NIFK14019U Empirical Methods in Social Science

This is an introductory course that centers on social science data collection methods - both qualitative tools (e.g. personal interviewing, focus groups) and quantitative tools (typically questionnaires) are covered.  Focus is on how, to construct such tools, and how to evaluate their validity. A number of techniques to analyse qualitative data and develop quantitative latent variables will also be presented.

The course does not address a specific study direction or empirical field. Literature, data and practical exercises from different fields of inquiry are used.

The course consists of two parts: a theoretical / methodological part and a practical part.

The theoretical / methodological part of the course gives an overview of available qualitative and quantitative social science methods and outlines their strengths and weaknesses. Also mixed methods approaches, where qualitative and quantitative data are combined, are introduced. It is discussed when it is more or less appropriate and relevant to employ a specific method. Different types of generalization principles and evaluations of validity are also presented.

The practical part of the course centers, firstly, on data tool construction: how to develop an interview guide for individual interviews, how to develop a questionnaire and appropriate survey questions and response options, and how to design stated preference questions. There will be exercises where the students will obtain practical experience with developing the data tools. Secondly, analytical strategies for examination of qualitative and quantitative data are presented. With respect to qualitative analysis different kinds of coding principles are outlined and the variable- versus case-oriented technique is presented. With respect to questionnaire data analytical principles and techniques to develop latent variables (scales or clusters) are discussed. Principles to assess the validity of latent variables and stated preference designs are also illustrated. The covered analysis and validity techniques are illustrated by use of existing interview guides and questionnaires and data analysis of these, and there will be practical exercises.