Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

STRATEGIES OF RESEARCH DESIGN

CHART 2 Examples of Qualitative Studies

Study citation
and title

Methodological
technique used

Topic

Research question

Grounded theory

Bricolage

Process

Context

Lu and Fine (1995), “The

Presentation of Ethnic Authenticity:

Chinese Food as a Social

Accomplishment”

Field research

The ways ethnic cultures are

displayed within the boundaries

of being acceptable in the United

States and how they deploy cultural

resources

How do Chinese restaurants present

food to balance authenticity and to

satisfy non-Chinese U.S. customers?

Ethnic restaurants Americanize their

food to fit local tastes but also

construct an impression of

authenticity. This is a negotiated

process of meeting the customer’s

expectations/taste conventions and

the desire for an exotic and

authentic eating experience.

The authors observed and

interviewed at four Chinese

restaurants but relied on evidence

from past studies.

Restaurants make modifications to

fit available ingredients, their market

niche, and the cultural and food

tastes of local customers.

Chinese restaurants, especially four

in Athens, Georgia

Molotch, Freudenburg, and Paulsen (2000),

“History Repeats Itself, but How? City

Character, Urban Tradition, and the

Accomplishment of Place”

Historical-comparative research

The ways cities develop a distinct urban

“character”

Why did the California cities of Santa Barbara

and Ventura, which appear very similar on the

surface, develop very different characters?

The authors use two concepts, “lash up”

(interaction of many factors) and structure

(past events create constraints on subsequent

ones), to elaborate on character and tradition.

Economic, political, cultural, and social factors

combine to create distinct cultural-economic

places. Similar forces can have opposite results

depending on context.

The authors used historical records, maps,

photos, official statistical information, and

interviews. In addition to economic and social

conditions, they examined voluntary

associations and physical materials.

Conditions in the two cities contributed to two

different economic development responses to

oil and highways. Ventura formed an industrial-

employment base around oil and allowed new

highways. Santa Barbara limited both and

instead focused on creating a tourism industry.

The middle part of California’s coast over the

past 100 years

KEY TERMS

alternative hypothesis
attributes
bricolage
causal hypothesis
crucial experiment

dependent variable

double-barreled hypothesis

ecological fallacy

first-order interpretation

independent variable

intervening variable

linear research path

logic in practice

logic of disconfirming

hypothesis