scholarly journals Fifty Years of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics: Past, Present, and Future

2018 ◽  
Vol 680 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Johnson ◽  
Katherine A. McGonagle ◽  
Vicki A. Freedman ◽  
Narayan Sastry
Keyword(s):  
Panel Study ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
War On Poverty ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Current Survey ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Structural Aspects

The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) is the world’s longest running household panel survey. Since it began in 1968, it has collected data on the same families and their descendants, making it an essential part of America’s data infrastructure for empirically based social science research. The PSID arose from the War on Poverty as a tool for evaluating poverty dynamics, and this year (2018) marks 50 years of data collection. Because of its long history and distinctive design of following adult children as they form their own households, the PSID is uniquely positioned to address emerging social and behavioral research questions and related policy issues. This overview presents the design and structural aspects and its evolution over the past 50 years, the successes of the current survey, possible future directions, and the value of using the PSID to understand the challenges facing American families.

Feminist Qualitative Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 199-242
Author(s):  
Maureen C. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Power Analysis ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Feminist Research ◽  
Double Consciousness ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Gender Oppression ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Women's Lives

Feminist research is described in terms of its purposes of addressing women’s lives, advocacy for women, analysis of gender oppression, working for social justice, and transformation of society. Feminist critiques of social science research are reviewed in relation to the development of methodological and epistemological positions. Feminist research is viewed as contributing to the transformation of science from empiricism to postmodernism. Reflexivity, collaboration, power analysis, and advocacy are discussed as common practices of feminist qualitative research. Several qualitative approaches to research are described in relation to feminist research goals, with illustrations of feminist research included. Validity and voice are identified as particular challenges in the conduct of feminist qualitative research. Intersectionality and double consciousness are reviewed as feminist contributions to the transformation of science. Some emerging and innovative forms of feminist qualitative research are highlighted in relation to potential future directions.

scholarly journals Social science research on HIV in Vietnam: A critical review and future directions

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (sup1) ◽  
pp. S7-S29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Dao ◽  
Jennifer S. Hirsch ◽  
Le Minh Giang ◽  
Richard G. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Future Directions

scholarly journals Is Banning Significance Testing the Best Way to Improve Applied Social Science Research? – Questions on

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Thees F Spreckelsen ◽  
Mariska Van Der Horst
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Significance Testing ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Applied Social Science

Significance testing is widely used in social science research. It has long been criticised on statistical grounds and problems in the research practice. This paper is an applied researchers’ response to Gorard's (2016) ‘Damaging real lives through obstinacy: re-emphasising why significance testing is wrong’ in Sociological Research Online 21(1). He participates in this debate concluding from the issues raised that the use and teaching of significance testing should cease immediately. In that, he goes beyond a mere ban of significance testing, but claims that researchers still doing this are being unethical. We argue that his attack on applied scientists is unlikely to improve social science research and we believe he does not sufficiently prove his claims. In particular we are concerned that with a narrow focus on statistical significance, Gorard misses alternative, if not more important, explanations for the often-lamented problems in social science research. Instead, we argue that it is important to take into account the full research process, not just the step of data analysis, to get a better idea of the best evidence regarding a hypothesis.

Building an Infrastructure to Support the Use of Government Administrative Data for Program Performance and Social Science Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 675 (1) ◽  
pp. 240-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Lane
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
The Public ◽  
Intellectual Engagement

This article provides an overview of the elements necessary to build a sustainable research data infrastructure. I argue that it needs the financial and intellectual engagement of a community of practice. Most attention has been paid to researchers and policy-makers, but a third group—government programmatic agencies—must be a focal point since they act as both data producers and as policy implementers. I also discuss possible business models that are both consistent with serving the needs of multiple stakeholders and that are not completely dependent on the largesse of the public purse.

Social Science Research in India

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Quality Of Research

Social science research (SSR) has a vital role in enriching societies, by generating scientific knowledge that brings insights—even enlightenment—in understanding the dynamics of human behaviour and development. For social sciences to realize their potential in shaping public policy, it is imperative that the research ecosystem is dynamic and vibrant; the institutions governing it are robust and effective; and those producing quality research are strong and well governed. This volume elaborates on various dimensions of SSR in India, presenting a strong case for designing a comprehensive national social science policy which can meaningfully strengthen and promote a research ecosystem for improved public policymaking in the country. Addressing issues like lack of funding, availability of data, infrastructure, and quality of research output, it will serve as a national benchmark and reference database for social sciences in India.

Feminist Qualitative Research

2014 ◽  
pp. 136-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen C. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Power Analysis ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Feminist Research ◽  
Double Consciousness ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Gender Oppression ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Women's Lives

Feminist research is described in terms of its purposes of knowledge about women’s lives, advocacy for women, analysis of gender oppression, and transformation of society. Feminist critiques of social science research are reviewed in relation to the development of methodological and epistemological positions. Feminist research is viewed as contributing to the transformation of science from empiricism to postmodernism. Reflexivity, collaboration, power analysis, and advocacy are discussed as common practices of feminist qualitative research. Several qualitative approaches to research are described in relation to feminist research goals, with illustrations of feminist research included. Validity and voice are identified as particular challenges in the conduct of feminist qualitative research. Intersectionality and double consciousness are reviewed as feminist contributions to transformation of science. Some emerging and innovative forms of feminist qualitative research are highlighted in relation to potential future directions.

scholarly journals Impact of the Constitution's Normative Framework on the Interpretation of Provisions of the Companies Act 71 of 2008

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Christa Rautenbach ◽  
Brighton M Mupangavanhu
Keyword(s):  
Common Law ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Company Law ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
Commercial Law ◽  
Normative Framework ◽  
The Common ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Republic

Given the intention of section 7(a) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (the Act) to promote compliance with the Bill of Rights in the interpretation and application of company law in SA, this article assesses the extent to which the Act actually does this. The article thus seeks to showcase evidence of the Act's intentional alignment with the normative framework of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution). The paper does this by answering the question: what are the implications of the Constitution's normative framework on the interpretation and application of the Act? The term "normative framework" is defined, and a distinction is drawn between the descriptive and explanatory social science research questions and the legal research questions which are evaluative and normative in nature. The article provides examples of the contexts in which the intentional alignment of the Act with the Constitution's normative framework is evident. To this extent, commentary is made on the following selected issues: remedies to facilitate the realisation and enjoyment of rights established by company law; the direct and indirect horizontal application of the Bill of Rights to provisions of the Act; and a discernible court's duty to develop the common law as necessary to improve the realisation of the rights established by the Act. A point is made in the article that judicial decisions involving the application of company law must be justified by reference to a cohesive set of values from the Bill of Rights. This is part of transformative constitutionalism. It demands that even commercial law principles should no longer be blindly accepted simply because precedent says so, or for the reason that it is expedient for the purposes of commercial certainty. The article argues that the Act permits the direct horizontal application of the Bill of Rights on its provisions in two stated ways. It is also argued that the Act permits the indirect application of the Bill of Rights through the development of the common law where it is deficient in promoting the spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights. The development of the common law, it is argued, is vital for producing an incremental and cohesive body of constitutionalised common law in the company law context.

scholarly journals Analysis and Visualization Considerations for Quantitative Social Science Research Using Social Media Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bradford Jensen ◽  
Lisa Singh ◽  
Pamela Davis-Kean ◽  
Katharine Abraham ◽  
Paul Beatty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Visual Analytics ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Social Media Data ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Media Data ◽  
Different Levels

This is the fifth in a series of white papers providing a summary of the discussions and future directions that are derived from these topical meetings. This paper focuses on issues related to analysis and visual analytics. While these two topics are distinct, there are clear overlaps between the two. It is common to use different visualizations during analysis and given the sheer volume of social media data, visual analytic tools can be important during analysis, as well as during other parts of the research lifecycle. Choices about analysis may be informed by visualization plans and vice versa - both are key in communicating about a data set and what it means. We also recognized that each field of research has different analysis techniques and different levels of familiarity with visual analytics. Putting these two topics into the same meeting provided us with the opportunity to think about analysis and visual analytics/visualization in new, synergistic ways.

scholarly journals What Is Our Research For? Responsibility, Humility and the Production of Knowledge about Burundi

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devon E. A. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Structural Inequality ◽  
Production Of Knowledge ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Opening And Closing

Political space in Burundi underwent a remarkable opening during the Burundian peace process and its immediate aftermath, which led to a rise in social science scholarship in Burundi. This space has increasingly narrowed, particularly since the crisis in 2015, presenting important challenges for social science scholars of Burundi. This changing political environment has consequences for the production of knowledge on Burundi. It is therefore timely to ask what purposes does research on Burundi serve. This article reflects upon different motivations and goals for social science research in Burundi and how these affect the types of research questions that are asked and the formats for knowledge dissemination. It argues that both the opening and closing of the Burundian political landscape bring into sharp relief the need for greater scholarly reflexivity. The article argues that in contexts of structural inequality and increased political control such as Burundi, we need to be particularly attentive to the need for scholarly responsibility and humility, as well as an awareness of the dynamics that have led to calls for the decolonisation of knowledge within the social sciences.

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Fuzzy-Sets: Agenda for a Research Approach and a Data Analysis Technique

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Q. Schneider ◽  
Claudius Wagemann
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Journal Issue ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Methodological Tool ◽  
Research Questions

Abstract“Qualitative Comparative Analysis” (QCA) is an increasingly applied methodological tool in comparative social sciences. It is well suited for the analysis of causally complex claims framed in terms of necessity and sufficiency. This article presents the epistemology of QCA and discusses its applicability to social science research questions. It also illustrates some of the features that have recently been added to this set of methodological tools. This article is best read in close conjunction with Schneider and Wagemann’s “Standards of Good QCA Practice,” the next paper in this journal issue.

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