Researching Social Science: Methodological Insights and Possibilities from Basic Critical Realism

Abstract

This paper begins by arguing that the tight relation between the selection of a theoretical framework, its related methodology and the type of knowledge produced in social science research is not an arbitrary matter. If the goal of research is to improve practice, then the way in which a social theory conceptualises causality is critical. For this reason, the second section of the paper introduces readers to Roy Bhaskar’s philosophy of Critical Realism, which, it is claimed, provides an understanding of ontology and causality adequate to begin to address the complex nature of social problems. The third section highlights Critical Realism’s distinctive contribution to researching the social sciences. The fourth section makes the link between the implications of Critical Realist theory for methodology, emphasising its capacity to generate research that can reveal the causal mechanisms at work in specific contexts and conditions. The fifth section describes and critiques a small-scale mixed methods research project in order to offer a concrete demonstration of how the Critical Realist approach might generate a deeper analysis of causality. A sixth section discusses a relevant critique and limitation of Critical Realism.