This document outlines the key aspects of a research methodology course, including 3 meetings to discuss research topics and paradigms. It introduces the main research paradigms of positivism, post-positivism, constructivism, and pragmatism. It emphasizes that research is about locating work within the relevant field and defending methodological assumptions. The bibliography lists various sources related to research methods and the 2011 London riots.

1. INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS
Research Methodology
(UNP0010)
Semester 2 – 2012/2013

2. • Designed for:
– Master by Course
• Runs like this - all students :
– Attend all 3 meetings; 4 hours in each meeting
1.Meeting 1: Get to know the research topic and interest,
lectures on several key area of research methodology Part
1, Discussion

3. Research Paradigms
Qualitative Research Concepts

4. KEY RESEARCH PARADIGMS
1.Positivism.
2.Post positivism (critical realism).
3.Constructivism (interpretivism).
4.Pragmatism
(Hallebone & Priest, 2008)
4

5. Navigating the field
• Dealing with philosophical assumptions is not just about finding the
best way to carry out your research.
• It is also about locating your work within the field to which it is
designed to contribute, and being able to defend what you have done
to audiences who may not share your assumptions.

6. Bibliography
Bauman, Z. (2011b) ‘The London Riots – On Consumerism coming Home to Roost’ Social
Europe Journal. Available at: http://www.social-europe.eu/2011/08/the-london-riots-on-
consumerism-coming-home-to-roost/
Cameron, D. (10 Aug 2011) ‘UK riots: David Cameron's statement in full’, Daily Telegraph.
Available at (accessed 20.6.12):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8693134/UK-riots-David-Camerons-
statement-in-full.html.
Fairclough, N. (2003) Analysing Discourse, London, Routledge.
Hammersley, M. (1995) The Politics of Social Research, London, Sage.
Hammersley, M. (2012) ‘Methodological paradigms in educational research’. Available at:
http://www.bera.ac.uk/resources/methodological-paradigms-educational-research
Hammersley, M. (2013) What is Qualitative Research? London, Bloomsbury Academic.
Kuhn, T. (1970) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago, University of Chicago Press
Mies, M. (1983) ‘Towards a methodology for feminist research’. In G. Bowles & R. Duelli Klein
(Eds) Theories of women's studies (pp.117-140). London: Routledge and Kegan Paul..
Morrell, G., Scott, S., McNeish, D. and Webster, S. (2011) The August Riots in England.
Understanding the involvement of young people. Prepared for the Cabinet Office, UK
Government, London: NatCen.
Nicolaus, M. (1968) Fat-Cat Sociology: Remarks at The American Sociological Association
Convention, Boston. Available at: http://www.colorado.edu/Sociology/gimenez/fatcat.html
Shildrick, T. (2011) ‘The riots: poverty cannot be ignored’, BSA blog: http://tinyurl.com/672delx/
Žižek, S. (2011) ‘Shoplifters of the World Unite’, London Review of Books, 19th August 2011.
Available at (accessed 23.5.13): http://www.lrb.co.uk/2011/08/19/slavoj-zizek/shoplifters-of-
the-world-unite