DAES06 - METODOLOGIE DELLA RICERCA SOCIALE

The course will cover the following topics to achieve the expected learning outcomes: an introduction to the paradigmatic foundations of research in the social sciences, with a particular focus on quantitative (standard) and qualitative (non-standard) approaches. It will also address the key elements and procedures for structuring and defining the research phases, from problem formulation to research design and the selection of techniques for collecting empirical data.
Survey methodologies will be explored in depth, from hypothesis formulation to the definition of key concepts and variables, including questionnaire construction and the assessment of measurement errors, reliability, and validity. Scaling techniques will also be examined, including the Likert scale, Guttman scalogram, semantic differential, and sociometric test, with a focus on the concepts of unidimensionality and multidimensionality.
The course will also cover data collection methods based on naturalistic and participant observation, analyzing their applications and procedures, as well as data collection techniques through interrogation, with particular attention to different types of interviews and their conduction methods.
On the data analysis front, the main methodologies for qualitative data analysis will be explored, including the phenomenological approach, symbolic interactionism, and grounded theory. Additionally, the course will address the most recent developments in social research within the digital space, with a particular focus on digital ethnography and Social Network Analysis.
Finally, the course will introduce new methodological perspectives related to the use of artificial intelligence and big data in social research, highlighting the opportunities provided by automated analysis of textual and visual data, as well as the epistemological and methodological challenges associated with integrating these technologies into empirical research processes.