologie

Department of Sociology and Social AnthropologyS364 - Sosiale Navorsing (2013)

S364 - Social Research (2013)

Dr Lloyd Hill

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/26

Overview / Oorsig

What is theory?

What is research?

Role of theory

Ontologicalconsiderations

Epistemological

considerations

What is a researchstrategy?

Wat is teorie?

Wat is navorsing?

Rol van "teorie"

Ontologiese oorwegings Epistemologiese

oorwegings

What is n navorsing-

strategie?


3/26

What is theory?Wat is teorie?

Etymology: Greek a looking at, viewing,contemplation, speculation, theory, also a sight,

a spectacle [OED]

view/spectacle... mental view/conception

'n uitsig/skouspel... verstandelike siening/begrip ... system of ideas or statements (stellings)

Key distinction: theory vs practice (praktyk)That department of an art or technical subject which consists in

the knowledge or statement of the facts on which it depends, orof its principles or methods, as distinguished from thepractice of

it.

1795 C. Hutton Math. & Philos. Dict. (at cited word), To be

learned in an art, &c., the Theory is sufficient; to be a master of it,

both the Theory and practice are requisite.


4/26

Theory and research

Theory as existingknowledge (eg inbooks)

Theory as formalexplanation of

observed regularities Distinguished frompractice in generaland specifically

Practices associated

with generating newknowledge, i.e. themost common sense ofresearch

Teorie as bestaandekennis (bv in boeke)

Teorie as formeleverklaring vanwaarneembare

relmatighede teorie onderskei vanpraktyk in diealgemeen en in diebesonder

praktyke verbonde metdie ontwikkeling vannuwe kennis, dws dwsdie mees algemenegebruik van "navorsing"


5/26

Teorie en navorsing

Key theoretical issues in

Social research practice:

Relationship between

theory and research- deductive

- inductive

Types of theory

- Grand theories- Middle range

theories (see below)

Hoof teoretiese kwessies

in sosiale navorsings-

praktyk:

Verwantskap tussenteorie en navorsing

- deduktief

- induktief

Teorie soorte

- Groot teorie

- Middelrang teorie

(sien hieronder)


6/26

Relationship between theory &

research

Inductive

data gathering &interpretationgenerates theory

inferences fromobservations

e.g. grounded

theory (Glaser andStrauss)

Deductive

Induktief data-insameling en

interpretasiegenereer teorie

afleidings uitwaarnemings

bv. grounded

theory (Glaser andStrauss)

Deduktief


7/26

Relationship between theory &

research

Deductive

theory formulationbefore datagathering

data used to testtheory

e.g. explicit

hypothesis to beconfirmed orrejected

Deduktief

teorie stelling voordata insameling

data word gebruikom n teorie te toets

bv eksplisietehipotese word

bevestig of verwerp


8/26

Hypothesis //Hipotese Assuming a hypothetico-deductive (positivist?)

model of science (epistemology)

What is the etymology of hypothesis?

hypo + thesis (of hipo + tese)

less than a theory

So why is a hypothesis less than a theory?


9/26

See Bryman, page

10 & 11 (3rd Ed.)


10/26

Teoriesoorte (Merton)

grand theories highly abstract

(theoretical vocabulary &style)

e.g. Bourdieus theory ofsocial capital

middle range theories limited domain (defended

on grounds of empirical

evidence) e.g. labelling theory

(Becker 1963)

Observable regularities

Groot teorie hoogs abstrak (teoretiese

woordeskat en styl)

Bv. Bourdieu se theoryvan sosiale kapitaal

Middelrang teorie beperkte domein

(simboliese gebied)(verdedig op grond van

empiriese bewys) Bv. labelling teorie(Becker 1963)

Waarneembarerelmatighede


11/26

Research issues

Why do we call thismodule socialresearch?

Implicit distinctionbetween social andnatural (science)research Ontological and

epistemologicalissues

Hoekom verwys onsna sosiale navorsing(bv. Naam vanmodule)?

Implisiete onderskeittussen sosiale ennatuurlike(wetenskap) navorsing

Ontologies enepistemologiesekwessies


12/26

Ontological considerations

Ontology (Gk. ontos =

being) what kinds of objects

exist (in the socialworld)?

are there natural (vssocial) objects (orclasses of objects?

do social entities existindependently of ourperceptions of them?

is social reality externalto social actors orconstructed by them?

Ontologie (Gk. ontos =

wese) watter soorte objekte

bestaan (in die sosialewreld)?

Is daar natuurlike (vssosiale) objekte (ofklasse van objekte? Bvtale & spesies)

Bestaan sosiale entiteite

onafhanklik van onspersepsie daarvan?

Is sosiale realiteit buitesosiale rolspelers of worddit deur hulle gebou?


13/26

Objectivist (naturalist) ontology

social phenomena

confront us as externalfacts

individuals are born intoa pre-existing social

world social forces and rulesexert pressure on actorsto conform

e.g. culture existsindependently of socialactors who aresocialized into its values

Sosiale verskynsels as

eksterne feite Individue word gebore in

n reeds-bestaandesosiale wreld

Sosiale magte en relsoefen druk uit oprolspelers om tekonformeer

Bv kultuurbestaanonhafhanklik van sosialerolspelers wat in kultuurse waardesgesosialiseer is.


14/26

Constructionist (subjectivist)

ontology social phenomena and

their meanings areconstructed by socialactors

continually accomplishedand revised

researchers accounts ofevents are alsoconstructions - manyalternative interpretations

language andrepresentation shape ourperceptions of reality

Sosiale verskynsels enhulle betekenis wordgekonstrueer deur sosialerolspelers

Voortdurend voltooi enhersien

Navorsers se weergawevan gebeure is ookkonstrukte baiealternatiewe

interpretasies Taal en representasie

vorm ons persepsies vanrealiteit


15/26

E.g. ontology in language (use)Ontological assumptions

are frequently evident inanalogies (usually

implicitly) drawn

between classes of

phenomena E.g. can languages

die (i.e. become

extinct)?

An implicit analogybetween languages

and biological

organisms (and

species)


16/26

Epistemological considerations

Epistemology = logic ofknowing

How do we justify

beliefs as knowledge?

Can the social world bestudied scientifically?

Is it appropriate to

apply the methods of

the natural sciences tosocial science

research?

Epistemologie = logikavan weet

Hoe regverdig ons

oortuigings as kennis?

Kan die sosiale wreldwetenskaplik

bestudeer word?

Is dit gepas om

metodes vannatuurwetenskappe toe

te pas op navorsing in

sosiale wetenskappe?


17/26

Positivist (naturalist) epistemology

Application ofnatural

science methods to social

science research (Comte

positive, Mill exact)

Phenomenal ism:

knowledge via the senses

Distinction between

scient i f ic and normat ive

statements

Object ive, value-free

researcher

Toepassing van

natuurwetenskaplike

metodes op sosiale

wetenskaplike navorsing

(Comte, Mill)

Fenomenalisme: kennis

deur die sintuie

Onderskeid tussen

wetenskplike ennormatiewe stellings

Objektief, waarde-vrye

navorser


18/26

Interpretivist epistemology

Interpretive methods

(from theology,

philosophy, literature)

rather than natural

science methods

e.g. Phenomenology:

subjective logics of social

phenomena

e.g. Weber: verstehen =interpretative under-

standing of social action

(vs. explanation)

Interpretatiewe metodes

(van teologie, filosofie,

letterkunde) eerder as

natuurwetenskaplike

metodes

bv. Fenomenologie:

subjektiewe logika van

sosiale veskynsels

bv. Weber: verstehen =verstaan; interpreteer (?);

verklaar => explain

(nuanse)


19/26

Realist epistemology Similarities to positivism:

external (social) realityexists independently of ourperceptions

Empirical (nave?)realism (positivism?) close correspondence

between reality and termsused to describe it

direct knowledge of thesocial world

Critical realism

theoretical terms mediateour knowledge of reality

underlying structuresgenerate observableevents

E.g. Language? (deep

structures?)

Ooreenkomste met

positivisme: Eksterne realiteit bestaan

onafhanklik van onspersepsies

Empiriese (naewe?)realisme (positivisme?) Naby ooreenstemming

tussen realiteit en termewat dit beskryf

Direkte kennis van diesosiale wreld

Kritiese realisme Teoretiese terme bemiddelons kennis van realiteit

Onderliggende strukturegenereer observeerbaregebeure


20/26

What is a research strategy?

useful introductory way ofclassifying methods ofsocial research

two distinctive clusters of

research strategies:quantitative and qualitative

these strategies differ interms of their:

general orientation tosocial research

ontological basis

epistemologicalfoundations

Nuttige inleidende manier ommetodes van sosiale navorsingte klassifiseer

Twee afsonderlike groepenavorsingstrategie:

Kwantitatief en kwalitatief Hierdie strategie verskil in

terme van hulle: Algemene orintasie tot sosiale

navorsing

Ontologiese basis

Epistemologiese grondslagte


21/26

Breaking down the Quantitative vs

Qualitative research distinction

What about numbers (numerical data) vs words

(verbal data) a fourth dimension of difference?


22/26

Quantitative research

measurement of socialvariables

common researchdesigns: surveys andexperiments

numerical and statisticaldata

deductive theory testing

objectivist view of realityas external to socialactors (?!)

positivist epistemology (?)

Meet van sosialeveranderlikes

Algemenenavorsingsontwerpe:opnames en eksperimente

Numeriese en statistiesedata

Deduktiewe teorie-toetsing

Objektivistiese siening van

realiteit as ekstern totsosiale rolspelers (?!)

Positivistieseepistemologie (?)


23/26

Qualitative research

common methods:interviews, ethnography

data are words, texts andstories

inductive approach: theory

emerges from data social constructionist

ontology (?!)

understanding thesubjective meanings held

by actors (interpretivistepistemology) (?)

Algemene metodes:onderhoude, etnografie

Data is woorde, tekste enstories

Induktiewe benadering:

teorie ontstaan uit data Sosiale konstruktionistiese

ontologie (?!)

Begrip van die subjektiewebetekenisse van rolspelers

(Interpretatiewe episte-mologie) (?)


24/26

Choosing a strategy

A choice between aquantitative OR aqualitative strategy?

Yes: for practicalpurposes there arerelatively distincttraditions and skill-sets

No => lecture 22bridging the divide

n Keuse tussen nkwantitatiewe OF nkwalitatiewestrategie?

Ja: vir praktiesedoeleindes is daarverskillende tradisiesen vaardigheidstelle

Nee => lesing 22:oorbrug die gaping


25/26

Quantitative

methods

Qualitativemethods

Mixed

methods


26/26

Practical issues influencing both

quantitative & qualitative research

Researcherinterests(2 senses) & valuestime

cost/funding available

how much priorliterature exists

topic (sensitive issuesmay be more suited toqualitative research)

all social research is acompromise betweenthe ideal and thefeasible

Navorser se belange enbelangstelling; waardes,tyd

Koste/befondsingbeskikbaar

Hoeveel literatuurbestaan reeds

Onderwerp (sensitiewekwessies miskien meer

gepas vir kwalitatiewenavorsing)

Alle sosiale navorsing isn kompromis tussen dieideale en die uitvoerbare

lecture 2 strategies

Documents