Paradigm Shift in Social Science Research: A Significance Testing and Effect Size Estimation Rapprochement?Paradigm Shift in Social Science Research: A Significance Testing and Effect Size Estimation Rapprochement?

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 4949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D. Parsons ◽  
Nathaniel W. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Significance Testing ◽  
Size Estimation ◽  
Effect Size Estimation

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.

scholarly journals Participatory Research and Empowerment: A Conceptual Revisit of the Debate on Alternative Social Science Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 115-129
Author(s):  
Youba Raj Luitel
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Alternative Research

After the 1970s, there has been a growing emphasis on participatory research aimed at capturing people’s lived realities of everyday lives. The proponents of participatory research (also called alternative research) build on a critique of what is called “extractive,” top-down, and so-called objective empirical research of positivist kind. In contrast, alternative research method embeds research with empowerment and regards survey based conventional research as instrumental. This paper first introduces basic premises of alternative research method together with its philosophical underpinning. Drawing arguments from Robert Chambers the following section compares and contrasts the conventional and alternative research methods. Further, a paradigm shift in social science research in terms of reversals of frame, reversals of modes, reversal of relation and reversal of power is dealt. The final section draws a conclusion that compared to survey based, “objective,” conventional research method, participatory researches are superior in facilitating knowledge generation process, eventually empowering the people.Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.11, 2017; 115-129

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