Thesis (PhD (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this metamethodological study was to construct a typology of designs for
social research in the built environment, i.e., architecture, urban design and planning.
Currently there is no such typology, while the notion of “research design” is relatively
unknown in methodological literature in the built environment field. An outline of the
dimensions of social research provided a theoretical lens for methodological analysis,
and identified six methodological considerations as classification criteria, including (1)
research context, (2) research aim, (3) research purpose, (4) methodological paradigm,
(5) methodological approach, and (6) source of data. Exploratory interviews and a survey
and methodological content analysis of built environment theses provided a better
understanding of methodological issues in conducting social research in the built
environment and the potential relevance of a typology of designs. A review of
methodological literature identified 25 research design subtypes that can be clustered
into 10 prototypical designs for inclusion in the typology, namely: (1) surveys, (2)
experiments, (3) modelling, simulation, mapping and visualization, (4) textual and
narrative studies, (5) field studies, (6) case studies, (7) intervention research, (8)
evaluation research, (9) participatory action research, and (10) metaresearch. A survey
and methodological content analysis of journal articles determined the extent to which
these designs feature in social research in the built environment. Although all the designs
and subtypes feature, metaresearch, case studies, evaluation research and surveys
predominate. An initial typology classified the 10 prototypical designs in terms of the six
methodological considerations. The typology was tested to see how well it classified the
designs of actual studies and revised accordingly. Possible benefits of the typology
include greater clarification, improved teaching and decision-making, and methodological
reflection. Thus, the typology may support lecturers, students, supervisors, researchers,
peer-reviewers and practitioners to have a more articulate, reflexive, and critical
orientation with regard to research design to maximize the validity of findings and
advance theory, methodology and practice in built environment disciplines. The study
concludes that the typology may also mitigate post-modern criticisms against social
research in the built environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie metametodologiese studie was om `n tipologie van ontwerpe vir
sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing (d.w.s. argitektuur, stadsontwerp en beplanning)
te konstrueer. Tans is daar geen so tipologie nie, terwyl die nosie van
“navorsingsontwerp” relatief onbekend is in metodologiese literatuur in die bou-omgewing
veld. `n Uiteensetting van die dimensies van sosiale navorsing het `n teoretiese lens vir
metodologiese analises verskaf en ses metodologiese konsiderasies as klassifikasie
kriteria geïdentifiseer, insluitend (1) navorsingskonteks, (2) navorsingsoogmerk, (3)
navorsingsdoelwit, (4) metodologiese paradigma, (5) metodologiese benadering, en (6)
data bron. Verkennende onderhoude en `n opname en metodologiese inhoudsanalise
van bou-omgewing tesisse het `n beter begrip van metodologiese kwessies in sosiale
navorsing in die bou-omgewing en die moontlike relevansie van `n tipologie van ontwerpe
verskaf. `n Oorsig van metodologiese literatuur het 25 navorsingsontwerp subtipes
geïdentifiseer wat in 10 prototipe ontwerpe gegroepeer kan word vir insluiting in die
tipologie, naamlik (1) opnames, (2) eksperimente, (3) modellering, simulasie, kartering en
visualisering, (4) tekstuele en narratiewe studies, (5) veldstudies, (6) gevallestudies, (7)
intervensie navorsing, (8) evaluasie navorsing, (9) deelnemende aksie navorsing, en (10)
metanavorsing. `n Opname en metodologiese inhoudsanalise van joernaal artikels het
die mate waartoe hierdie ontwerpe in sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing voorkom
bepaal. Alhoewel al die ontwerpe en subtipes voorkom, is metanavorsing, gevallestudies,
evaluasie navorsing en opnames predominant. `n Aanvanklike tipologie het die 10
prototipe ontwerpe in terme van die ses metodologiese konsiderasies geklassifiseer. Die
tipologie is getoets om te sien hoe goed dit die ontwerpe van werklike studies klassifiseer
en dienooreenkomstig gewysig. Moontlike voordele van die tipologie sluit in verbeterde
klarifikasie, onderrig, besluitneming en metodologiese refleksie. Die tipologie kan dus
dosente, studente, studieleiers, navorsers, beoordelaars en praktisyns ondersteun om `n
meer geartikuleerde, refleksiewe en kritiese oriëntasie ten opsigte van navorsingsontwerp
te hê om die geldigheid van bevindinge te maksimeer en teorie, metodologie en praktyk
in bou-omgewing dissiplines te bevorder. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die
tipologie ook postmoderne kritiek teen sosiale navorsing in die bou-omgewing kan
mitigeer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5142 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Du Toit, Jacques Louis |
| Contributors | Mouton J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 255 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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