1. Introduction to Research Design Research Methods Workshop Series Oisín Tansey

2. KEATS page Research Methods Workshop http://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2 0883

3. Aims of the workshops For WSD/DSD students To complement DTC Core introduction to key issues Forum for discussion on common challenges October and January intake

4. Question What criteria should be used to evaluate the quality of research?

5. Why do methods matter? Quality of argument/theory depends on: - coherence of the argument - suitability and quality of evidence Methodological choices thus shape the overall quality of research Need to be ‘conscious thinkers’ about methodological choices Helps your reading, and your research

6. Some key points Research question (RQ) and theory should drive the choice of methods There is no single correct method There are trade-offs between methods Be explicit about your choices - acknowledge the trade-offs

7. Building blocks of research design Research question Concept formation Theory/Argument formation Case selection Data collection Data analysis

8. Topic Selection Research question should be derived from your interests Criteria for selecting a good RQ 1) Importance 2) Contribution 3) Manageability 4) Clarity/consistency

9. Topic Selection What is your research question?

10. Types of thesis Descriptive – avoid Theory building Theory testing Theory applying Further reading: van Evera, Chapter 3

11. (Possible) qualities of good theory large explanatory power elucidate by simplifying satisfy our curiosity clearly framed falsifiable explains important phenomena prescriptive richness concrete – observable concepts

12. Range of methods Experimental Non-experimental: 1) statistical - strengths: patterns, generalisation - weaknesses: correlation v causation 2) case study based - strengths: depth, detail, causation - weaknesses: limited generalisation

13. Standards of inference KKV, Designing Social Inquiry - Unified logic of inference - Four characteristics of scientific research - the goal is inference - procedures are public - conclusions are uncertain - the conduct is the method Your thoughts?

14. Trade-offs Rethinking Social Inquiry, Chapter 8 Goals – e.g. inference, generality, Tools, on the other hand, are specific research practices and procedures aimed at achieving intermediate goals, and through them the overarching goals Methodology is concerned both with developing tools and with reasoning about how particular tools succeed or fail in achieving research goals We are convinced that making choices among potentially incompatible goals is, in fact, the essence of research design.

15. Questions What are the goals of research? What are the key trade-offs among the major methodological choices?

16. Conclusion Keep asking yourself the following questions: What are you trying to explain? Why is it important? What is original? How do you know you are not wrong?