Recent research in sociology, psychology, and counseling focuses on multiculturalism and diversity. Multicultural and feminist scholars continue to criticize existing studies that do not address the issues and needs of the marginalized populations based on social status factors like sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, disability, gender, immigration status, etc. From their arguments emerges a greater force that seeks to empower the disadvantaged communities by utilizing socially just practices in research. This essay seeks to highlight ways that research methods can influence social justice initiatives.
According to Susan Morrow and Ruth Fassinger different research techniques can obtain social justice objectives. The mixed-method, qualitative, quantitative methods provide various strengths that can be utilized to advance the agenda of social justice. Their article expands and recaptures ideas that recommend suitable research methods in social justice in areas such as cultural competence, power issues, research teams, study focus, underlying paradigms, etc. (Fassinger and Morrow, 70)
The lecture notes also advance the weaknesses and strengths of research approaches that can be used in formulating a study that advances social justice requirements. Chapter 9 provides the appropriate ways to carry out field research to maintain validity, reliability, and generalization. The generalization, in this case, entails the ability to utilize the findings and conclusions in relation to a large portion of the population (Dixon, Singleton, and Straits, 283). Through this, social justice initiatives can be attained since there is no exclusion of a particular set of individuals.
Also, Chapter 13 outlines various ways that qualitative analysis can be used to conduct social studies by using ethnographic and systematic processes to generate significant meanings and outcomes (Dixon, Singleton, and Straits, 417). Owing to the overwhelming diversity in today’s community, the information from the lecture notes and article assist in considering the different perspectives amongst people. By doing so, social researchers can achieve the directives of social justice.
Works Cited
Fassinger, Ruth and Morrow, Susan. Toward Best Practices in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-Method Research: A Social Justice Perspective. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, Volume 5, Number 2, 2013. Web. <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.671.7347&rep=rep1&type=p df>
Jeffrey C. Dixon, Royce A. Singleton, and Bruce C. Straits. The Process of Social Research Chapter 9 “Field Research and In-Depth Interviews: Systematic People Watching and Listening” Pp. 242-287, n.d. Print.
Jeffrey C. Dixon, Royce A. Singleton, and Bruce C. Straits. The Process of Social Research Chapter 13 “Qualitative Data Analysis: Searching for Meaning” Pp. 395-427, n.d. Print.
