1. Campus Session 2 BAPP WBS3835 3rd March 2010 Peter Bryant Rosemary McGuinness Paula Nottingham Adesola Akinleye

4. Qualitative Research Social World Research Paula Nottingham BAPP WBS3835 3rd March 2010

11. A simplified mapping of research positions positivistic post-positivistic Critical realism constructivist Social world Scientific Guba and Lincoln in Denzin and Lincoln, 1994; Bryman, 2008 Objectivism Constructivism critical

12. Social world research starting points – different than objective or scientific point of view “ Interpretivism… respects the difference between people and the objects of the natural sciences and therefore requires the social scientist to grasp the subjective meaning of social action” (Bryman , 2008:16). “ … it is the job of the social scientist to gain access to people’s ‘common-sense thinking’ and hence to interpret their actions and their social world from their point of view” (Bryman, 2008:15). Constructivism asserts that social phenomena and their meaning are continually being accomplished by social actors. Social phenomena are in a constant state of revision and the researcher presents a specific view of reality (Bryman, 2008).

13. Social World research starting points 1. offers an interpretation or version 2. no neutral single truth – inquiry reflects researcher’s partial understanding and special interests (Wetherell et al. 2001) Some social world researchers even discuss common research terms differently trustworthiness as a descriptive for judging research quality Credibility parallels internal validity Transferability parallels external validity Dependability parallels external reliability (Bryman, 2004) Transferability instead of generalisability Trying to understand human actions… Interpreting the interpretations of others…

14. Social World research starting points There are many new types of social world research that are now accepted as valid… the could be compared to the Bell text. Critical ethnography Auto ethnography Participatory Action Research Narrative Inquiry Art-based with political activism… Again – only look into something more specific if you need to – you are busy and at work resourcing research is often based on specific needs that will deliver impact