Notes Research Methods for Analyzing Complex problems (AM_1182) - part 1

Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems Part 1




Research Methods for Analyzing Complex
Problems
(AM_1182) – Part 1

Index
Lecture 1A – Introduction, PS, RO, RQ (part 1).......................................................................2
Lecture 1B – Introduction, PS, RO, RQ (part 2)......................................................................7
Lecture 2 – Theory, Concepts, and Models...........................................................................16
Lecture 3 – Research Methodology.......................................................................................36
Main questions per lecture

Lecture 1A – Introduction, PS, RO, RQ (part 1):
• How to formulate a research objective and main research question?
• Understand the elements of a research design, and that the process to develop and
implement this is not linear
• What function and form requirements are there for research objectives?

Lecture 1B – Introduction, PS, RO, RQ (part 2):
• How to formulate a research objective and main research question?
• Understand the elements of a research design, and that the process to develop and
implement this is not linear
• What function and form requirements are there for research objectives?

Lecture 2 – Theory, Concepts, and Models:
• How does inductive and deductive reasoning differ from each other?
• What theoretical perspectives are there out there?
• What is a conceptual framework, and what function does it serve?
• How is a conceptual framework constructed?

Lecture 3 – Research Methodology:
• What key decisions need to be taken to be able to choose an appropriate research
strategy?
• What different research strategies can be used?
• Formulate a project context and research objective of a research project in which a
case study method would be more appropriate than an experiment. Explain why.
• Why are people often used as sources of information in social science research?
• In what different ways can the selected sources of information be accessed?




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Lecture 1A – Introduction, PS, RO, RQ (part 1)
To train students to analyse and address complex societal problems by incorporating a wide
diversity of perspectives from science and society.
 Different stakeholders; societal (citizens; patients; NGOs).
o Triple helix: industry, policy makers, researchers.
Different topics where you explore different important stakeholders.

Core Competencies Developed
 Analysis of complex societal issues.
 Formulation and implementation of strategies.
 Effective cooperation and communication.


Check Learning Objectives for exam.

Complex Problems
They are unpredictable and uncertain.

Problems are multi-dimensional: social, legislation, etc. Different things that make them
difficult.

Different and multiple stakeholders around them. In many cases, there are non-academic
stakeholders that are important besides the academic ones. They need to embrance the
technology but also their input to formulate their policies.
Working together is complex: many researchers are totally lost when dealing with other
people.
 Not what we find important, but also what other find important.
 Who’s values are more worth, more valued, prioritized at a decision-making table.
o Money is a big issue; interest of funders.

There’s conflicting facts, values, and perspectives between stakeholders.

Different perceptions exist on the problem definitions, problem roots, solutions
 Different roots of the problems means different perceptions of the solution.

Also various rules & regulations, management, and markets.
 Changing rules and legislations impacting stakeholders.

So who are my most relevant stakeholders? And don’t forget the media! They frame a lot.

Research…
Research is something that people undertake in order to find out things in a systematic way,
thereby increasing their knowledge.
 Understand complexity of problems through ways of research, so research is very
important.
How to study real world research?
 Action research
Transdisciplinary research
o Takes more time
.
 Case study
Ethnography


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 Survey research
Experimental research

Understanding the complexity of the world, transform societies, we need numbers but also
UNDERSTAND the people and systems.




Monodisciplinary: yourself
Multidisciplinary: more disciplines come together, but solve from their own perspective.
They don’t exchange, integrate, models and theories to address it.
Interdisciplinary: bèta/gamma. Different disciplines use each others theories, develop new
theories to address the issues.
Transdisciplinary: non-academic environment with different knowledge and validating that
knowledge.

Real world research
 Society is our laboratory; our variables are not controllable, but also know that people
can be unpredictable. Policy makers want something else than researchers for
instance. Budget cuts!
 Doing research in an uncontrolled environment
 Focus on change
 Complex problems
 What are key problem-solving skills?

Your small contribution is helpful for a bigger thing.
What does the change entail for for our stakeholder?
Synergy with stakeholder, but also conflict.

How to design real world research?
Be curious and open-minded, not only to the stakeholders but also to
the new way of doing research and feeling uncomfortable doing it.

Hidden things too!



Four basic questions of doing research
WHY My contribution… What I want to achieve.
WHAT My research area… The concepts I will study.
HOW How to proceed… The way I (1) collect material (2) analyze it.
WHICH Glasses (theoretical) perspective.




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Introduction -> objective -> theory and concepts -> research question -> methodology ->
work schedule

Mixed method study: quantitative + qualitative.
You should be able to justify what you did in steps.

It can go all over the place.

Internship: final research design  Go/No Go.
 Stick to that plan. If not, you have to discuss
it in your discussion later on.

First principle of doing research
Research is being a designer
 Designing is defining and refining
New insights help to revise your definitions

 Iterative process
of coming to understand your research
object

Second principle of doing research
Problematizing; is this a good source?
 Not taking anything for granted, curiosity.
 Ask implicit questions (deeper roots of problem); very helpful. Questions out of your
curiosity.

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