Social Science Research Methods

Worldviews & Research Questions

• The foundations of social science consist of:
  • Theory/logic: existing knowledge codified
  • Data collection/observation: collecting data and observing the outside world
  • Data analysis: comparing logically expected results with actual observations
• The two pillars of science are logic and observation, connected by data analysis
• Research approaches consist of:
  • Philosophical worldviews: basic set of beliefs guiding action
  • Research design/strategies of inquiry: providing direction for procedures
  • Specific methods: forms of data collection, analysis, and interpretation

Philosophical Worldviews

• Approaches to social research:
  • Qualitative data: non-numerical data
  • Quantitative data: numerical data
  • Mixed methods: combining qualitative and quantitative
• Ontology: the study of the nature of reality/being
• Epistemology: how reality is known, and how knowledge is gathered
• Axiology: the role of values
• Methodology: the approach to inquiry, depending on worldview

Positivism

• Main assumption: everything consists of patterns, discoverable through close examination
• Collaborative: assumes the inquirer will proceed collaboratively to avoid further marginalizing participants
• Goes back to Karl Marx

Pragmatism

• Pluralistic: not tied to one system or philosophical stream or reality
• Consequences of actions: research arises from actions, situations, and consequences
• Problem-centered: concerned with applications and solutions to problems
• Mixed methods: draws from both quantitative and qualitative assumptions
• Real-world practice-oriented: research occurs in social, historical, political, and other contexts
• Goes back to Charles Sanders Peirce

Research Approaches

• Philosophical worldviews affect:
  • How research questions are developed and addressed
  • Research design and methods
  • Reviewers' evaluations of studies
• Implicit assumptions:
  • Level of available academic knowledge increases from exploratory to evaluation type questions
  • Research aim and research question align and go hand in hand

Research Questions

• Common mistakes in formulating research questions:
  • No pre-investigation
  • Too many problems in one question
  • Lack of domain or variables
  • Unfounded biases
  • Incomplete or imprecise
• Sub-questions:
  • Theoretical, empirical, and analytical
  • Help to divide the main research question into smaller parts
  • Structure the research

Sampling

• Theoretical sample:
  • Participants who have experienced the process of interest
  • Help develop a well-rounded theory
  • Typically used for grounded theory studies
• Non-probability sampling in quantitative research:
  • Online opt-in polls
  • Unknown recruiting strategies
  • Non-response: people do not respond to surveys

Sample Size

• Depends on:
  • Confidence level (e.g., 99%)
  • Confidence interval or margin of error (±4%)
  • Non-response