Social Science Research in Diversity

The Role of Social Science Research in Diversity “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities” (Stephen R. Covey) Introduction The term diversity means different things to different people. At its core the term simply refers to differences. How do I see diversity? How can I see differences but avoid essentialism? How does one leverage polarities? What role…

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Data Collection Techniques

In social research there are multiple data collection techniques that ethnographers use in the process of inquiry. Below is a list of many of them, especially useful in qualitative research, followed by pertinent questions: Survey Questionnaire Observation of Cultural Events: Direct, Indirect/Passive, and Participant Interview: Unstructured, Semi-Structured, and Structured Focus Groups Text Analysis Narrative Inquiry Projective Techniques…

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Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative

The social sciences include branches such as: anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. Social research is inquiry into human exchange and is carried out empirically, that is, through observation in the field. In fact, it is the length of time one spends in the field that enhanced the validity of research (Kirk &…

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Social Research

What is social research? Consider these summarized elements: Social research investigates the learned, shared patterns of perception and behavior among a people group. These patterns are story-based and are often differentiated into four basic cultural arrangements. Social research includes: (a) observing human behavior, (b) determining the function of socio/cultural institutions, (c) identifying shared values, and (d) examining core worldview assumptions. It is always empirical, generally in…

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