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Exam Research Preparation
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By: jvschoute • 11 months ago
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Research Preparation ExamQuestion 1
Q1: ENG: Rabinow and Small both analyse social networks, but they do so from distinct
epistemologies. What is, according to you, the most important epistemological
distinction between Rabinow and Small? Explain and illustrate your answer with an
example from each book. Answer in approximately 300-400 words and upload your
answer in Brightspace.
Rabinow and Small both analyze social networks, but I believe the difference between their
epistemologies lies in their reflexivity. In his book, Small mostly asks why questions and sets
out to understand why people may or may not confide in people they have weak, strong or
no ties with. In this, he makes a comparison. However, while he uses a lot of sources to get
to his answer, such as interviews, surveys and literary research, he rarely reflects on his
experiences and how this may affect the research or how this could give him more insight
into the research. This shows throughout the whole book, but can specifically be shown in
chapter 1. In this chapter, Small explains the theories he uses, which people are part of the
research and why, some history of previous researches and his theoretical framework. This,
then, shows a lot of literary research and explanation, which he uses to gain knowledge, but
the reflection he includes on why he researches this, is not part of his epistemology.
Rabinow, however, is very reflective in his book. He asks a lot of descriptive question about
how something came to happen, all the while reflecting on how this helps him understand
something in the situation he was in or an earlier situation where he did not understand
what the problem or misconception was. Rabinow continues this throughout the whole
book, but, contrary to Small, includes no literary research. An example of Rabinow’s
reflexivity is when he talks about how he was taught that the research participant or the
informant was always right and that you should only listen and not show your annoyance or
anything else that is not the same as the opinion of your informant. Regarding this, Rabinow
encountered some problems or misconceptions with Ali about how Rabinow always agreed
to Ali’s questions if he would do something for him. Ali thought this was a sign of a weak
character and that he, Ali, had the dominant position in the relationship. Rabinow reflects on
how this happened and how, after he lost his temper and made Ali walk the last six miles to
Sefrou at night, this relationship changed and affected the research. So, I think reflexivity is
the most important difference between Small and Rabinow’s epistemologies.
Question 2
Q2: ENG: What is, according to you, the most important advantage of using qualitative
and quantitative research methods? Motivate your answer and use an example from
the course material (literature, lectures). Answer in approximately 300-400 words and
upload your answer in Brightspace.
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