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Basics 1 Basics................................................ 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Organisation of the site 1.3 Method and methodology 1.4 Data, information and evidence 1.5 Theory 1.6 Ontology and epistemology 1.7 Subjectivity and objectivity 1.8 Validity 1.9 Reliability and accuracy 1.10 Representativeness and bias 1.11 Reflexivity 1.12 Dichotomies 1.13 Product or producer 1.14 Research process 1.15 Triangulation Orientation 2 Orientation........................................ 2.1 Identifying approaches 2.2 Positivism 2.3 Phenomenology 2.4 Critical social research 2.5 Conclusion Observation 3 Observation...................................... 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Aspects 3.3 Methodological approaches 3.4 Access 3.5 Recording data 3.6 Analysing observational data 3.7 Summary 3.8 Conclusion In-depth interviews 4 In-depth interviews........................... 4.1 Introduction 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Document analysis and semiology 5 Document analysis & semiology........ 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Conversation and discourse analysis 6 Conversation and discourse analysis. 6.1 Introduction Secondary Data 7 Secondary data.................................. 7.1 Introduction 7.2 7.3 7.4 Surveys 8 Surveys........................................ 8.1 Introduction 8.2 xxx 8.3 xxx 8.4 8.5 3.6 Mumtaz: Women of Pakistan 3.7 Liddle: Daughters of Independence 3.8 Conclusion Experiments 9 Experiments..................................... 9.1 Introduction 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 4.6 Duffield: Black Radicalism 4.7 Conclusion Ethics 10 Ethics............................................. 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Research outcomes 11 Research outcomes ....................... 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6
Conclusion 12 Conclusion..................................... 12.1 Introduction 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5

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A Guide to Methodology

1. Basics

1.1 Introduction
Researching the real world is exciting: it is the best way to develop knowledge and understanding of the way society works. Real-world research, though, is also frustrating, as things invariably do not go to plan. Despite what the textbooks suggest, there are no simple recipes for social research, nor simple methodological schemas. Researching the Real World encourages learning by doing.

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© Lee Harvey 2011, last updated 10 July, 2011
Citation reference: Harvey, L., 2011, Researching the Real World, available at qualityresearchinternational.com/methodology, All rights belong to author.