Secrecy and ‘Studying-up’

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 ...

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

This chapter brings to light how urban planning serves the interests of the most powerful groups in society. Urban planning seems to be a major concern of local and national governments also for ideological reasons. The discussion shows how state ideologies influence city plans and how, conversely, cities reflect these ideologies. These ideologies make it clear who is in power. Similarly, political changes are reflected in new urban plans. The case of Indonesian cities illustrates this rhetoric of power. In pre-colonial towns, the rulers formed the symbolic heart of the city. In Dutch colonial towns, planning was based on the segregation of people from different ethnic backgrounds. After independence, ethnic boundaries were blurred, stressing that all people ideally should form one nation. Thus, planning ideals have changed with the emergence of new political leaders, reflecting the political climate of the time.

The following article has as it’s objective to analyze how t king Alfonso IV put the law that abolsihed monasteries and Other religious institutions the right to have goods and resources of their own to work in his Kingdom of Portugal during his reign of 32 years.These laws had been published by his father, the king Denis, in the Years 1280’s and had as it’s main objective to not alienate large tracts of resources, like lands, in the hands of the Church. However Alfonso IV, due to a number of reasons, suspended their application through his  gracious action. We firmly believe that was made because it was the king’s most importante role to exercise justice and many of the clergymen and institutions that petitioned were poor and thus unable to survive, what justifiedthe suspension  of the law. Beyond that, by creating an image of himself as a just king, worried with his subjects and that was prepared to suspend the law for the sake of the common good, Alfonso would strenghten his own power as the main leader of the portuguese state then in the making, against other powerful groups in society that favored a weakened royal power, like the great prelates and the nobility.   Keywords: Abolition Laws. King Denis.King Alfonso IV.Clergymen

There has been a resurgence in scholarship on Karl Polanyi in recent years, against the backdrop of rising populism and critiques of globalization and financialization. In these works, Polanyi is typically portrayed as critic of the contested notion of ‘neoliberalism’. In this paper I demonstrate that, to the contrary, Polanyi’s Great Transformation (1944) shares many of the themes central to the contributions of the early neoliberals, specifically the ordoliberal thinkers. Polanyi and the ordoliberals did not only seek to analyze the origins of the same social crisis of the 1930 s and 40 s, but their analysis of the deficiencies of nineteenth-century liberalism as well as the subsequent disintegration through rapidly growing interventions in favor of powerful groups in society has much in common. This paper explores these similarities and demonstrates that they also extended to the way they perceived the responsibility of scientists as well as the interdependence of the various orders in society. It is argued that the ordoliberals, their fellow-traveler F. A. Hayek and Karl Polanyi all perceived the interdependence between the state, civil society and the market somewhat differently, but agreed on the need to conceptualize the relationship between the three. Finally, it is suggested that even the normative ideal of Karl Polanyi, the realization of ‘freedom in a complex society’, has important commonalities with the ordoliberal program: the protection of individual freedom from concentrated forms of power in society.

We expect Big Data methods to contribute to research with results that are not inferior to those attained in other ways but possibly better, or hard or impossible to generate in other ways. Those who apply these methods may also aspire to augment the arsenal of research methods, offer surrogates for existing research designs, and re-orient research. Moreover, we can critically examine the institutional, societal and political effects of the Big Data methods and the conditions for the solid institutionalization of these methods in social and political research. To reach its primary objective, this article elaborates conclusions on how Big Data methods, not only by means of their ‘social life’ but also by their ‘political life’, may influence the institutionalization of social and political research. To reach its secondary objective, the article re-examines a study of budgetary legislation in 13 countries carried out by means of Big Data methods to draw conclusions concerning the augmentation of the arsenal of research methods, the surrogation of existing research designs, and the re-orientation of research.

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.

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

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.

Visual Methods in Social Research

The academic community has varying perspectives on the definition of methodology. Many scholars consider methodology encompassing the systematic and theoretical analysis of methods and principles within a specific field of study. It serves as a guide for researchers in scientifically validating the information used in their research. There has been a noticeable shift in the understanding of methodology in recent years, particularly in publications since 2000. Scholars argue that research should not be confined to a strict dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative approaches. The dichotomy needs to be deemed sufficient to meet the demands of modern research and calls for a synthesis of methods. This new approach is referred to as "trichotomy," with the "mixed method" being the emerging methodology for conducting research that combines elements of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Integrating these methodologies aims to enhance the quality and efficacy of research. This study explores early career researchers' challenges, including the dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and the utilization of mixed methods. Furthermore, the existing research literature was examined, and it is argued that discussions on research methods in academic texts and university courses should incorporate mixed methods and address the perceived dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Digital Data Collection Methods in Social Research in LDCs - Case Studies Exploring Implications for Participation, Empowerment, and (mis)Understandings