Complex Gaze at a Complex World: Challenges of comparison in social research
Complex Gaze at a Complex World:
Challenges of comparison in social research
International conference in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Centre for Independent Social Research (CISR), St. Petersburg
May 25-27, 2012, St. Petersburg, Russia
The notion of the ever-increasing interconnection and interdependency of processes and phenomena in a globalizing world largely determines the methodology of contemporary social research. Social research teams engage with international discourse, which requires a broadening of a narrowly focused research gaze, juxtaposition and comparison of multiple cases and contexts.
The goal of the conference “Complex Gaze at a Complex World” is to contribute to the discussion, designed to articulate the benefits, possibilities, problems, and effects of the social studies of complex designs.We invite social researchers with experience in conducting empirical comparative, multidisciplinary, and multi-sited projects either individually or as part of a team. By exploring and contrasting specific case studies, we intend to discuss the benefits and limits of complexly designed studies. We plan to devote special attention to issues and strategies involved in comparing research outcomes across sites, the reflections of participants in collective research projects on the organization and execution of fieldwork, data analysis and interpretation, and collaborative work on co-authoring reports, articles, and books.
During the course of the conference we hope to engage the following questions:
- What should be compared in social research, and how should it be compared? Is there a problem of “incomparable” data?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of comparative research projects (as opposed to empirical research designs, which do not include a comparative dimension)?
- What are the different approaches to managing co-thinking, co-working, and co-writing?
- Is there a link between an increased complexity of research design and the depth and quality of sociological conclusions?
- How does the institutional context (international funding programs, competitive grant and fellowships), and the market conditions, and pressures influence the choice of research designs?
For all questions please contact :Anastasia Meylakhs and Elena Bogdanova
email: russianfield.info@gmail.com
email: russianfield.info@gmail.com