Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation
A lot of qualitative researchers have a healthy wariness about straightforward categorisation and modelling endeavours undertaken by quantitative researchers. Too often, variables and measurements are too rigid in quantitative analysis to take stock of all the complexity and context-dependency of...
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Springer Nature
2021
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| Online Access: | 1000195 |
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| author | Jacobs, Dirk |
| author_browse | Jacobs, Dirk |
| author_facet | Jacobs, Dirk |
| author_sort | Jacobs, Dirk |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | A lot of qualitative researchers have a healthy wariness about straightforward categorisation
and modelling endeavours undertaken by quantitative researchers. Too
often, variables and measurements are too rigid in quantitative analysis to take stock
of all the complexity and context-dependency of human behaviour, attitudes and
identities. In the worst-case scenario for migration studies, this leads to oversimplification,
essentialisation and culturalism. In line with King et al. (1994), I would,
however, in this chapter, like to plead for qualitative researchers to take into account
that, in terms of challenges of validity and reliability, we have a lot to learn from
each other. Acknowledging that qualitative research has its distinctive advantages
(Brady and Collier 2004), I will argue that choices in categorisation, case selection
and research design are of crucial importance, perhaps even more in qualitative
studies than in quantitative studies, even if in both methodological traditions we are
confronted with similar challenges. Being transparent and reflecting on the consequences
of our choices of categorisation, analysis and interpretation is of crucial
importance. It is too easy to think that qualitative research would, by definition, be
better equipped in doing justice to the phenomena we wish to study in the field of
migration, especially if our research focusses on migrants. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-29104 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| publisherStr | Springer Nature |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-291042025-05-08T06:56:17Z Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation Jacobs, Dirk Categorisation Ethnic minorities Migration Methodology Comparison Validity Reliability Control-group Brussels Demography Dependent and independent variables European Union Labour economics Qualitative research Research design Social science Unemployment A lot of qualitative researchers have a healthy wariness about straightforward categorisation and modelling endeavours undertaken by quantitative researchers. Too often, variables and measurements are too rigid in quantitative analysis to take stock of all the complexity and context-dependency of human behaviour, attitudes and identities. In the worst-case scenario for migration studies, this leads to oversimplification, essentialisation and culturalism. In line with King et al. (1994), I would, however, in this chapter, like to plead for qualitative researchers to take into account that, in terms of challenges of validity and reliability, we have a lot to learn from each other. Acknowledging that qualitative research has its distinctive advantages (Brady and Collier 2004), I will argue that choices in categorisation, case selection and research design are of crucial importance, perhaps even more in qualitative studies than in quantitative studies, even if in both methodological traditions we are confronted with similar challenges. Being transparent and reflecting on the consequences of our choices of categorisation, analysis and interpretation is of crucial importance. It is too easy to think that qualitative research would, by definition, be better equipped in doing justice to the phenomena we wish to study in the field of migration, especially if our research focusses on migrants. 2021-02-10T12:58:18Z 2018-07-01 23:55 2020-03-18 13:36:15 2020-04-01T12:37:19Z 2018 chapter 1000195 OCN: 1051780114 http://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/29753 9783319768618 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/29104 eng open access image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/29753/1/Jacobs2018_Chapter_CategorisingWhatWeStudyAndWhat.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/29753/1/Jacobs2018_Chapter_CategorisingWhatWeStudyAndWhat.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/29753/1/Jacobs2018_Chapter_CategorisingWhatWeStudyAndWhat.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/29753/1/Jacobs2018_Chapter_CategorisingWhatWeStudyAndWhat.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/29753/1/Jacobs2018_Chapter_CategorisingWhatWeStudyAndWhat.pdf Springer Nature 10.1007/978-3-319-76861-8_8 10.1007/978-3-319-76861-8_8 9fa3421d-f917-4153-b9ab-fc337c396b5a Qualitative Research in European Migration Studies FP7 Ideas: European Research Council 7292b17b-f01a-4016-94d3-d7fb5ef9fb79 9783319768618 European Research Council (ERC) EU collection 17 Cham 283601 FP7 open access |
| spellingShingle | Categorisation Ethnic minorities Migration Methodology Comparison Validity Reliability Control-group Brussels Demography Dependent and independent variables European Union Labour economics Qualitative research Research design Social science Unemployment Jacobs, Dirk Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title | Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title_full | Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title_fullStr | Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title_short | Chapter 8 Categorising What We Study and What We Analyse, and the Exercise of Interpretation |
| title_sort | chapter 8 categorising what we study and what we analyse and the exercise of interpretation |
| topic | Categorisation Ethnic minorities Migration Methodology Comparison Validity Reliability Control-group Brussels Demography Dependent and independent variables European Union Labour economics Qualitative research Research design Social science Unemployment |
| topic_facet | Categorisation Ethnic minorities Migration Methodology Comparison Validity Reliability Control-group Brussels Demography Dependent and independent variables European Union Labour economics Qualitative research Research design Social science Unemployment |
| url | 1000195 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jacobsdirk chapter8categorisingwhatwestudyandwhatweanalyseandtheexerciseofinterpretation |