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INVESTIGATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH - INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM FIELD RESEARCH

NCJ Number
50357
Author(s)
J D DOUGLAS
Date Published
1976
Length
245 pages
Annotation
A MODEL FOR INVESTIGATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH IS PRESENTED, BASED ON A MULTIFACETED CONCEPTION OF TRUTH AND ALLOWING FOR VARIATIONS OF METHOD DEPENDING UPON THE SITUATION. INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM RESEARCH ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
THE TEXT DISCUSSES FORMS OF FIELD RESEARCH NECESSARY TO ASCERTAIN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE COMPLEX, CONFLICTING, AND PROBLEMATIC AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER REFUTES THE ABSOLUTIST THEORY OF TRUTH AND DISCUSSES OTHER THEORIES AND COMMONSENSE METHODS FOR TESTING TRUTH WHEN RESEARCHING. THE FIELD RESEARCH SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL RESEARCH IS DESCRIBED, AND GENERAL CONDITIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR USING FIELD RESEARCH AND CONTROLLED RESEARCH ARE CONSIDERED. IT IS NOTED THAT ALL FORMS AND TACTICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH MUST BE CONTINUALLY RELATED TO AND EMBEDDED IN THE SOCIAL SETTING BEING RESEARCHED; TWO MAJOR MODELS OF SOCIETY AND CORRESPONDING MODELS FOR FIELD RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED. THESE INCLUDE THE CLASSICAL, OR COOPERATIVE, MODEL AND THE CONFLICT MODEL WHICH ALLOWS FOR DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION AND EVASIONS ON THE PART OF THE RESPONDENTS. SOCIAL RESEARCHERS ENCOUNTER THREE MAIN PROBLEMS IN TRYING TO GET BEYOND APPEARANCES: TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED MEANINGS, PROBLEMATIC MEANINGS, AND SELF-DECEPTIONS. GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR CONDUCTING FIELD RESEARCH IN LIGHT OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE OUTLINED. DIRECT EXPERIENCE IS THE PRIMARY COMPONENT OF RESEARCH, BUT ESTABLISHING FRIENDLY AND TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS CAN PROVIDE THE RESEARCHER WITH INFORMATION NOT DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED. PROCEDURES FOR CHECKING INFORMATON ACQUIRED INDIRECTLY ARE PRESENTED. MAJOR TACTICS FOR INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH INVOLVE INFILTRATION OF THE SETTING, ESTABLISHMENT OF FEELINGS OF TRUST, CREATION OF SITUATIONS WHICH FACILITATE THE DIVULGENCE OF INFORMATION, AND USE OF AN ADVERSARY APPROACH FOR GATHERING INFORMATION. THE CONCLUDING SEGMENT OF THE BOOK DISCUSSES STRATEGIES AND TACTICS FOR TEAM RESEARCH. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DAG)

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