POLS 3180 Lecture Notes - Observational Techniques, Ethnic Group, Data Analysis
1 Dec 2013
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Pols 3180 october 30, 2013, research methods i. Unobtrusive research: historical analysis, content analysis. Difficulty is that term is used in varied ways. Some employ a broad definition of it: we do field research whenever we observe or participate in social behavior and try to understand it (fsr p. 299). Research is physically present in social setting of study and employs variety of observational techniques. Need to spend some time in country of research to make research more credible: can be extremely positivist, interpretivist, Philosophical orientation can be positivist or interpretivist. Goa of study can be explanation, exploration, or description. Narrow definition: ethnography: ethnos (nations, groups of people), graphine (writing) Understanding a culture from the native point of view: someone who is immersed in that culture. Not obviously relevant to political science: not interested in culture per se, the work of describing a culture . (more online slide, variations of ethnography by subject of study.
