Example Of A Community Analysis Paper

Although often containing key elements surrounding locus and relationships, the definition of community is a subjective, fluid, and debatable concept. Notable sociological theorists such as Marx and Engels (1840’s), Tönnies (1887), Durkheim (1893), Hillery (1955), and Parsons (1960), among others, have created unique and widely used definitions of community (Bruhn, 2011, pp. 29-31). Not surprisingly then, the ways in which community has been researched sociologically are characterised by varied methodologies and techniques. The three main methodologies used today are positivist, constructivist, and postmodernist; and the three most common research methods are quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methodology (a mix of the two). Positivist objective scientific methodology has been dominant from the age of enlightenment to current day in scientific research; while in the post-modern era constructivist, (meaning is subjectively constructed from an objective reality), and post-modernist (viewing truth as completely subjective) methodologies have

Quantitative methods employ inductive reasoning, which uses particular examples to reach a general conclusion about something. In contrast, qualitative methods employ deductive reasoning, which uses logic or reason to form a conclusion or opinion (Alston & Bowles, 2012, p. 15). Typically quantitative methods are used to prove a specific theory, (e.g. test a hypothesis); whereas qualitative methods are used to distill a broad phenomenon into more specific observations and questions (Alston & Bowles, 2012, pp. 11-13).
Using my definition of community I believe that all three research methodologies may be effective and that the decision of which type to use must be based on the researcher, the research, motivation, and context, (Kayrooz & Trevitt, 2005, p.11) of the particular community being