Research Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Methodology - Essay Example Finally, one has to note what one is likely to â€Å"‘conclude† in terms of the research problem and one’s hypothesis (an early conclusion in other words). All this goes into a brief and concise introduction, to be termed â€Å"Introduction† and/or â€Å"Abstract†, of the proposed research. To illustrate the research process thus described, I shall in the following adopt the perspective of anthropology, the science of culture, as an example of a an inductive, empirical social science with appropriate methods to tackle social science research questions ‘ Literature Review Having thus described the contents of the proposal, one now turns to these items, one by one, beginning with a focused analysis of relevant literary sources and notions in order to answer the research question. The review reflects â€Å"the state of the art† regarding knowledge of the research topic. The review will highlight various issues that are particularly relevant to solving the identified research problem. Setting and Sample: Next, one describes the setting and/or sample size. Depending upon one’s choice of research problem one describes the setting which, when social science research is conducted, may be a community (e.g., affluent, middle-class, poor), an institution (e.g., a school, a bank), a neighbourhood, street corners, a slum, etc. (Hannerz, 2007). Based upon this choice, a sample is defined. One may want to work with a small, large, partial or complete sample, a random selection, a certain quota or a representative sample. The economic anthropologist Polly Hill studied cocoa faming and development in southern Ghana. She used maps and air photography to define her sample (Hill, 1963). This may seem an extreme choice, but it isn’t for an anthropologist conducting research in a non-Western setting. Methodology 1. Induction-Deduction Research, the search for knowledge and problem-solving, is a process whereby one continua lly adds to knowledge (Ellen, 1984). By this understanding, research is an ongoing process. There are, however, certain procedures to be followed and standards to be adhered to, be they of an â€Å"inductive† (experimental: â€Å"arriving at a theory based on facts†) or â€Å"deductive† (â€Å"facts are organized to match theory†) nature. Based on this division, one arrives at a â€Å"positivistic† and â€Å"relativistic stance†, resulting in a contrast of â€Å"explanation† (deduction, positivism) and â€Å"understanding† (induction, relativism) (Manners and Kaplan, 1968; Alexander, 1983; Gellner, 1985). Within anthropology and with its emphasis on induction and empirical research, the contrast between induction and deduction has been conceptualized as two modes of inquiry that are opposed to one another. The renowned anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski advocated 90 years ago long-term immersion in the research site chosen and the use of a set of qualitative methods, considered suitable to such an approach (Malinowski, 1922). Since the nineteen twenties and Malinowski’s statement, the tension of deduction and induction is thought of as contrast between the natural sciences, such as biology, insisting on distance, and the human and social sciences stressing the value of experience-nearness. The contrast has been exemplified by the different emphases placed upon