Bryman - Social Research Methods
1. Why is social
Social research allows us to test ideas/ assumptions in a structured way.
research
Knowing how to perform/evaluate research is important whenever
impor- tant?
you get the question: Why do you think so?
2. Hypothesis an informed speculation, which is set up to be tested, about the possible
rela-
tionship between two or more variables. A hypothesis should be testable a
falsifiable.
3. Context of social research and social research methods are embedded in wider
social contextual factors. They are not practised in a vacuum.
research
meth- ods
-*Existing theories* (used by social scientist to understand the
4. Contextual
social world) influence what is researched and how the findings of
fac- tors
research are interpreted.
-A researcher must be acquainted with the *existing knowledge
(literature)* on the topic of interest, to build on it and avoid unwanted
repetition.
-The choice to conduct either *inductive or deductive research* has
implications on the relationship between theory and research and thus
on the research.
-*Epistemological* and *ontological* considerations
-*Values* and *ethical considerations*
-Emphasize on *implications for practice* in social research (evaluation
& action research)
-*Political contexts*
-*Training and personal values* of researchers
5. Epistemology a theory of knowledge - concerned with what should be accepted as
knowledge & how knowledge should be acquired .
6. Epistemologic al considerations
1/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
raise questions on how a scientific approach is the right stance.
the social world should - E.g. 'Is it necessary to focus on individual qualities of people and their
be studied and whether social institutions and to avoid scientific research models?'
2/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
7. Positivism an epistemological position that advocated the application of natural scienc
methods to the study of social reality; universal laws, experiments, and
numbers.
-> associated with quantitative approach
8. Interpretivism focuses on the importance of the interpretation and meaning of social
reality.
Subjective meaning plays a crucial role.
-> associated with qualitative approach
9. Ontology a theory of the nature of social entities - considers the nat.
10. Ontological consider the nature of social phenomena.
con- -E.g. 'Are social phenomena inert and beyond our influence or the
siderations
product of social interaction?'
11. Objectivism social phenomena exist independently from social actors (they are "mind-
inde-
pendent").
-> You can objectively observe social phenomena.
-> E.g. culture (can be observed in an objective manner); emotions (hard-
wired in the brains of all animals)
12. Constructionism social phenomena are dependent on social actors and social
interaction; focus on change; subjectivity (also as a researcher!)
-> You can not objectively observe.
-> E.g. culture; emotions (depend on experiences of individuals).
13. Deductive research is conducted with reference to hypotheses that are inferred from
ap- proach theory (Theory/Hypothesis ---> Findings)
-> Associated with quantitative approach
14. Inductive
theory is generated from research (Findings ---> Theory)
ap- proach
-> Associated with qualitative approach
3/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
15. research strategy that relies on the collection of numerical data, and the
statistical analysis of those numbers.
4/
50
1. Why is social
Social research allows us to test ideas/ assumptions in a structured way.
research
Knowing how to perform/evaluate research is important whenever
impor- tant?
you get the question: Why do you think so?
2. Hypothesis an informed speculation, which is set up to be tested, about the possible
rela-
tionship between two or more variables. A hypothesis should be testable a
falsifiable.
3. Context of social research and social research methods are embedded in wider
social contextual factors. They are not practised in a vacuum.
research
meth- ods
-*Existing theories* (used by social scientist to understand the
4. Contextual
social world) influence what is researched and how the findings of
fac- tors
research are interpreted.
-A researcher must be acquainted with the *existing knowledge
(literature)* on the topic of interest, to build on it and avoid unwanted
repetition.
-The choice to conduct either *inductive or deductive research* has
implications on the relationship between theory and research and thus
on the research.
-*Epistemological* and *ontological* considerations
-*Values* and *ethical considerations*
-Emphasize on *implications for practice* in social research (evaluation
& action research)
-*Political contexts*
-*Training and personal values* of researchers
5. Epistemology a theory of knowledge - concerned with what should be accepted as
knowledge & how knowledge should be acquired .
6. Epistemologic al considerations
1/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
raise questions on how a scientific approach is the right stance.
the social world should - E.g. 'Is it necessary to focus on individual qualities of people and their
be studied and whether social institutions and to avoid scientific research models?'
2/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
7. Positivism an epistemological position that advocated the application of natural scienc
methods to the study of social reality; universal laws, experiments, and
numbers.
-> associated with quantitative approach
8. Interpretivism focuses on the importance of the interpretation and meaning of social
reality.
Subjective meaning plays a crucial role.
-> associated with qualitative approach
9. Ontology a theory of the nature of social entities - considers the nat.
10. Ontological consider the nature of social phenomena.
con- -E.g. 'Are social phenomena inert and beyond our influence or the
siderations
product of social interaction?'
11. Objectivism social phenomena exist independently from social actors (they are "mind-
inde-
pendent").
-> You can objectively observe social phenomena.
-> E.g. culture (can be observed in an objective manner); emotions (hard-
wired in the brains of all animals)
12. Constructionism social phenomena are dependent on social actors and social
interaction; focus on change; subjectivity (also as a researcher!)
-> You can not objectively observe.
-> E.g. culture; emotions (depend on experiences of individuals).
13. Deductive research is conducted with reference to hypotheses that are inferred from
ap- proach theory (Theory/Hypothesis ---> Findings)
-> Associated with quantitative approach
14. Inductive
theory is generated from research (Findings ---> Theory)
ap- proach
-> Associated with qualitative approach
3/
50
, Bryman - Social Research Methods
15. research strategy that relies on the collection of numerical data, and the
statistical analysis of those numbers.
4/
50
