Chapter 2 Conceptualizing Quantitative Methodologies

Chapter 2 Conceptualizing Quantitative Methodologies

Introduction

  • Definition of Methodology

    • Inquiry into what constitutes a methodology and its identification.

    • Importance of distinguishing Indigenous methodologies from non-Indigenous ones.

  • Challenges in Teaching Methodology

    • Difficulty in clearly explaining methodology versus method.

    • Method is defined as a technique for gathering and analyzing information (e.g., surveys, content analysis).

    • Methodology is more complex and is not well defined in many texts.

Challenges in Defining Methodology

  • References to Literature

    • Standard research books often fail to define methodology, or provide limited definitions:

    • Bryman (2004), Denzin and Lincoln (2008), Matthews and Ross (2010), Neumann (2004) provide little clarity.

    • Burnham et al. (2004: 4) define methodology as “a study of the principles and theories which guide the choice of method.”

    • Babbie (2007: 4) states, “Epistemology is the science of knowing: methodology (a subfield of epistemology) might be called the science of finding out.”

    • Maxim (1999) frames methodology as an approach or philosophy of studying social phenomena.

  • The Authors’ Definition

    • Expanded definition: methodology as a theoretical lens or worldview through which research is understood, designed, and conducted.

The Complexity of Indigeneity in Methodologies

  • Student Inquiry

    • Students often question what exactly is entailed in the concept of the methodological lens.

    • Lack of clear responses leads to repeated explanations without satisfactory understanding.

  • The Nature of Worldviews in Methodology

    • Feminist methodologies introduce reflexivity—acknowledging researcher’s power and presence in research.

    • Hermeneutics recognize truth and reality as socially constructed and evolving through interpretive frameworks (Ezzy 2002).

    • Participatory Action Research emphasizes community control over research processes.

    • Critical Discourse Analysis underscores the necessity of considering power and dismisses the possibility of objectivity in research.

Positivism and its Impact

  • Resistance to Positivism

    • Although many quantitative researchers resist the positivist label, its absence leaves a void that defaults back to normative approaches.

    • The ubiquity of quantitative methodology often goes unquestioned.

  • Cultural and Racial Contexts in Methodology

    • Quantitative methods often ignore their cultural origins, primarily shaped by the white, Euro-colonizer backgrounds of its practitioners.

    • Indigenous methodologies require recognition of these limitations to provide clearer conceptualization.

Defining an Indigenous Quantitative Methodology

  • Intersection of Practice and Identity

    • Authors seek to define Indigenous quantitative methodologies alongside their own research practices.

    • Need for clarity on how methodologies differ between Indigenous and standard quantitative approaches.

  • Asking for Articulation

    • The authors prompt others to articulate their methodology, highlighting the lack of specific responses.

Methodology as a Complex Terrain

  • The Non-neutral Nature of Research

    • Emphasis on the scientific and objective aspects of research while acknowledging its inherent subjectivity.

  • Research Standpoint

    • Standpoint emerges as a fundamental component that influences all aspects of methodology.

  • Recognition of Self in Research

    • Indigenous researchers must acknowledge their identities and experiences in the context of their research, influencing research questions and interpretations.

Three Components of Methodology

Standpoint

  • Overview of Standpoint as a Determinant

    • Most crucial variable in shaping methodology.

    • Influences theoretical frameworks and methods.

Theoretical Frame

  • Conceptualization and Influence

    • Theoretical frameworks shape interpretations and are not neutral.

    • Standing on the limitations of existing theoretical frameworks (often Euro-centric).

Methods

  • Distinction Between Methods and Methodology

    • Methods are the statistical techniques themselves (e.g., regression, factor analysis).

    • The choice and use of methods are influenced by the researcher’s standpoint, context, and purpose of inquiry.

Overall Implications of Research Standpoint

  • Understanding and Acknowledging Social Position

    • Social position, informed by race, gender, class, and culture, affects research practices.

    • Gender emphasizes how societal roles shape research questions and practices.

  • The Role of Epistemology, Axiology, and Ontology in Methodology

Epistemology

  • Knowledge Production

    • Theories concerning knowledge shape research methodologies, questioning who is considered a 'knower' and whose knowledge is prioritized.

Axiology

  • Values in Research Practice

    • Recognition that research cannot exist in a value-free zone; values become integral to research questions and methods.

Ontology

  • Nature of Existence in Research Context

    • How we operationalize social reality influences research choice and topics tackled.

Conclusion

  • Critique of Objectivity in Research

    • The authors argue that objectivity is tied to the researcher’s positionality and the values they bring.

  • Encouraging Broadening of Understanding of Methodology

    • The call is made to think beyond mere differences between Indigenous and Western methodologies, but to find value in shared foundational aspects and how they apply to different contexts.