Institutionalizing Big Data methods in social and political research

Over the years the research endeavours in social sciences have been directed towards producing profound discoveries about humankind and the society they live in. Now-a-days qualitative research has been flourishing in many fields of the social sciences. Rapid social change and the resulting diversification of life scenarios are increasingly confronting social researchers with new social contexts and perspectives. There is a specific relevance for qualitative research to the study of social contexts and life situations. This has lead to the development of several social theories and social research methods which have still continued to develop in order to understand the diverse social problems. The challenge for social scientists and researchers worldwide is to continue in the search for a unified consensus on what methodology is to be adopted for research for meeting the emerging diverse needs of humankind and the society. This thought has led to the proliferation of pluralism or multi-method research in which the researcher synthesizes multiple research methodologies in order to study social problems in a holistic way. This concept of pluralism in research has to a greater extend subverted methodological tribalism which had existed till the recent past. This paper focuses on the philosophical assumptions as guidelines to research paradigms have influenced the development of social research theory and social research methods towards pluralism. This paper intends to explore pluralism in qualitative Social Science researches as it may be applied methodologically and philosophically. In this context, the paper heeds a thought on refocusing pluralistic qualitative research in terms of its needs and demands based on the level and depth of the study undertaken. Key Terms: Qualitative research, methodological pluralism, research paradigms, philosophical assumptions

Theory and methods in social research, edited by Bridget Somekh and Cathy Lewin, London, Sage, 2011, 368 pp., £24.99 (paperback), 2nd edition, ISBN: 9781849200158 The title of the book (Theory and ...

Instead of duplicating the media coverage of recent serious challenges to Yemen's national leadership in different parts of the country, this article draws on the best social science studies to help explain some of the forces behind Yemen's chronic instability, as well as to suggest what policies, programs, and management approaches might be most successful in moving the country and its growing population toward a more promising future. A state-of-knowledge review of the dated and geographically-limited literature conducted primarily by foreign social scientists covers national trends, the spatial distribution of Yemeni socioeconomic and political life (including tribes), non-tribal governance, and Yemen's social research infrastructure. The relevance of this research to two current American assistance programs in Yemen is also suggested. If little was known about Iraq before the US-backed invasions, less was known about Afghanistan and even less about Yemen, a current focus of international development and security agencies. To help fill the knowledge gap in Afghanistan, donors and NGOs funded the development of socio-political and market research centers, an infrastructure absent in Yemen until recently.1 Although Yemen was not always off-limits to social researchers, the available community-level studies are both dated and restricted in their geographical coverage. What little is available suggests that Yemen has not been static over the past two decades. Tribal systems, the role of Islam, the importance of religious leaders, and relations between the central government and local populations are evolving in a context of unpromising economic, demographic, and natural resource trends. These changes and trends suggest that it is hazardous to base current economic development and security programs on outdated and geographically-limited studies. More recent opinion surveys are also poor substitutes for location-specific community studies as guides for the design and implementation of development and counterinsurgency strategies targeting specific communities as described in the current joint USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and the DoD (Depart- ment of Defense) country strategy for Yemen.2 Despite the dated and incomplete coverage of local-level studies, the inter-regional variations in them suggest that it would be prudent to mine the existing literature as a way to provide a firmer basis on which Yemeni and international agencies design and implement their development and security programs. The present article is intended to provide this overview organized under four general categories: national economic and population trends, the spatial distribution of Yemeni socioeconomic and political life (including tribes), non-tribal governance, and Yemen's social research infrastructure. We close with some observations on the relevance that this research has for two American assistance programs in Yemen, one by USAID, the other by the US military.3 Suffice it to note that Yemen has been wracked by political, economic, and violent difficulties over the past several years and, as a consequence, the country today is different from what it was when the studies to be reviewed below were conducted. Unfortunately, neither social scientists nor informed journalists have been able to ground-test the continuing relevance reported in these studies.4 National Economic and Population Trends5 The Republic of Yemen (ROY) was established as the Yemen Arab Republic in 1962 after a civil war that involved both Saudi Arabia (supporting the Royalists) and Egypt (supporting the successful military-led dissidents). There were two Yemens, the north with its capital in Sana'a, and the south with 'Aden as its capital. The north was seen as more tribal in nature while the south was part of the communist bloc of nations and opposed to tribalism. The two parts have been in fairly continuous conflict not only with one another but also with their own constituents. …

The paper examines aspects of the relationship between teaching and research in higher education in social science research methods, with particular reference to the subject area of Education. There are three main themes: reflections on how social science research methods should be (or are) taught; a review of current debates about the relationship between teaching and research, both in higher education and for school teachers; and finally, reporting how a group of educational practitioners (mainly school teachers) studying at Masters level experience learned about research methods. The paper is illustrated by qualitative data from a case study of student experiences of research methods teaching on a Masters degree in Education in a research-intensive UK university. It is suggested that studying the journey embarked upon by taught postgraduate students inexperienced in research is helpful in understanding how learning about research methods takes place, which in turn can assist future research methods teaching.

From the social discipline research approach, there are some problems in ecological civilization education in primary and secondary schools: unclear human-centered education concept; decentralized implementation of ecological civilization education; major reversal of ecological civilization education process; and urgent need to strengthen teachers' ecological civilization quality. The inspiration of the social discipline research method of ecological civilization education in primary and secondary schools mainly lies in adhering to the public historical view and developing students' subjective activities; mobilizing teachers and students with a human-centered approach; mobilizing students and guiding them to participate in ecological civilization practices; and improving teachers' quality to achieve effective integration of education and ecological civilization. From the perspective of social discipline research methods, ecological civilization education in primary and secondary schools should focus on improving students' personality and moral cultivation, combining personal goals with social practice, combining personal growth with social development, and cultivating moral and intellectual talents of the new era.

Pacific ViewpointVolume 12, Issue 2 p. 141-162 ArticleFree Access Social Distance and Assimilation Orientation: A Survey of Attitudes Towards Immigrants in New Zealand A. D. Trlin, A. D. TrlinSearch for more papers by this author A. D. Trlin, A. D. TrlinSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 May 1971 https://doi.org/10.1111/apv.122003Citations: 12AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat REFERENCES 1Ames, R. G. and Sakuma, A. F., 1969, “Criteria for Evaluating Others: A Re-examination of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale”, Sociology and Social Research, 54, 5- 24. 1Borrie, W. D., 1959, The Cultural Integration of Immigrants, Unesco, Paris. 1Brookes, R. H. and Kawharu, I. H. (eds), 1967, Administration in New Zealand’s Multi-Racial Society, Wellington and London. 1Burnley, I. H., 1970, “ The Greeks”, in K. W. Thomson and A. D. Trlin (eds), 100- 124. 1 Department of Labour, 1964, “Assisted Immigration 1946-1964”, Labour and Employment Gazette, 14.3, 8- 11. 1Goode, W. J. and Hatt, P. K., 1952, Methods in Social Research, International Student Edition, New York. 1Holmes, F. W., 1966/67, “ Some Thoughts on Immigration” (3 parts), Quarterly Predictions ( New Zealand Institute of Economic Research), Sept. 1966, 18-24; Dec. 1966, 18-22; March 1967, 19- 24. 1Jackson, J. A. (ed.), 1969, Migration, Sociological Studies 2, Cambridge. 1 Labour Committee, 1969, Report of the Labour Committee to the National Development Conference, Wellington. 1Lane, P. A., 1970, “ Immigration and Economics”, in K. W. Thomson and A. D. Trlin (eds), 25- 37. 1Lochore, R. A., 1951, From Europe to New Zealand: An Account of Our Continental European Settlers, Wellington. 1McCreary, J. R., 1952, The Modification of International Attitudes: A New Zealand Study, Victoria University of Wellington, Publications in Psychology, No. 2, Wellington. 1McCreary, J. R., 1965, Housing and Welfare Needs of Islanders in Auckland: A Report to the Minister of Island Territories, Government Printer, Wellington. 1Metge, A. J., 1967, “ Alternative Policy Patterns in Multi-Racial Societies”, in R. H. Brookes and I. H. Kawharu (eds), 41- 56. 1 Monetary and Economic Council, 1966, Increased Immigration and the New Zealand Economy, Report No. 12, Wellington. 1O’Connor, P. S., 1968, “Keeping New Zealand White 1908-1920”, New Zealand Journal of History, 2, 41- 65. 1Price, C. A., 1969, “ The Study of Assimilation” in J. A. Jackson (ed.) 181- 237. 1Rosenberg, W., 1968, A Guidebook to New Zealand’s Future, Christchurch. 1Roy, T., 1966, “New Zealand’s Immigration Policy and External Affairs”, International Migration Review (New Series) 1, 33- 43. 1Roy, T., 1970, “ Immigration Policy and Legislation”, in K. W. Thomson and A. D. Trlin (eds), 15- 24. 1Siegel, S., 1956, Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences, International Student Edition, Tokyo. 1Simpson, G. E. and Yinger, J. M., 1965, Racial and Cultural Minorities: An Analysis of Prejudice and Discrimination ( 3rd ed.), New York. 1Sinclair, I. H., 1944, Population: New Zealand’s Problem, Dunedin. 1Taft, R., 1963, “The Assimilation Orientation of Immigrants and Australians”, Human Relations, 16, 279- 293. 1Taft, R., 1966, From Stranger to Citizen: A survey of Studies of Immigrant Assimilation in Western Australia, London. 1Thomson, K. W. and Trlin, A. D. (eds), 1970, Immigrants in New Zealand, Massey University, Palmerston North. 1Triandis, H. C. and Triandis, L. M., 1960, “Race, Social Class and Nationality as Determinants of Social Distance”, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 61, 110- 118. 1Trlin, A. D., 1969, “Those Strangers Our Neighbours”, Comment No. 38, 26- 32. 1Trlin, A. D., 1970, “ The Yugoslavs”, in K. W. Thomson and A. D. Trlin (eds), 65- 99. Citing Literature Volume12, Issue2May 1971Pages 141-162 ReferencesRelatedInformation

As a result of radical social and cultural transformations with the key role of new media technologies, epistemologies, methodologies and methods of social research have been changed around the academic world. In this worldwide process one of the emergent family of methods is social Internet research. The main aim of this article is to identify and characterise the nature, key features, and three general genres of social Internet research. The author presents this elaboration with special intention of stimulating application of Internet research on the field of constructing new educational knowledge as an important need of educational sciences in current Poland. Additionally, we can find in the text the author’s interpretation of virtuality understood as a methodological category, and a description of hypermedia research report understood as a new format of scientific elaboration.

Improving the approaches of traffic demand forecasting in the big data era

While Africa’s rapid urbanisation is expected to transform many aspects of political, economic and social life, decades of Africanist research shows that urban migration rarely severs rural ties. Building on this tradition, we use original survey data from 472 residents of Nairobi, Kenya, to examine how multiple forms of rural connection vary with urban duration and urban (re)orientation. We conceptualise four analytically distinct linkages – direct personal contact, provision of material support, anticipation of a rural safety net and spiritual connection – and measure each within a single empirical framework. We find that rural linkages do not diminish over time among first-generation migrants, but do decline across generations, with spiritual ties being especially persistent. Strong rural linkages are generally associated with weaker integration into urban social and political life. By disaggregating rural–urban connections and situating them in the temporal dynamics of urban residence, this article clarifies when and how African urbanisation transforms social and political orientations and provides a framework for cross-city and cross-country comparison.

This article attempts to develop an argument about a relationship between the individual intra-psychic functioning and the social and political life in trauma. This relationship, it is argued, is mediated by the skin and sensations related to touch and the imagination of it. The deepest transformations of the individual self and a group’s political and social life seem to go through a rearrangement of the psychic skin as a means of development. Three examples show how the psychic skin operates at the point of intersection between the individual and group states of mind reshaping the individual self and group identity. One example is about the relationship between the fascist architecture in the city of Rome and the 1930s fascist political project of shaping a ‘New Man’; another is my understanding of the post-traumatic suffering and changes of my refugee patients who have survived torture, which is a trauma inflicted by a collective; and third, it is an hypothesis of the role which the Western Wall in Jerusalem had in reshaping Israeli identities on the backdrop of traumatic history and wider tensions of two peoples on that disputed territory.

The article highlights the problems of legal regulation in the field of anti-corruption in the conditions of military aggression and suggests ways to improve the relevant anti-corruption legislation. The article draws attention to the fact that in modern conditions of military aggression, one of the important conditions not only for victory, but also for the preservation of state sovereignty and the restoration of territorial integrity is the provision of political, economic and social stability in our country. It is claimed that one of the factors that can significantly influence the achievement of these tasks remains corruption. In connection with this, combating corruption should be a component of state policy in all spheres of social and political life and in the defense system. Attention is drawn to the fact that the task of minimizing corruption should become the main direction of the state and the implementation of public administration. in the conditions of martial law, political, economic and social life in our country changed. Although anti-corruption legislation was created, military aggression and modern realities require corrections and improvement of the state anti-corruption policy as a whole. It is concluded that in order to improve the anti-corruption legislation and the prospects for its development, it is necessary to make changes and corrections to it: to improve the procedure for registering corruption reports and the facts of their verification; registration of notifications about the facts of receiving (offers to receive) gifts; improvement of responsibility for illegal actions regarding humanitarian aidThe article substantiates that certain provisions of the anti-corruption legislation need to be revised in the conditions of martial law, in particular: firstly, it concerns restrictions related to the combination with other types of activities of a certain category of persons, which is related to mobilization; clarifications of certain evaluation concepts contained in the Law of Ukraine «On Prevention of Corruption».

The focus of this chapter is the use of video-diaries in social research. The aim is to examine and reflect upon the particular ethical terrain and situated ethics of using visual diary method in social science research with different participant groups who arguably present specific ethical concerns, including children and older people, people with disabilities (either physical, cognitive, or psychiatric), and older people. The authors present a discussion of the specific ethical considerations arising from the use of this method due to the particular type of data it generates, namely audio and moving visual data. As such, the process of creating a video diary and the procedures involved in collecting and analysing video diary data are fundamentally different from a paper-based (non-digital) diary. For these reasons, it is important to step back and reflect on the situated ethics, including the digital ethics encountered when using this method.

(1952). II. Some methods of social research. Australian Journal of Social Work: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 143-150.

Addressing the policy challenges and opportunities of “Big data”

Comparison is ubiquitous in social life, yet some comparisons are far more common, institutionalized, and influential than others. Building on work in cultural sociology, we call these repertoires of comparison (RoCs). Institutionalized across one or more social fields, RoCs are employed at different levels of society (local, national, global) and across myriad social contexts (sports clubs, city offices, the media). For example, horrific events are frequently compared to the paradigmatic case of 9/11 to assess their gravity, while Greenwich Village long served as a model neighborhood for municipal policymakers. Our aim in this article is to put RoCs on the sociological map. Although such common comparisons have been indirectly analyzed in scholarship on repertoires, symbolic boundaries, orders of worth, and commensuration, we argue that conceptualizing them as a distinct phenomenon is analytically useful. RoCs matter because they: (a) encode and express moral judgments; (b) shape our frames of reference; (c) guide aspirations and aversions; and (d) inform symbolic boundary drawing. We then discuss how RoCs emerge, become contested, and which social factors contribute to their transformation or replacement. We show how RoCs are a fundamental dimension of social and political life and illustrate how this concept can be used to analyze understudied aspects of research on culture and politics.