Speaker： Masahiko IGASHIRA [Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University]

Date：May 17, 2022／15:00‐16:40 (JST)

Location：Zoom

Target : Open to ISS members only

Abstract：Since the publication of KKV in 1994, a series of questions have been raised in the context of the debate on social science methodology: "Can general assertions and causal claims be drawn based on qualitative research?" "Are such assertions persuasive?" and "What are the mechanisms that underpin the persuasiveness of such assertions?" Given the flurry of responses to these questions from supporters of qualitative research and the sheer variety of research approaches that are categorized as "qualitative," it is difficult at this point to judge how far this debate has proceeded and where it has landed. The objectives of this workshop are to extract representative reactions from among the responses, distinguish between reactions that are appropriate and those that are not, and identify points of discussion related to qualitative research that have yet to be addressed in the debate on social science methodology.

The responses taken up at the workshop from qualitative research proponents primarily came from the field of political science and represent only a portion of the possible responses to criticism of qualitative research. To begin with, the category of "qualitative research" in a sense, functions as a catchall for all "research that does not employ statistical methods." Thus, research practices that are designated to be "qualitative" are not necessarily classified as such because they share common methodologies or theories. Accordingly, it should be assumed that the circumstances of different disciplines will vary and that it is normal for arguments that are considered persuasive in one discipline not to carry the same weight in other disciplines. Among the responses to criticisms of quantitative research discussed in this workshop, there are likely to be some that qualitative researchers will feel, "That doesn't apply to me." Readers are strongly encouraged to let me know if they have different views from those that were presented as it is my goal to investigate the diversity of responses while taking into account the circumstances of different research disciplines and traditions. This workshop is positioned as a bare bones review of the previous research that should be considered when carrying out this work.