Page 147 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 147
7.2 Research Design and Methods
can be combined in order to reach new insights. A number of method-
ological approaches are available to the scholars of social sciences, where,
according to the purpose and objectives of each research, various web
sources can be used as well.
7.2 Research Design and Methods
Research design is a plan or a programme of actions (blueprint) that il-
lustrates correlations within a research: the researcher, research philoso-
phies, research strategies, techniques and methods from the data collec-
tion phase to empirical analysis. This study implements an adjusted re-
search design that employed a range of compatible and complementary
research approaches through a progressive and sequential way; Figure 7.1
schematically illustrates the methods/techniques and their interconnec-
tion. Let us first emphasise those in the qualitative part: case study with
covert participant observation.
A case study is ordinarily described as a qualitative inquiry focused
more on processes, context, and discovery rather than on outcomes, spe-
cific variables, and confirmation, in order to gain an in-depth under-
standing of a definite situation/circumstances (Bryman, 2012, pp. 66–72;
Harrison et al., 2017; Merriam, 2009);³ it is an integrative multi-method
research strategy (Harrison et al., 2017; Merriam, 2009).With its use-
fulness in the study of different complex social issues, i.e. phenomena,
events, situations, organisations, programmes of individuals or groups
(Harrison et al., 2017; Kohlbacher, 2006; Merriam, 2009; Yin, 2013), it of-
fers a necessary (methodological) framework/strategy for this research.
Accordingly, based on predetermined criteria, a set of sample cases of Is-
trian history-centric dark commemorative events is selected (typical case
sampling; purposeful sampling),⁴ which means that a multiple-case study
approach is in fact implemented. The following substantive criteria were
previously developed on the basis of the literature review in the previous
chapters:
• dark commemorative events differ depending on the type of event;
³ A case study has no fixed ontological, epistemological or methodological positions (Har-
rison et al., 2017).
⁴ Not extreme or unusual, but a broader category of cases to examine key social processes
and provide a suitable context for certain research questions to be answered (Bryman,
2012, p. 70). Commemorations of 1 November are not included since they are part of a
public holiday when we generally remember all the dead.
147
can be combined in order to reach new insights. A number of method-
ological approaches are available to the scholars of social sciences, where,
according to the purpose and objectives of each research, various web
sources can be used as well.
7.2 Research Design and Methods
Research design is a plan or a programme of actions (blueprint) that il-
lustrates correlations within a research: the researcher, research philoso-
phies, research strategies, techniques and methods from the data collec-
tion phase to empirical analysis. This study implements an adjusted re-
search design that employed a range of compatible and complementary
research approaches through a progressive and sequential way; Figure 7.1
schematically illustrates the methods/techniques and their interconnec-
tion. Let us first emphasise those in the qualitative part: case study with
covert participant observation.
A case study is ordinarily described as a qualitative inquiry focused
more on processes, context, and discovery rather than on outcomes, spe-
cific variables, and confirmation, in order to gain an in-depth under-
standing of a definite situation/circumstances (Bryman, 2012, pp. 66–72;
Harrison et al., 2017; Merriam, 2009);³ it is an integrative multi-method
research strategy (Harrison et al., 2017; Merriam, 2009).With its use-
fulness in the study of different complex social issues, i.e. phenomena,
events, situations, organisations, programmes of individuals or groups
(Harrison et al., 2017; Kohlbacher, 2006; Merriam, 2009; Yin, 2013), it of-
fers a necessary (methodological) framework/strategy for this research.
Accordingly, based on predetermined criteria, a set of sample cases of Is-
trian history-centric dark commemorative events is selected (typical case
sampling; purposeful sampling),⁴ which means that a multiple-case study
approach is in fact implemented. The following substantive criteria were
previously developed on the basis of the literature review in the previous
chapters:
• dark commemorative events differ depending on the type of event;
³ A case study has no fixed ontological, epistemological or methodological positions (Har-
rison et al., 2017).
⁴ Not extreme or unusual, but a broader category of cases to examine key social processes
and provide a suitable context for certain research questions to be answered (Bryman,
2012, p. 70). Commemorations of 1 November are not included since they are part of a
public holiday when we generally remember all the dead.
147
