Methodology and Techniques in Social Research
Code: 44034 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4313228 Social Policy, Employment and Welfare | OB | 0 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Dafne Muntanyola Saura
- Email:
- Dafne.Muntanyola@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
Teachers
- Pedro López Roldán
- Joan Miquel Verd Pericŕs
- Sheila González Motos
Prerequisites
It is advisable after this module to study the Advanced Methods of Social Research Module (MAIS), if the objective of the TFM is also to develop and expand the knowledge of the research methods applied in the social sciences. It is also advisable to read academic articles in English.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Methodology and Techniques for Social Research (MTSR) aims to enable students to acquire the methodological knowledge required to carry out a master's degree and complete the final master's project (FMP). It is about students being able to reach the skills to carry out a small research, design a social intervention project or make a simple evaluation of a public policy. The students will learn to justify the object of study, define the conceptual framework and the methodological design and to correctly use the appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques to generate the relevant information and analyze it. On the one hand, the basic tools for empirical research will be provided, either qualitatively or quantitatively, or in combination. The central elements of a research project will be reviewed: how to ask a good research question, how to formulate objectives and working hypotheses from the theoretical review and thus define the sociological problem, and how to make an adequate design. On the other hand, a general review of the existing panorama of quantitative and qualitative methods will be made. Students will learn to recognize and critically reflect the epistemological and theoretical foundations of these methods, and will acquire the necessary technical knowledge to apply them and perform a rigorous and quality sociological analysis. These general objectives are complemented by 4 specific objectives:
1. To provide the basic concepts to formulate a research question based on existing theoretical knowledge based on published research.
2. To have the knowledge and standards to formulate relevant, concise and verifiable objectives and assumptions.
3. To provide knowledge to develop an appropriate research design, whether in a quantitative, qualitative or mixed orientation.
4. To present the appropriate qualitative or quantitative methodology for obtaining and analyzingthe data.
Competences
- Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
- Design and conduct research projects on work, gender and social policy, using advanced qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
- Put forward innovative proposals for the relevant field of study.
- Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
- Use and manage bibliography and IT resources in the field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
- Identify the root of a problem, justify research hypotheses and propose an appropriate design..
- Interpret, apply and identify the repercussions of the different methodological paradigms and their specific methods of social research, for the research model and design and, in particular, to put together a mixed design.
- Put forward innovative proposals for the relevant field of study.
- Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
- Use and manage bibliography and IT resources in the field of study.
- Use the software that allows to analyze the results that correspond to each one of the methods and techniques implemented.
Content
The contents of the module are structured around three thematic sections:
1. Research Design [RD] (professors Dafne Muntanyola and Sheila González) (16 hours)
The general objective of this blog is to start the PhD student in the world of social science research. We want to consider a reflection on what it means to research in the social sciences. The fundamental interests of the block are oriented towards clarifying the basic requirements of the scientific methodology, the concepts and instruments of the applied research to the analysis of the social reality and the routines and basic instrumental abilities that allow to develop the " research activity The organization of the blog will thus be oriented to make explicit what are the central elements that allow to do sociological research, as well as to transmit to the students the necessary knowledge to build a research or diagnostic object and prepare the corresponding research design . In this sense, it is essential to know the main sources of information and scientific documentation, acquire basic research habits in the social sciences, and learn a rigorous work style, capable of combining the use of recognized criteria by the scientific community with personal creativity. The 16 hours of the section are divided into 4 sessions that include the following contents:
PROGRAM
1. Basic concepts of research (4 hours)
What is a sociological problem?
Position of the researcher
Stages of research
Social intervention
2. The research process in social sciences (4 hours)
The election and definion of the subject. The formulation of the problem and the first questions.
The exploration: Collection and systematization of information.
Preparation of the state of the arts. Definition of the problem. The recognition of the disciplinary tradition. Objectives.
The analysis model. Definition of key concepts. Delimitation of research hypotheses.
The initial diagnosis.
3.The design of research and communication of results. (4 hours)
Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.
Methods and tools: the empirical analysis procedures.
The design of an intervention program.
4. Evaluation of a public policy (4 hours)
What do we evaluate?
Why do we evaluate?
How do we evaluate?
Evaluation design and type of evaluations
Evaluation methodology: phases and instruments
Evaluation results
There will be several bibliographical references regarding each block session but it is recommended to follow the following manual:
Quivy, Raymond; Van Campenhoudt, Luc (2005/1988): Manual of research in social sciences. Mexico: Limusa.
2. Qualitative analysis [AQL] (professor Joan Miquel Verd) (8 hours)
This section offers an overview and basic knowledge of four of the most important qualitative methods for obtaining information in the social sciences, such as the qualitative interview, the discussion group (or focus group), observation and the use of documents. In addition, it is also intended to offer the basic knowledge for the correct and rigorous analysis of qualitative data. For this, two of the most used qualitative data analysis methods will be briefly presented, such as qualitative content analysis and discourse analysis.
The objectives of the section are four. In the first place, that the students know the main existing variants of qualitative methods. Second, that students learn to select the adequate data collection method and its most appropriate variant depending on the research question and the object of study, also taking into account pragmatic factors. Third, that students acquire sufficient technical knowledge of each method to use it correctly. Finally, the objective is also that the students know the two qualitative data analysis methods mentioned in order to carry out valid interpretations based on the data.
PROGRAM
1. Qualitative design decisions
The research question and the type of information sought
The field and the sample in qualitative research
The type of information provided by the different qualitative methods
2. The qualitative interview
Fundamentals and general characteristics
Selection of the sample and type of interviews
The guideline and development aspects
Potentialities and limits
3. The discussion group
Fundamentals and general characteristics
Composition and number of groups
The guideline and development aspects
Potentialities and limits
4. Observation
Fundamentals and general characteristics
Types of observation and data recording
Potentialities and limits
5. The use of documents
Definition and general characteristics
Selection of the type and corpus of documents
Potentialities and limits
6. Qualitative data analysis
Qualitative content analysis
Discourse analysis
Various bibliographic references will be offered regarding each of the six topics covered in the programme, however the basic bibliographic reference will be:
Verd, J.M; Lozares, C. (2016). Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Fases, métodos y técnicas. Madrid: Síntesis.
The general objective of this section isto offer an applied overview of the different quantitative data analysis techniques and to treat the most basic techniques of univariate and bivariable statistical data analysis. This set of more fundamental analysis techniques make it easier to establish the conceptual basis of quantitative data analysis, allowing further knowledge and the extension of knowledge to more complex multivariable analysis procedures. The subject will give the foundation of the selection of treated techniques, with a very applied orientation and with the objective that the students acquire the sufficient elements so that they can use the knowledge of these techniques in their search. The main concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics, the issue of measurement in social sciences, a classification overview of the different quantitative analysis techniques and the techniques of univariable and bivariable analysis (analysis of contingency tables, analysis of variance and analysis of variables) regression).
The course involves two elements that are necessary for its monitoring and for its use. The first is the knowledge and use of the essential mathematical and statistical instruments for analysis; the corresponding information will be given in a basic and balanced way for the formalization of these procedures but where the main objective is the understanding and interpretation of the information they generate for the realization of an applied study. The second is the use of the statistical software R that will allow to illustrate and apply the knowledge related to the different analysis procedures.
There will be several bibliographical references related to each analysis technique presented but a main manual published in open with all the theoretical and practical material that will be followed during the course will be followed:
López-Roldán, P .; Fachelli, S. (2015). Methodology of Quantitative Social Research. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès): Digital Document Repository,Autonomous University of Barcelona. 1st. edition.
http://ddd.uab.cat/record/129382 http://pagines.uab.cat/plopez/content/manual-misc
PROGRAM
1. Introduction to quantitative data analysis
Blog presentation: content, dynamics and evaluation
Quantitative analysis techniques in models and analysis designs
General concepts and classification of techniques
2. Analysis of data with a variable
Frequency distribution and graphic representations
Characteristics of a frequency distribution
Exploratory data analysis
Fundamentals of inferential statistics
3. Analysis of contingency tables
Presentation and reading of a contingency table
Analysis of the relationship between variables: independence and association
4. Analysis of comparison of means and analysis of variance
Descriptive and inferential analysis in the comparison of means
The analysis of unifactorial variance
5. Linear regression analysis
Concept, measurement and representation of the correlation
Simple regression analysis
Methodology
The section will combine participatory master lectures with reading sections, practical exercises and sessions in the computer class. Lecturers will seek the participation of students by providing topics for discussion and examples from their research experience. They will provide adequate empirical material to be analyzed with the procedures corresponding to each sections. Students will also be asked to be able to analyze their own data, whether they are produced by themselves or coming from secondary sources.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Self-evaluated assignments to consolidat the knowledge acquired in class and in readings | 20 | 0.8 | 2, 3, 1 |
| Theoretical Lectures | 40 | 1.6 | 3, 5 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Office Hours | 5 | 0.2 | 2, 4, 1 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Completion of assignments | 44 | 1.76 | 2, 3, 7, 6 |
Assessment
1. Design of the investigation [RD]
The evaluation of this section will require the carrying out of a practical project of methodological design. A sociological recerch project or the formulation of an intervention program will be requested. In the first case, the formulation of a basic sociological model will be developed with the corresponding research question, construction of a general and specific problem with theoretical review and drafting of objectives. In the second case, a diagnosis of the situation, the theoretical foundations of the investigation, an intervention panel and a design of the evaluation of the program will be demanded. In both cases, a methodological design will be requested that includes the choice and justification of qualitative, quantitative or mixed tools according to the object of study built. The final work will be an oral presentation recorded in 10-15 minute video with 10-15 slides, including all the drafted research or intervention stages plus the bibliography.
2. Qualitative analysis [AQL]
The assessment of the section will imply the realization of a practical exercise that will consist of proposing a qualitative research project in which the main design decisions will have to be made explicit and justified. Specifically, it will be necessary to: 1) identifying the empirical information of interest given the initial research question; 2) delimiting the field of analysis and identifying the units from which the information will be obtained; and 3) identifying the methods and procedures to obtain and analyse the information obtained. All these decisions must be justified based on the research object, the objective of the research and the hypotheses or specific research questions. The exercise will have an extension of between 4 and 5 pages (about 2,000 words) of writing, not counting the annexes.
3. Quantitative analysis [AQN]
The evaluation of this section will require the realization of a practical work of data analysis. Based on considering the relationships between two variables, it is about analyzing them through one of these three bivariate analysis procedures treated in the subject: analysis of contingency tables, variance analysis or regression analysis. The work will be presented taking into account the formulation of a basic sociological model with the corresponding statement of the hypotheses of relation between the variables and the subsequent contrast with the analysis and interpretation of the data. The work will have a maximum extension of 7 pages (about 2500 words) of writing, including the graphs and tables elaborated, in addition to the bibliography and the annex.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development of a research project or Intervention program | 50 | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 1, 5 |
| Qualitative Methods Assignment | 25 | 20 | 0.8 | 3, 4, 1, 5, 6 |
| Quantitative Methods Assignment | 25 | 20 | 0.8 | 3, 4, 7, 6 |
Bibliography
Acocella; Ivana; Cataldi Silvia (2020) Using Focus Groups. Theory, Methodology, Practice. Londres: Sage.
Alasuutari, Pertti; Bickman, Leonard; Brannen, Julia (eds.) (2008). The Sage Handbook of Social Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Alvira, Francisco; Serrano, Araceli (2015): "Diseños y estrategias de investigación social". En Manuel García Ferrando, Francisco Alvira, Luis E. Alonso y Modesto Escobar (comps.): El análisis de la realidad social. Métodos y técnicas de investigación. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, pp. 76-109. 4ª edición.
Beaud, Stéphane; Weber, Florence (2003). Guide de l'enquête de terrain. Paris: La Découverte.
Becker, Howard (2013). Trucos Del Oficio. Cómo conducir su investigación en Ciencias Sociales. Buenos Aires- México: Siglo XXI.
Bericat, Eduardo (1998): La integración de los métodos cuantitativo y cualitativo en la investigación social. Barcelona: Ariel.
Blaikie, Norman (2009): Designing social research. The logic of anticipation. Cambridge, Reino Unido: Polity Press. 2ª edición.
Boréus, Kristina; Bergström, Göran (2017) Analyzing text and discourse. Eight approaches for the social sciences. London: Sage.
Bourdieu, Pierre; Chamboredon, Jean-Claude; Passeron, Jean-Claude (1976/1973): El oficio de sociólogo. Presupuestos epistemológicos. Madrid: Siglo XXI.
Bryman, Alan (1988): Quality and Quantity in Social Research. Londres: Unwin-Hyman.
Bryman, Alan (2012): Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 4ª edición.
Cea d'Ancona, María Ángeles. (2012). Fundamentos y aplicaciones en metodología cuantitativa. Madrid: Síntesis.
Cicourel, Aaron(2011/1964): Método y medida en sociología. Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones sociológicas.
Corbetta, Piergiorgio (2007). Metodología y técnicas de investigación social. Madrid: McGraw Hill. 2ª edición
Creamer, Elizabeth G. (2018). An Introduction to Fully Integrated Mixed Methods Research. Londres: Sage
Creswell, John W.; Poth, Cheryl N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. 4ª edición.
Creswell, John W. (2014): Research design. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. 4ª edición.
Denscombe, Martyn (2007): The good research guide for small-scale social research projects. Maidenhead: Open University Press. 3ª edición.
Domínguez, Màrius; Simó, Montserrat (2003). Tècniques d'Investigació Social Quantitatives. Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona. Col·lecció Metodologia, 13.
Flick, Uwe (2009): An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Londres: Sage. 4ª edición
Ibáñez, Jesús (2015/1986): "Perspectivas de la investigación social: el diseño en las tres perspectivas". En Manuel García Ferrando, Francisco Alvira, Luis E. Alonso y Modesto Escobar (comps.): El análisis de la realidad social. Métodos y técnicas de investigación. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, pp. 42-75.
Ivàlua (2009). Guía práctica 1 - Cómo iniciar una evaluación: oportunidad, viabilidad y preguntas de evaluación. Colección Ivàlua de guías prácticas sobre evaluación de políticas públicas. Barcelona: Ivàlua
Kahwati, Leila; Kane, Heather (2018). Qualitative Comparative Analysis in Mixed Methods Research and Evaluation. Londres: Sage.
King, Gary; Keohane, Robert O.; Verba, Sidney (1994) Designing Social Inquiry. Scientific Inference in Qualitative Reseaarch. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Kvale, Steinar (2007) Doing interviews. Londres: Sage.
Lareau, Annette. (1996). “Common Problems in Fieldwork: A Personal Essay”. In Lareau, Annette. & Shultz, Jeffrey. Journey through Ethnography. Realistic accounts of fieldwork. Boulder: Westview Press.
López-Roldán, Pedro; Fachelli, Sandra (2015). Metodología de la Investigación Social Cuantitativa. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès): Dipòsit Digital de Documents, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 1a. edición. http://ddd.uab.cat/record/129382 http://pagines.uab.cat/plopez/content/misc
Marradi, Alberto; Archenti, Nélida; Piovani, Juan Ignacio (2018) Manual de metodología de las Ciencias Sociales. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI Editora Iberoamericana
Maxwell, Joseph A. (2012) Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. 3ª edición
Quiñones, Mariela; Supervielle, Marcos; Acosta, María Julia (2015) Introducción a la sociología cualitativa. Fundamentos epistemológicos y elementos de diseño y de anàlisis. Montevideo: Ediciones universitarias
Quivy, Raymond; Van Campenhoudt, Luc (2005/1988): Manual de investigación en ciencias sociales. México: Limusa.
Ragin, Charles C.; Amoroso, Lisa M. (2011): Constructing social research. Thousand Oaks (Cal.): Pine Forge Press.
Reichertz, Jo (2014): "Induction, deduction, abduction". En Uwe Flick (ed.): The Sage Handbook of qualitative data analysis. Londres: Sage, pp. 123-134.
Sautu, Ruth et altri (2005). Manual de metodología. Construcción del marco teórico, formulación de los objetivos y elección de la metodología. Buenos Aires. CLACSO. Disponible en: http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/campus/metodo/metod o.html
Seale, Clive (2012). "Validity, reliability and the quality of research". En Clive Seale (ed.): Researching Society and Culture. Londres: Sage, pp. 528-543. 3ª edición.
Valles, Miguel S. (1997). Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica profesional. Madrid: Síntesis.
Vasilachis de Gialdino, Irene (coord.) (2019) Estrategias de investigación cualitativa: Volumen II. Barcelona: Gedisa. Mason, Jennifer (2002): Qualitative Researching. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. 2ª edició.
Verd, Joan Miquel; López-Roldán, Pedro (2008): "La eficiencia teórica y metodológica de los diseños multimétodo". Empiria. Revista de Metodología de Ciencias Sociales, 16: 13-42.
Verd, Joan Miquel; Lozares, Carlos (2016). Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Fases, métodos y técnicas. Madrid: Síntesis.
Yin, Robert K. (2014): Case study research. Design and methods. Thousand Oaks (Cal.): Sage. 5ª edición
Software
SPSS will be introduced and examples with ATLAS.ti will appear in class.