Theory & Practice: Exploring Research Methodologies

1. CANDIDACY PROPOSAL SERIES 3 Methodology & methods GRASP - Graduate Research Advanced Skills Program As well as outlining the differences between 'methodology' and 'methods', this workshop will encourage students to think systematically and critically about the conceptual frameworks and investigative approaches which are common in their particular field of research.

2. 3 Methodology & methods • RATIONALE and AIMS OF TODAY’S CLASS • “ If we don’t understand our tools, then there is a danger that we will • become the tool of our tools…” (Goldstein, 2015: Plato at the Googleplexp.69) • By the end of the workshop, participants will • have defined and understood key terms including methodology, methods, ontology and epistemology • understand the importance of expansive thinking about methodology • have the impetus to explore the range of methodologies available in their knowledge domain • have the motivation to identify and describe the proposed methodologies/methods to be used in their research project • recognize the importance of systematic and ongoing critique/reflection • of the methodologies/methods which they use

3. 3 Methodology & methods • CLARIFICATION OF TERMS • In this workshop, the following terms will be used • RESEARCH METHODOLOGY • RESEARCH METHODS • RESEARCH TOOLS/INSTRUMENTS • ONTOLOGY • EPISTEMOLOGY

4. 3 Methodology & methods Why should we get slightly philosophical when thinking about methodology? Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave” (a though experiment) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM&t=6s

5. 3 Methodology & methods • In thinking about methodology, • there is a need to get slightly philosophical • As a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, you may not necessarily be interested in philosophy - but • PHILOSOPHY IS CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN YOU! • “Philosophy does not serve the State or the Church, who have other concerns. It serves no established power. The use of philosophy is to sadden. A philosophy that saddens no one, that annoys no one, is not a philosophy. It is useful for harming stupidity, for turning stupidity into something shameful.” • (G. Deleuze, Nietzsche and Philosophy)

6. RESEARCHER METAPHORS (O’Leary, 2010. p. 96.) • ‘Theorist’ Critically analyses, thinks abstractly, draws on other theorists, seeks new perspectives to move • outsidethe main paradigm, and is open to a range of methodologies/approaches. • ‘Scientist’Claims to be ‘objective’, in control of the research process, logical, methodical, stays ‘separate’ • from the research process. • ‘Change agent’ Advocates social change and emancipation, acknowledges subjectivities, often • participatory and collaborative, often engage in ‘action research’. • ‘Bricoleur’ ‘Jack of all trades’, methods can vary depending on aims and context, can invent new • approaches to solve difficult problems, is open to a range of methodologies/methods. • ‘Choreographer’ Starts with key principles, has vision, explores and develops techniques, • polishes these to come up with a creative and original result 3 Methodology & methods

7. 3 Methodology & methods • “Hi, what’s your research philosophy?” • “My research philosophy is…” • “As a researcher, I am independent of/implicated in the phenomena I study…” • “ ‘Reality’ is accessible/inaccessible/discovered/constructed/illusory/ • contingent upon…” • “Knowledge is constructed /incremental/stable/unstable/unreliable…” • “Knowledge in my area is (re)presented by/through…” • /

8. 3 Methodology & Methods Expanding our horizons of thought EPISTEMOLOGY ONTOLOGY “…all research, including pure science, starts with underlying assumptions about a phenomenon that depend on ontology and epistemology, even when these are inaccessible to the human mind.” However, “…knowing about something and then working out how one knows about something is difficult…because they are experienced as one and the same thing…so trying to separate ontology and epistemology invariably brings any analysis to a stop.” (Daniel & Harland, 2017, p.32)

9. 3 Methodology & methods • RESEARCH METHODOLOGY • “Overarching macro-level framework(s)that offer principles of reasoning associated • with particular paradigmatic assumptions that legitimate various schools of research. • Methodologies provide both the strategies and grounding for the conduct of a study.” • (O’Leary 2010, p.88) • “…a broad approach to scientific enquiry that contains a system or set of practices, • methods, rules, and principles within a given field or discipline.” • (Onwuegbuzie and Frels 2016, p.51)

10. 3 Methodology & methods • RESEARCH METHODS • “The actual micro-level techniques used to collect and analyse data. Methods of data collection include interviewing, surveying, observation…while methods of analysis comprise quantitative strategies (i.e. statistics) and qualitative strategies (i.e. thematic • exploration…” • (O’Leary 2010, p.89) • “ …the specific approaches and procedures…manifested in the research design, sampling design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation….. “ • (Onwuegbuzie and Frels 2016, p.49)

11. 3 Methodology & methods • RESEARCH TOOLS • “The devices used in the collection of research data, e.g. questionnaires, • observation checklists .” • (O’Leary 2010, p.89) • “ …the specific approaches and procedures…manifested in the research design, sampling design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation…..” • (Onwuegbuzie and Frels 2016, p.49)

12. 3 Methodology & methods ONTOLOGY Thestudy of what’s ‘out there’, what exists, what’s real. What is the ontological status of ‘natural language’, ‘mathematics’, ‘society’, ‘ bacteria’, ‘the solar system’, ‘love’? https://tothereal.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/ quadratic-formula.jpg http://www.thegreatwaterway.com/blogs/wp-content /uploads/2014/05/Silhouette_Dark_Sky.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/ 8526/8502665249_14fae8eca6_o.jpg https://scienceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/02/Southern_Arkansas_University_Biology_student_with_microscope.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/4/48/ Manuscript_of_Cicero_-_BL_Kings_MS_21_f._2.jpg

13. 3 Methodology & methods • EPISTEMOLOGY • The study of how we going about studying what exists, and how we create and construct • knowledge. • ‘empiricist epistemology’ - We can only arrive at knowledge through sensory experience. • ‘rationalist epistemology’ - Reason and rationality provide the basis for all knowledge. • ‘postmodern epistemology’ -Truth and knowledge are relative, fluid, ambiguous, historically and • linguistically contingent. • ‘indigenous epistemologies’ - Truth and knowledge are validated outside/prior to/apart from • colonial systems of domination.

14. 3 Methodology & methods The interrelationship between the building blocks of research Ontology Epistemology Methodology Methods Sources What and how can we know about it? How can we go about acquiring that knowledge? What’s out there to know? Which precise procedures can we use to acquire it? Which data Can we collect? (Daniel & Harland, 2017, p.36 – after Grix, 2002) ASK A SERIES OF QUESTIONS

15. 3 Methodology & methods THE METHODOLOGICAL (DESIGN) PROCESS IS REALLY A CIRCLE (After Grix, 2002.)

16. 3 Methodology & Methods The ‘iceberg metaphor’ “How to get clear about method, methodology, epistemology and ontology, once and for all.” David James, Cardiff University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b83ZfBoQ_Kw&t=565s

17. 3 Methodology & Methods The ‘iceberg metaphor’ “How to get clear about method, methodology, epistemology and ontology, once and for all” David James Cardiff University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b83ZfBoQ_Kw&t=565s

18. 3 Methodology & Methods THE THREE MAIN RESEARCH TRADITIONS ‘QUANTITATIVE’The collection, analysis and interpretation of primarily numerical datain order to predict, explain or describe phenomena. ‘QUALITATIVE’ The collection, analysis and interpretation of primarily non-numerical data which exists in the form of words, images, stories, etc. ‘MIXED METHODS’ Both ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ methods are combined within the same study.

19. 3 Methodology & Methods THE THREE MAIN RESEARCH TRADITIONS • ‘QUANTITATIVE’, ‘QUALITATIVE’ & ‘MIXED METHODS’ • Despite the tendency for research to be characterised as ONE of • these three, such a division can be artificial, limiting and confusing. • Ultimately, ‘quantitative data’ is simply data which has been defined or ‘coded’ according to qualitative concepts. • The obverse of this, is that ‘qualitative data’ is often converted • to a quantitative form in order to analyse, describe, explain and • interpret. (See O’leary, 2010, p.105.)

20. 3 Methodology & Methods THE QANTITATIVE & QUALITATIVE TRADITIONS Note, the above are ‘ideals’ or ‘aspirational’ – your critique of a methodology can demonstrate why they do not live up to these; e.g. reliability, validity, reproducibility , etc.

21. 3 Methodology & Methods Ontological and epistemological features of methodology (Daniel & Harland, 2017. p.39)

22. 3 Methodology & Methods Relationship between the three main research traditions Epistemological stance QUANTITATIVE TRADITION POSITIVISM INTERPRETIVISM QUALITATIVE TRADITION PRAGMATISM MIXED METHODS (Daniel & Harland, 2017. p.39)

23. 3 Methodology & Methods • IN CONCLUSION • Even if your candidacy proposal document only requires a section called ‘methods’, • consider splitting this section into ‘Methodology’ and ‘Methods’. • If you can demonstrate that you are aware of both the usefulness AND limitations of • your methodology,you add a powerful dimension of critical reflection to your • scholarly writing. • Part of your original and significant contribution to knowledge may become • apparent by testing the limits of your research methodology/methods.

24. 3 Methodology & Methods REFERENCES Daniel, Ben Kei and Tony Harland. 2017. Higher education research methodology: a step-by-step- guide to the research process. London: Taylor & Francis. (Available online, via Curtin Library catalogue.) Deleuze, Gilles. 1983. Nietzsche and philosophy. Trans. Hugh Tomlinson. London: Athlone Press. Goldstein, Rebecca. 2015. Plato at the googleplex; why Philosophy won’t go away. New York: Vintage Books. Grix, J. 2002. “The generic terminology of social research”. Politics 22 (3): 175-186 James, David. 2015. “How to get clear about method, methodology, epistemology and ontology, once and for all.” Talk given at Cardiff City Hall, January 19, 2015. Accessed 6 March, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=methodology+and+methods O’leary, Zina. 2010. The essential guide to doing your research project. London: Sage. (2004 Edition available online, via Curtin Library catalogue) Onwuegbuzie, Anthony and Rebecca Frels, R. 2016. Seven steps to a comprehensive literature review. Los Angeles: Sage. Plato. 1955 The Republic. Trans. H.D.P. Lee. Harmondsworth, Mddx: Penguin Books (ss514a–520a).  The Cave: An adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay Accessed March 8, 2018.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM&t=6s