Sociological Forensics

Important Reading...

How to start a qualitative project from the research question & literature review...

For your final paper, illustrates how to:• Formulate a methodology section (p.510-11)• Provide justifications for your choices (p507-8)• Ethnographic excerpts (p.508)

Reflexivity

Glocalization to Global Flows of Culture (theory)

• Things not what he assumed• Go for a beer....find research.

“...when trying to explain social life... look for phenomena that stand out at the level ofsocial action: (stories about) who meets and does what with whom, when and where; the way people greet and relate to each other, what they talk about, how they identify and describe themselves, and the references they make to others.”

How have the elements of the narrative been brought together in a certain way”

(Inglis, 2010: 512)

“...when trying to explain social life... look for phenomena that stand out at the level of social action:

(stories about) who meets and does what with whom, when and where; the way people greet and relate to each other, what they talk about, how they identify and describe themselves, and the references they make to others….

…How have the elements of the narrative been brought together in a certain way?” (Inglis, 2010: 512)

Classic Case StudiesThe Established and the Outsiders (1964): Elias Scotson• Gossip as a social process (celebrity culture?)• Civilizing processStreet Corner Society: (1943): Whyte • Social order among "gangs”• Similar to everyone else• Ranking...Learning to Labour (1980):• how class reproduction takes place through education...

Seeking ‘generic social processes’

• Acquiring perspectives• Achieving identity• Doing activity• Developing relationships• Experiencing emotionality• Achieving linguistic fluency

Finding your PuzzleFinding your PuzzleDetermine the kind of puzzle you

want to explain/explore:

• Developmental:Developmental: How or why did X develop?

• Mechanical:Mechanical: How does X work?

• Comparative:Comparative: How can we explain the differences between X and Y?

Research QuestionResearch Question•Research project is DESIGNED to

answer this question•Device to guide your inquiry (not a

hypothesis statement; not ‘prove/disprove’)•Analytical Research question• NOT prescriptive (cause & effect)

Outstanding in the Field:

Knowing Where You Stand

Paradigms Epistemology

Ontology& Methodology

Paradigms

Assumptions that define, for the viewer :• “nature” of the world• the individual’s place in it• The range of possible relationships within the world (and the parts

that make it up)

ALL theories contain assumptions. ALL theories contain assumptions.

Qualitative Research isQualitative Research is reflexive about them reflexive about them

Paradigms: Positivism Epistemology• Dualist & objective (unchanged by viewer,

or countered)• Replicable findings are ‘true”

Ontology• “Natural” laws – concrete reality• Temporally & context free reality• Non-humanist

Methodology• Experimental & Manipulative• Control, verification and ‘improper

influences’ are controlled for*Psychology, Physics, Biology, etc.*Psychology, Physics, Biology, etc.

Qualitative as a response to Positivism...• No context• Problem of Insider/Outsider • Alternative thinking discouraged• General data not representative of individual• Ignores relationship between theory & method• Maintains myth of objectivity and value-free science

Origins of Qualitative ResearchSymbolic Interactionism• CW Mills• WI Thomas• Blumer• Mead• Hooley• Garfinkle

The capacity to connect individuals to social context

Paradigms: Critical Theory

Epistemology• Verstehen• Subjectivist (investigator/object relationship)• Value Mediated (e.g. standpoint epistemology) Ontology• Socio-political-cultural factors shape “real” institutions• Non-Humanist and HumanistMethodology• Dialogic & Dialectical• Historical understanding & critique thus inspire social change• *Feminism, Marxism, Postmodernism, Poststructuralism, Etc*Feminism, Marxism, Postmodernism, Poststructuralism, Etc

Paradigms: Symbolic InteractionismOntology• Reality is socially constructed and can be altered• Language & symbols at the core of meaningful knowing & actingEpistemology• Subjectivist (investigator/object relationship)• Findings are ‘created’

Note: distinction between ontology, epistemology and methodology are less clear

Methodology• Dialogic & Dialectical• Reflexivity *Symbolic Interactionism, Labelling Theory, Dramatism*Symbolic Interactionism, Labelling Theory, Dramatism

What voice is heard in your research?

Positivism: “Disinterested scientist”Policy makers, agents of change (legitimate)

Critical Theory: “Transformative intellectual”Advocate and activist

Constructivism:“passionate participant”facilitator or multi-voiced

!

Can I use “first person” in my final research

paper?