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List of Methods
The following list contains the descriptors for methods and data collection
procedures used in SOFIS and SOLIS as of 1994. Each document always contains at
least one mandatory descriptor from "Facet 1: Primary designation of the
research project".
All those methodical descriptors in Facet 1 designated in the following list
with * are valid for the entire time period covered by the databases SOFIS and
SOLIS.
[NT: Narrower Term; SN: Scope Note]
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Facet 1: Primary designation of the research project
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*applied
research |
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SN scientific consultation, evaluation
or development of measures, programs or projects, e.g.
consultation for politicians, demand analysis, etc.
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NT evaluation
NT planning
procedure
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SN e.g.
input-output-analysis, cost-benefit-analysis, operations research,
optimization,
analysis of plans
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descriptive
study
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| SN systematic compilation of facts
with scientific background |
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*documentation
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SN e.g. bibliography,
biographies, statistics, progress report, textbook
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*empirical
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SN data collected or provided by
primary survey, secondary analysis or on the basis of already
existing material, e.g. texts, documents, statistics
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NT
qualitative empirical
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SN collective term referring to methods used for
analyzing empirical data under the interpretative paradigm, e.g.
objective hermeneutics, sociological narrativism, communicative
social research, qualitative biographical or life-history method
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NT
quantitative empirical
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*basic
research
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NT
development of methods
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SN also development of measuring instruments
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NT theory
formation
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SN also theory comparison and model construction
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NT
epistemological
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historical
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SN when the main research object dates
back more than 15 years ago
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normative
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SN evaluative in the sense of social
ethics, practical philosophy or ontology
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practical
information
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SN description of facts relevant for
social sciences but without scientific claim
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theory
application
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SN explicit application of a specific
theory to analyze concrete circumstances
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not specified
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SN only with SOFIS
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Facet 2: Methodological Design and data collection procedures
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aggregate
data analysis
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SN analysis of data on a higher aggregate level
than the primary data, also multilevel analysis
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document analysis
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SN including analysis of computer-processed data
and of databases
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survey
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SN by questionnaire or interview
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observation
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biographical method
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SN not in the sense of writing a biography
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experiment
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SN laboratory or quasi experiment
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exploration
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SN research in preparartion of data collection
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case study
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field research
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SN research on phenomena in their natural context
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group
discussion
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content analysis
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SN systematic analysis of
texts, conversations, pictures; not pure interpretation
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longitudinal
analysis
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SN e.g. cohort analysis,
panel, time series
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meta-analysis
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SN in the sense of integrating the resulting data
of several studies
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network analysis
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unobtrusive measures
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SN nonreactive methods, e.g. trace
analysis,
measuring of erosion, flow of traffic, archaeological methods
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prognostic
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SN prognosis of future developments on the basis
of scientific analyses
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process analysis
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SN e.g. research on
diffusion, process data analysis, epidemiology
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psychological test
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cross-sectional
analysis
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SN e.g. cross-cultural or cross-regional
study,
systems comparison
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secondary
analysis
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SN reanalysis of data from previous research for
purposes unrelated to those for which it was originally
collected, predominantly with a new research interest
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simulation
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SN particularly computer simulation
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time budget analysis
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other methods
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© 2000 Social Science Information Centre, Bonn
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For enquiries and information, please contact: Hannelore Schott 2007-06-11
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