This document discusses different methodological approaches to research including positivism, interpretivism, and critical theory. It outlines some key aspects of each approach. Positivism views social science as analogous to natural science, seeking to uncover immutable laws through objective observation. Interpretivism focuses on understanding people's meanings and intentions through interviews. Critical theory examines power relations and structural inequalities, with the aim of freeing people from oppression. Choosing a methodology depends on the research problem, theoretical stance, and expertise of the researcher. Cultural approaches view truth and knowledge as problematic and examine language, representation, and discourse.

1. Approaches to Methodology

2. selection epistemology collection ethics power construction paradigm process frameworks truth fact fabrication belief inductive world view deductive generation texts ontology creation Starting points reliability validity who looks? belief data sample product experience

3. common-sense logical argument use of evidence goal orientated opinion driven assumes an answer can be found immigration controls – no-smoking workplaces – traffic calming

4. common-sense v social science focus is on problem and a solution concerned to persuade and propagate immutable truths exist issues in a process of inquiry produces knowledge sceptical about notions of ‘truth’

5. building blocks Theories Values and understanding Data explanation

6. a model Question/Issue to explore analysis of data development of argument data collection review of claims and assertions

7. the process existing literature question or topic questions about data and sources research design Data Collection Analysis writing up

8. quality? validity reliability comprehensiveness coherence

9. methodological underpinnings positivist interpretivist critical cultural

10. methodological underpinnings Positivist August Compte - social science is analogous to natural science. Its object is to uncover immutable laws of society. Emile Durkheim - ‘our method is objective. It is dominated entirely by the idea that social facts are things and must be treated as such’ (1966)

11. methodological underpinnings Positivist Scientific method = experiment or verifiable observation Motives, intentions, values and frameworks of understanding of the researcher are irrelevant = social fictions NOT social facts. Key method = statistical analysis combined with the comparative method

12. methodological underpinnings Interpretivist Making sense of the world involves understanding the thinking, meanings and intentions of those being researched. Quantifying social action is limiting. Meaning is contextual and co-created in social interaction Key method = interview (structured - unstructured)

13. methodological underpinnings Critical The Frankfurt School Researchers should foreground the social context within which research takes place i.e. power relations and structural inequalities of capitalism Feminist perspectives Focus on gender as the defining basis of inequality

14. methodological underpinnings Critical The aim is to provide a knowledge which engages the prevailing social structures which are understood as oppressive structures To free from oppression Include wider social and structural contexts Interrogate power structures in the articulating and presentation of research Acknowledges the significance of gendered relations (both positivists and interpretivists fail to see gender as a significant variable throughout the research process assuming that knowledge is gender-neutral)

15. methodological underpinnings Choosing methodologies How do we choose? Select appropriate to the problem Select according to the theoretical position of the researcher Select on the basis of expertise Select on the basis of methodological preference Theory and method are closely linked - mutually informing

16. methodological underpinnings Cultural What is the meaning of ‘valid’ and ‘reliable’ data for positivist and interpretivist research? Critical perspectives are reductionist. There is a need to focus on language, representation and discourse. Meanings are produced in language and other systems of representation Truth, reality and knowledge are problemmatic terms Key method textual (multi-modal) analysis

17. Methodology During the past two years you have encountered concepts in methodology in the various units you have studied on the programme. How do they correspond to the map that I have just drawn?

18. Methodology How are you going to write about methodology? Where does the methodology ‘sit’ in the final research report?

19. Research Design: Linear 1. Define a problem 2. Formulate a hypothesis 3. Make operational decisions 4. Design a research instrument 5. Gather the data 6. Analyse the data 7. Draw conclusions 8. Report the results

20. Research Design: cyclical Writing an ethnography Selecting an ethnographic project Making an ethnographic record Asking ethnographic questions Collecting ethnographic data Analysing ethnographic data

21. Methodology Reflective Journal/ Research Diary Research Report Creative Product

22. selection epistemology collection ethics power construction paradigm process frameworks truth fact fabrication belief inductive world view deductive generation texts ontology creation Starting points reliability validity who looks? belief data sample product experience

23. Next session From Methodology to Method Data Collection/Generation Facilitating shared networks and resources Keep returning to the Blog at http: //mmuspaces . blogspot .com