GSSR Research Methodology and Methods of Social Inquiry socialinquiry.wordpress
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GSSR Research Methodology and Methods of Social Inquiry www.socialinquiry.wordpress.com December 13, 2010 I. The Interview II. Survey Research
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GSSR Research Methodology and Methods of Social Inquiry www.socialinquiry.wordpress.com December 13 , 2010 I. The Interview II. Survey Research. I. The Interview B asic rules: Courtesy, tact, and acceptance; Appearance (d ress ) ; Confidentiality The interview as social situation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of GSSR Research Methodology and Methods of Social Inquiry socialinquiry.wordpress
GSSR
Research Methodology and Methods of Social Inquiry
www.socialinquiry.wordpress.com
December 13, 2010
I. The Interview
II. Survey Research
I. The Interview
Basic rules:– Courtesy, tact, and acceptance;– Appearance (dress);
– Confidentiality
The interview as social situation
Structured (scripted) & Unstructured intreviews; semi-structured interviews
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
Procedures in Conducting an Interview
- Gaining entry (trust)
- Introduction (explaining the study; confidentially, voluntary participation)
- Asking the Questions (structured/semi-structured/ unstructured)
- Probing
- Recording the Response
- Concluding the Interview
Focus Groups
Functions:- exploratory: test methodological techniques, try out
definition of concepts; identify key informants; pre-testing question wording; measurement
scales, ...
- triangulation: used to complement survey; but also participant observation
Methodological challenge: Interviewer also moderator- Avoid that 1/few person(s) dominate the group;- Encourage recalcitrant respondents;- Obtain responses from entire group to have fullest
coverage of topics
Advantages: inexpensive; data rich; flexible, stimulating to respondents,
recall aiding, cumulative and elaborative, over and above individual responses
Problems: - emerging group culture interferes with individual
expression; - threat of domination- group format makes inquiry on sensitive topics difficult- interviewer skills must be v. high due to group dynamics
II. Survey Research
Survey Designs
Cross-sectional studies:
data are collected from a sample at one point in time;
- Contextual studies;
- Social network studies.
Longitudinal Studies:
- Trend studies
- Panel Studies
Polish Panel Survey, POLPAN, conducted in 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008
- supported & administered by the Polish Academy of Sciences;
1st wave (1988): national random sample of adult population, aged 21-65 (N=5,817).
For 2nd wave (1993): random sample from the sample of 1st wave (N=2,500)
For the next waves (1998, 2003, and 2008) the same people were followed + samples of new cohorts.
1988-2008 panel: n = 938 respondents, aged 46 – 84 years in 2008
