Hi Cecil,
Because my computer has stopped receiving emails from Goanet, I have had to go to the archives to keep up with correspondence. Hopefully, this problem will soon be rectified but I hope you will forgive me for not getting back to you more promptly for the above reason.
Cecil: My apologies for the delay in replying.
---- Cornel:
The nature of your questions suggests that you are an aspiring, or an active researcher yourself. Indeed, I recall a post from you, about three years ago, on Goanet, which stated your interest in the study of ferry people/workers across the Mandovi. I do hope you have continued such work and have a good link with the University of Goa.
Cecil:
Actually serious research work does interest me I do not have the time to pursue it right now. But someday I hope to.
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Cornel:
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With reference to the excerpts I collected on caste and included for illustrative purposes in a post to Gilbert, I'd like to emphasise the importance of triangulation. Thus one would use in a single study, with appropriate randomness, observation or participant observation, in-depth interviews, and to ensure rigour, the construction and use of a Likert type scale which uses rigorous statistical method, for positive and negative statements collected for scale construction to interpretation of results/findings. This helps to sometimes refute claims that Qualitative research lacks rigour compared to Quantitative methods.
Cecil:
It took me three readings of that last paragraph to get your drift. Obviously you are in a different league all together. My research current consists of speaking to a few people, running it through by head and getting my results. Of course I have a 'qualitative observation skill' (a phrase I just coined!) which normally is able to sift the wheat from the chaff. Unscientific but reliable.
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Two other issues you raised related to the conflict between the activist researcher and the 'pure' researcher. There is so much written about this as well as the issue of neutrality you were interested in also. These issues are debated endlessly in university classes and at conferences and in texts. There has been a long academic debate, of course, whether humans can ever be neutral, as such, but I won't go into this as I don't want to bore those who would find our dialogue an absolute bore!
I am sure we could correspond on research methods (both, Quantitive and Qualitative) if you so wish but privately and not through Goanet.
I much appreciate your offer but must decline as I do not have the academic or intellectual faculties to properly indulge in correspondence with you. Someday though when I take up serious research I will seek your assistance.
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With all good wishes for your personal academic research interests. Also, thank you for the searching questions you raised.
Regards,
Cornel
And many thanks for taking the time to explain these matters to a relative thick-head like me. All the best in your work and life.
Cheers!
Cecil
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