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 scvejic@sbb.rs

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.

RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

TOPIC 2 - THEORY
DEDUCTIVE THEORY theory --- hypothesis --- data collection --- findings --- hypotheses confirmed or rejected --- revision of theory INDUCTIVE THEORY data observation --- findings --- generalization --construction of theory

RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

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) between large social entities (classes, nations, states, etc.)

easy meaning, more aplicable (middle range theories): an explanation 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 or simmilar)

usually, it is the later that offer us indications as to how we might guide or influence the collection of empirical evidence
RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

TOPIC 3 - HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS

Formalized and precize statement about the state of the investigated phenomenon or about relation between two or more phenomena On one side, the hypothesis comprises theoretical knowledge about the investigated phenomenon, on the other, it makes statement in measurable terms In some researches hypotheses are clearly formulated, in some theory 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
RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

TOPIC 4 - DATA

OPERATIONALIZATION

Way from theoretical postulates to empirical measurement (how to bring theoretical considerations to the ground) Multilevel hypothesis: grand theory middle range theory research:

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, at home, within institutions, etc.

Indicators: measurable expressions of theoretical concepts and notions

e.g. For value systems: different attitudes, for everyday practices: mode of engagement and time spent in different activities
RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

TOPIC 4 - DATA

WHICH DATA?

Anything observable Defined by guiding lines (theories, presumptions, research goals, etc.) Latent phenomena observable constructions Concepts dimensionality presentation Sources of data e.g. Data sources for research on sexual tolerance: legislative framework, official statistics, data from gay activist organizations, number of gay clubs and simmilar, content analysis of media reports on gay manifestations, World Value Survey, etc.
RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

Reliability Are the measures that are devised for concepts in the social sciences (poverty, racial prejudice, consumer behaviour, religious orthodoxy) consistent, if we repeat same measure on 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)
RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research

TOPIC 5 CRITERIA IN SOCIAL RESEARCH

TOPIC 6 - VALUES
Values reflect either personal beliefes or the feelings of a researcher Values can intrude at any or all of number of points in the process of research: choice of research area, formulation of research question, choice of method, collection of data, analysis of data, interpretation of data, conclusions It is better to express them than to assume that they could be suppresed
Practical considerations

Theory
SOCIAL RESEARCH

Epistemology

Values

Ontology

RESEARCH METHODS: theory and research