Issues in Social Research Flashcards
Explain “mixed methods”
- Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches across research questions, design, method and analysis
- Weaknesses and strengths of each approach reveals/cancels a certain aspect of the topic under study
- Complexity of public health research benefits from both quant and qual
- Emphasis on pragmatism: evidence-based, related to the study purpose, feasible
- Analysis as an iterative process to understand variables and causal relationships/pathways
Describe the strengths of quantitative and qualitative approaches
Quantitative
- Test and validate hypotheses
- Generalisability
- Range of phenomena
- Credibility due to reduced bias
Qualitative
- Generate concepts and theory
- Participant understanding and meaning
- Depth, process, context, complexity
- Reflexivity
Discuss the advantages of mixed method designs
- Methods can be used in tandem to add strength to interpretation and validate findings (a type of triangulation)
- Quant data can test generalisability of qual findings (which are generally in-depth, can generate new concepts)
- Qual data can inform quant methods and studies (eg. formulated key topics for surveys), or inform sampling and recruitment measures.
- Qual data can add depth of understanding to quant data (interpreting associations) and helping build explanations for relationships between variables. Can question findings of quantitative studies (eg. relevance to context) or help translate findings or turn findings into recommendations.
Discuss some challenges associated with mixed method designs
- Strengths of one approach limited by challenges of the other (eg. time to conduct)
- One perspective may be neglected if one approach takes priority (eg. difference in positivist and interpretivist approaches to context and culture)
- Communication and understanding amongst researchers
- Integration is not well developed or practiced
- Inferences often disproportionally based on one method
- Political economy of research - often positivist and driven by funders, researchers cannot set agenda or shape research
- Time and cost
Name some examples of mixed method study design type
- Convergent parallel: quant and qual collected at same time, independently but both prioritised. Interpreted together.
- Exploratory sequential: quant and qual in seperate phases, one informs the other
- Transformative: phases can happen in either order but underpinned by a theoretical framework and participatory eg. feminist
- Multi-phase/Multi-level: combines parallel and sequential. Quant and qual used throughout
Define triangulation
- Using different data sets, methods and approaches to increases validity of findings and confidence in their credibility. A number of different readings of one phenomenon - > assumption that this will improve accuracy
- Important for validating findings (convergence) and identifying differences and inconsistencies for a more comprehensive understanding
Describe some different types of triangulation
- Method: comparing data produced by different methods (quant and qual)
- Data: comparing data in different settings, sources, location, time
- Investigator: comparing multiple researchers perspectives within a team
- Theory: approaching data using different explanatory models or from different disciplinary perspectives
List and briefly describe the core principles underpinning the conduct of ethical research
- Autonomy: an individual has a right to decide on their participation. Voluntary.
- Beneficence: researchers must act in the best interest of participants and prioritise their welfare.
- Non-maleficence: Do no harm. Risks and harms should reduced or removed, communicated to participants. Benefits must outweigh the risks.
- Justice: Distribution of/access to benefits.
- Informed consent: should be informed of all aspects of study including funding, use of findings, risks and benefits.
Confidentiality: Limits as to what can be disclosed to third party.
Anonymity: Data unlinked to identifiable details. Participants cannot be linked to information.
**Need for situated approach to ethics based on and negotiated in context rather than universal
List and briefly describe some of the challenges to applying these core principles
- Need to balance the benefits of useful knowledge against burdens, risks and harms
- Managing expectations of participants
- All research a product of social and political context and values
Confidentiality - small and single case studies, if in public place, gatekeepers, other participants culture
Informed consent and voluntary participation - difficult in groups and observations, providing too much detail may shape findings, gatekeepers, ability to provide consent
Detail some of the key reasons for undertaking documentary approaches to research
- Adversarial or sensitive research: area of sensitive of adversarial interest. eg. Tobacco
- Historical research: recurring problems and trialled solutions, trends in population health, development of health systems and policy, social construction of diseases.
- Health communication: analysis of different media that communicate health behaviour messages, translation of scientific work into popular understanding
List the sources and location for documentary approaches
Sources:
- National and regional government records
- Business and institutional records
- Grey literature
- Books and journals
- Personal papers
- Oral history recordings or transcripts
- Visual materials
Locations:
- National and regional collections
- Specialist libraries
- Institutional archives
- Family and individual papers
- Electronic archives
Describe some general approaches to working with documents
- Qualitative interpretive analysis: set of qualitative documents is selected, recorded and analysed
- Quantitative reconstruction and analysis: collection and analysis of historical statistics
- Content analysis: quantitative dataset based on qualitative resources in constructed and analysed using a systematic coding frame
Outline some of the key issues in the use of documentary approaches:
- Selection bias: selection processes, unplanned destruction, access and censorship
- Analytical process: requires contextualisation and critical assessment. Should consider the context of production: author, position, witting an unwitting evidence, triangulation with other sources.
- Interpretation: Findings are provisional and do not represent a definitive truth. Reader must decide if interpretation is compelling, open to contestation and ongoing revision.
