Download Introduction to research methods – qualitative and quantitative

Introduction to research methods – qualitative and quantitative
Balazs Vedres
Course description.
This course is an introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods for the social sciences. The aims of the course
is to provide a basic knowledge of methods that enables an informed and critical reading of empirical social science
literature, and provides the basics of applying methods in research projects. In the first part we introduce the basic
elements of applying either qualitative or quantitative methods as part of an analytic strategy; we discuss the place
of methods in the research process. The second part is an introduction to qualitative methods, the basics of coding,
conducting interview research, analyzing archival text sources, and methods of historical comparative analysis. The
third part is an introduction to quantitative methods. This introduction includes the concept of measurement,
statistical distributions, inference and tests of significance, the analysis of the association of categorical (nominal
and ordinal scale) variables, the analysis of interval scale variables by correlation and linear regression analysis, and
multivariate methods. This third part also involves learning the basics of using statistical software (SPSS for
windows).
Requirements.
As a primary requirement, students are required to take two tests, the first after class 6, the second after class 12.
Beyond these tests, students are required to prepare at least five out of six homework assignments: three on
qualitative methods and three on quantitative methods.
Evaluation
Midterm exam: 40%
Final exam: 40%
Homework assignments: 20%
Course structure
Part I: Methods as part of an analytic strategy
1. Introduction
In the introductory lecture the key concepts of using social science research methods are introduced, such as:
qualitative and quantitative research and beyond, measurement, reliability and validity, the research process, analytic
strategy, using computers and software. Students will take a placement test (that does not count towards the grade),
and will form study pairs based on the test.
*Bryman, Alan and Duncan Cramer. 2001. Quantitative Data Analysis With SPSS Release 10 for Windows: A
Guide for Social Scientists. Philadelphia, PA: Routledge. Chapter 1
Carmines, Edward G. and Richard A. Zeller. 1979. Reliability and Validity Assessment. Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sage
Publications, Inc.
2. Elements of the research process; the example of multidimensional scaling
In this class we discuss the elements of the research process: theory, hypotheses, operationalization, selection, data
collection, data structuring, analysis, evaluation of findings. We use the example of multidimensional scaling as a
method used by both anthropologists and sociologists to identify these elements.
*Anthropological application: Boster James S. and Jeffrey C. Johnson. 1989. "Form or Function: A Comparison of
Expert and Novice Judgments of Similarity Among Fish." American Anthropologist 91(4):866-89.
*Sociological application: Forgas, Joseph P. and Barbara Dobosz. 1980. "Dimensions of Romantic Involvement:
Towards a Taxonomy of Heterosexual Relationships." Social Psychology Quarterly 43(3):290-300.
Background reading: Cox, Trevor F. and Michael A. A. Cox. 2000. Multidimensional Scaling. second ed.Chapman
and Hall.
Part II: Introduction to qualitative methods
3. Introduction to qualitative methods; coding
The aim of this class is to define qualitative methods, relate them to quantitative methods, and to introduce the major
types of qualitative research. As a key aspect of all qualitative research, we discuss varieties of coding procedures.
First homework assignment handed out.
*Silverman, David. 2001. Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction. second
edition ed. London: Sage Publications. Chapter 2
*Bernard, H. R., editor. 1998. Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
Chapter 1
*Coffey, Amanda and Paul Atkinson. 1996. Making Sense of Qualitative Data: Complementary Research Strategies.
Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Chapter 2
4. Interviewing, and the analysis of interview data
In this class we discuss varieties of interview research, ways to conduct and record interviews, and typical ways to
analyze and present interview data. First homework assignment due, second handed out.
*Arksey, Hilary and Peter Knight. 1999. Interviewing for Social Scientists: An Introductory Resource With
Examples. London: Sage Publications. Chapters 1, 3, 4, 6
*Kvale, Steinar. 1996. InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. Thousand Oaks: Sage
Publications. Chapter 11
5. Analyzing texts from archival sources
The aim of this class is to introduce varieties of analyzing archival texts (texts created without the participation of
the researcher). We discuss varieties of discourse and content analysis. Second homework assignment due, third
handed out.
*Bernard Chapter 16
*Silverman Chapter 5
6. Historical comparative research
In this class we discuss varieties of historical comparative research, we evaluate cross national and cross cultural
approaches. We discuss the role of temporality in various models of historical comparisons. Third homework
assignment due.
*Neuman, Lawrence W. 1997. Social Science Research Methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 15
*Sewell, William H. Jr. 1996. "Three Temporalities: Toward an Eventful Sociology ." The Historic Turn in the
Human Sciences, editor Terrence J. McDonald. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Midterm exam
Part III: Introduction to quantitative methods
7. Measurement and distributions
In this class we discuss basics of statistical inference, measurement and variables, descriptive statistics, and
probability distributions. The basics of using SPSS is also introduced.
*Agresti, Alan and Barbara Finlay. 1997. Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice-Hall. Chapters 1 to 4
Anthropological motivations: *Bernard Chapter 15
8. Using SPSS for Windows
This class is a computer lab session, when the basics of using SPSS for Windows are introduced.
*Bryman Chapters 2 to 5
9. Statistical inference
The aim of this class is to introduce the notion of statistical estimation, and significance tests. Fourth homework
assignment handed out.
*Agresti and Finlay Chapters 5, 6
*Bryman Chapters 6
10. Analyzing association
In this class we explore ways to analyze contingency tables, the independence or association between categorical
variables. Fourth homework assignment due, fifth handed out.
*Agresti and Finlay Chapter 8
*Bryman Chapter 8 (p 159 to 169)
11. Linear regression and correlation
We discuss linear relationships between interval scale variables, the least squares prediction equation, the linear
regression model, and correlation as a measure of linear association. Fifth homework assignment due, sixth handed
out.
*Agresti and Finlay Chapter 9
*Bryman Chapter 8 (p 169 to 195)
12. Multivariate models
In this class we introduce types of multivariate relationships and the multiple regression model. We will also address
statistical control and interaction modeling. Sixth homework assignment due.
*Agresti and Finlay Chapters 10, 11
*Bryman Chapter 8 (p 243 to 254)
Final exam