research methods - theory and research

8/13/2019 Research Methods - Theory and Research

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UNIVERSITY OF ARTS, BELGRADE

Masters program in management in culture

Course in social research methods

Theory and research

Slobodan Cvejic, PhD

Belgrade University, Faculty of Philosophy

[email protected]


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RESEARCH METHODS: theory andresearch

TOPIC 1 - RESEARCH

WHAT IS A RESEARCH?

Inquiry into data in order to find out / confirm...

about new findings / hypotheses...

based on accumulated knowledge...

formulated in theory / paradigme / postulate.


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TOPIC 2 - THEORY

DEDUCTIVE THEORY

theory --- hypothesis --- data collection --- findings--- hypotheses confirmed or rejected --- revisionof theory

INDUCTIVE THEORY

data observation --- findings --- generalization ---construction of theory


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TOPIC 2 - THEORY

THEORY heavy meaning, more abstract (grand theories): systematic

knowledge about causal realtions between phenomena e.g. Structuralism: cultural patterns have been formed as symbolic expressions of

basic social relations (dominance, homogenity, exploitation or simmilar) betweenlarge social entities (classes, nations, states, etc.)

easy meaning, more aplicable (middle range theories): anexplanation of observed regularities e.g. An individuals values and attitudes are being formed basicaly as an

expression and rationale of their social position (class, gender, ethnic minority orsimmilar)

usually, it is the later that offer us indications as to how wemight guide or influence the collection of empirical evidence


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TOPIC 3 - HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS Formalized and precize statement about the state of the

investigated phenomenon or about relation between two or morephenomena

On one side, the hypothesis comprises theoretical knowledgeabout the investigated phenomenon, on the other, it makesstatement in measurable terms

In some researches hypotheses are clearly formulated, in sometheory acts loosely as a set of concerns and questions that guide

data collection It is often hard to formulate hypotheses directly from grand

theories, thats what we use middle range theories for e.g. The structure of consumption of cultural goods is influenced by consumers

gender


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TOPIC 4 - DATA

OPERATIONALIZATION Way from theoretical postulates to empirical measurement (how to

bring theoretical considerations to the ground)

Multilevel hypothesis: grand theorymiddle range theoryresearch: e.g. symbolic culture is the result of everyday interaction between human and its social and

ecological surrounding

value systems depend on everyday practices of individuals

an individuals attitudes depend on activities she/he performs at work, during free time, athome, within institutions, etc.

Indicators: measurable expressions of theoretical concepts andnotions e.g. For value systems: different attitudes, for everyday practices: mode of engagement and time

spent in different activities


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TOPIC 4 - DATA

WHICH DATA? Anything observable

Defined by guiding lines (theories, presumptions, researchgoals, etc.)

Latent phenomenaobservable constructions

Conceptsdimensionalitypresentation

Sources of data

e.g. Data sources for research on sexual tolerance: legislative framework,official statistics, data from gay activist organizations, number of gayclubs and simmilar, content analysis of media reports on gaymanifestations, World Value Survey, etc.


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TOPIC 5CRITERIA IN

SOCIAL RESEARCH Reliability

Are the measures that are devised for concepts in the social sciences (poverty, racialprejudice, consumer behaviour, religious orthodoxy) consistent, if we repeat same measureon different group or in different time-point, are we going to measure the same thing?

Theres no 100% reliability in social sciences e.g. Is the question about the ammount that artists are ready to pay monthly for renting an appartment a

good measure of their real estate market potential?

Replicability Can we repeat same research procedure and methods another time Need to present research procedure to great extent in order to let others check our results e.g. Could the attitude towards the war in Iraq be a good indicator of opinion about globalization?

Validity Measurement validity: does our construct realy measure the concept under concern (e.g. IQ)? Internal validity: does a conclusion about a causal realtionship between two or more vaiables

holds water?spurious, postponed or mediated correlations (e.g. religiosity - political orientation- third variable?)

External validity: generalizibility (sample quality) (e.g. TV reporters and sampling in the street) Ecological validity: how much does research situation influence the presentation of

investigated phenomenon (e.g. Research on family violence)


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TOPIC 6 - VALUES

Theory

Values Ontology

Epistemology

Practicalconsiderations

SOCIAL

RESEARCH

Values reflect either personalbeliefes or the feelings of aresearcher

Values can intrude at any or all

of number of points in theprocess of research: choice ofresearch area, formulation ofresearch question, choice ofmethod, collection of data,analysis of data, interpretationof data, conclusions

It is better to express themthan to assume that they couldbe suppresed

research methods - theory and research

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