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Lecture 2
Lesing 2
Sosiale navorsingstrategie
Woensdag 24 Julie
Overview / Oorsig
What is theory? What is research?
Role of theory Ontological considerations Epistemological considerations
What is n navorsingstrategie?
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, or of its principles or methods, as distinguished from the practice 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.
knowledge (eg in books) Theory as formal explanation of observed regularities Distinguished from practice in general and specifically Practices associated with generating new knowledge, i.e. the most common sense of research
Teorie as bestaande kennis (bv in boeke) Teorie as formele verklaring van waarneembare relmatighede teorie onderskei van praktyk in die algemeen en in die besonder praktyke verbonde met die ontwikkeling van nuwe kennis, dws dws die mees algemene gebruik van "navorsing"
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 navorsingspraktyk: Verwantskap tussen teorie en navorsing - deduktief - induktief Teorie soorte - Groot teorie - Middelrang teorie (sien hieronder)
Induktief
data-insameling en interpretasie genereer teorie afleidings uit waarnemings bv. grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss)
Deductive
Deduktief
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
Teoriesoorte (Merton)
grand theories
highly abstract (theoretical vocabulary & style) e.g. Bourdieus theory of social capital
Groot teorie
hoogs abstrak (teoretiese woordeskat en styl) Bv. Bourdieu se theory van sosiale kapitaal
Middelrang teorie
beperkte domein (simboliese gebied) (verdedig op grond van empiriese bewys) Bv. labelling teorie (Becker 1963)
Observable regularities
Waarneembare relmatighede
Research issues
Why do we call this module social research? Implicit distinction between social and natural (science) research
Ontological and epistemological issues
Hoekom verwys ons na sosiale navorsing (bv. Naam van module)? Implisiete onderskeit tussen sosiale en natuurlike (wetenskap) navorsing
Ontologies en epistemologiese kwessies
Ontological considerations
Ontology (Gk. ontos = being) what kinds of objects exist (in the social world)? are there natural (vs social) objects (or classes of objects? do social entities exist independently of our perceptions of them? is social reality external to social actors or constructed by them?
Ontologie (Gk. ontos = wese) watter soorte objekte bestaan (in die sosiale wreld)? Is daar natuurlike (vs sosiale) objekte (of klasse van objekte? Bv tale & spesies) Bestaan sosiale entiteite onafhanklik van ons persepsie daarvan? Is sosiale realiteit buite sosiale rolspelers of word dit deur hulle gebou?
Epistemological considerations
Epistemology = logic of knowing How do we justify beliefs as knowledge? Can the social world be studied scientifically? Is it appropriate to apply the methods of the natural sciences to social science research? Epistemologie = logika van weet Hoe regverdig ons oortuigings as kennis? Kan die sosiale wreld wetenskaplik bestudeer word? Is dit gepas om metodes van natuurwetenskappe toe te pas op navorsing in sosiale wetenskappe?
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 understanding 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)
Realist epistemology
Similarities to positivism:
external (social) reality exists independently of our perceptions
Critical realism
theoretical terms mediate our knowledge of reality underlying structures generate observable events E.g. Language? (deep structures?)
Kritiese realisme
Teoretiese terme bemiddel ons kennis van realiteit Onderliggende strukture genereer observeerbare gebeure
What about numbers (numerical data) vs words (verbal data) a fourth dimension of difference?
Quantitative research
measurement of social variables common research designs: surveys and experiments numerical and statistical data deductive theory testing objectivist view of reality as external to social actors (?!) positivist epistemology (?) Meet van sosiale veranderlikes Algemene navorsingsontwerpe: opnames en eksperimente Numeriese en statistiese data Deduktiewe teorie-toetsing Objektivistiese siening van realiteit as ekstern tot sosiale rolspelers (?!) Positivistiese epistemologie (?)
Qualitative research
common methods: interviews, ethnography data are words, texts and stories inductive approach: theory emerges from data social constructionist ontology (?!) understanding the subjective meanings held by actors (interpretivist epistemology) (?) Algemene metodes: onderhoude, etnografie Data is woorde, tekste en stories Induktiewe benadering: teorie ontstaan uit data Sosiale konstruktionistiese ontologie (?!) Begrip van die subjektiewe betekenisse van rolspelers (Interpretatiewe epistemologie) (?)
Choosing a strategy
A choice between a quantitative OR a qualitative strategy? Yes: for practical purposes there are relatively distinct traditions and skillsets No => lecture 22 bridging the divide n Keuse tussen n kwantitatiewe OF n kwalitatiewe strategie? Ja: vir praktiese doeleindes is daar verskillende tradisies en vaardigheidstelle Nee => lesing 22: oorbrug die gaping