A study note on dualism in social science research: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "What is dualism all about in social science research?"
The reply: "Dualism in social science research refers to the conceptual division of social phenomena into two contrasting, often opposing categories or elements. It is a fundamental analytical approach used to simplify and categorize complex social realities by setting up binary oppositions. These dualisms serve as heuristic devices that help researchers understand and analyze social structures, behaviors, and relationships.
Key Aspects of Dualism in Social Science
Philosophical Roots: Dualism originated in philosophy, notably in René Descartes' mind-body dualism, which posited that the mind and body are distinct substances—one immaterial and the other physical1. This philosophical foundation influenced social science to adopt dualistic frameworks to separate and contrast different aspects of social life.
Common Dualisms in Sociology:
Structure vs. Agency: This is one of the most prominent dualisms, where "structure" refers to the patterned social arrangements that constrain or influence individual actions, while "agency" denotes the capacity of individuals to act independently and make choices2. Sociologists like Émile Durkheim emphasized structure, whereas symbolic interactionists emphasized agency.
Individual vs. Society: This dualism examines the tension between personal autonomy and the influence of broader social forces. It explores how individuals navigate societal constraints and how society shapes individual behavior2.
Modernity vs. Tradition: This contrasts traditional, community-based social relations with modern, industrial, and rationalized social structures, helping to analyze social change and modernization processes2.
Applications and Implications: Dualisms help organize sociological theory and research by providing clear conceptual distinctions. For example, dividing analysis into micro (individual) and macro (societal) levels is a dualistic approach that structures research focus and methodology3.
Criticism and Alternatives: Despite its usefulness, dualism has been criticized for oversimplifying social complexity and limiting the understanding of dynamic interrelations within social phenomena. Critics argue that strict oppositions can obscure the fluidity and interconnectedness of social elements. In response, some theorists advocate for the concept of duality, which emphasizes richer, more interactive relationships between paired elements rather than rigid separation345.
Theoretical Development: Anthony Giddens' structuration theory is an example of an approach that seeks to transcend traditional dualisms by integrating structure and agency, showing how social structures are both the medium and outcome of individual actions3.
Summary
In social science research, dualism is about dividing social reality into two distinct, often opposing parts to facilitate analysis—such as structure vs. agency or individual vs. society. While this approach simplifies complex social phenomena and aids theoretical clarity, it has limitations in capturing the dynamic and intertwined nature of social life. Contemporary social theory increasingly seeks to move beyond rigid dualisms toward more integrated frameworks like duality, which recognize the interplay and co-constitution of social elements234.
Thus, dualism in social science is both a foundational conceptual tool and a subject of ongoing debate and refinement within the discipline."
My question 2: "How would dualism affect the research methods employed to study the following MBA dissertation topic: "to assess how the 2025 geopolitics situation affect the tactical supply chain management practices of European manufacturing companies with factories in PRC"?"
The reply: "Dualism in social science research often manifests as a methodological dualism, where two distinct research paradigms—quantitative (scientific/analytic) and qualitative (hermeneutic/interpretive)—are seen as separate and sometimes conflicting approaches to studying social phenomena12. When applied to your MBA dissertation topic, "to assess how the 2025 geopolitics situation affect the tactical supply chain management practices of European manufacturing companies with factories in PRC," this dualism would influence the choice and combination of research methods in several ways:
How Dualism Affects Research Methods for Your Topic
1. Choice Between Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
A quantitative approach might involve collecting and analyzing numerical data such as supply chain performance metrics, geopolitical risk indices, or operational data from European manufacturers to statistically assess the impact of geopolitical changes on supply chain practices34.
A qualitative approach would focus on interpreting meanings, experiences, and managerial perceptions through interviews, case studies, or focus groups with supply chain managers and stakeholders in European firms operating in China, to understand how geopolitical tensions influence tactical decisions and adaptations53.
2. Methodological Dualism as a Challenge and Opportunity
Traditional dualism might push the researcher to select either a purely quantitative or purely qualitative method, potentially limiting the depth or breadth of insights12.
However, recognizing this dualism allows the researcher to deliberately integrate both methods (mixed-methods), combining the strengths of quantitative data (e.g., measuring changes in supply chain concentration or resilience) with qualitative insights (e.g., managerial strategies or contextual factors) to provide a more comprehensive understanding of geopolitical impacts on supply chains42.
3. Impact on Research Design
The dualism shapes whether the study is more positivist (seeking objective facts and causal relationships) or interpretivist (seeking to understand subjective meanings and contexts). For example, a positivist design might test hypotheses about the correlation between geopolitical risk and supply chain changes using regression models3, while an interpretivist design might explore how managers perceive and respond to geopolitical uncertainty through thematic analysis of interviews5.
The dualism also affects the researcher's role: a detached observer in quantitative studies versus a participant-observer or insider in qualitative or action research approaches5.
4. Practical Implications for Your Dissertation
Given the complexity of geopolitical influences and supply chain management, a mixed-methods approach that bridges the dualism is advisable. This could involve:
Such integration addresses the dualism by combining "scientific" measurement with "interpretive" understanding, enhancing validity and relevance12.
5. Reflexivity and Ethical Considerations
Dualism also brings awareness to the value-laden nature of social research, reminding you to reflect on how your positionality and the geopolitical sensitivities might influence data collection and interpretation15.
Summary
Dualism in social science research, especially the divide between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, significantly affects how you might study the impact of 2025 geopolitics on tactical supply chain management in European firms with factories in China. It influences whether you adopt a numerical, statistical approach, an interpretive, meaning-focused approach, or a combination of both. Recognizing this dualism encourages a mixed-methods design that leverages quantitative data to identify trends and qualitative insights to understand managerial responses, thus providing a richer and more actionable analysis of geopolitical effects on supply chains15342.
This approach aligns well with the complex, dynamic nature of geopolitical risks and supply chain management, which require both measurable evidence and contextual understanding to inform effective tactical decisions."
My question 3: "How would dualism affect the research methods employed to study the following Housing Studies dissertation topic: "to assess how the 2025 geopolitics situation affect the home ownership planning and intention to get married of Gen Z in Hong Kong"?"
The reply: "Dualism in social science research, especially the methodological dualism between quantitative and qualitative approaches, would significantly shape the research methods employed to study your Housing Studies dissertation topic: "to assess how the 2025 geopolitics situation affect the home ownership planning and intention to get married of Gen Z in Hong Kong."
How Dualism Affects Research Methods for This Topic
1. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methodological Choices
Quantitative methods would focus on measurable data such as survey responses quantifying Gen Z’s home ownership plans and marriage intentions, possibly correlating these with geopolitical indicators or economic variables influenced by the 2025 geopolitical situation. For example, structured questionnaires could collect data on the percentage of Gen Z planning to buy homes or marry within certain time frames, as well as demographic and socio-economic factors12.
Qualitative methods would explore deeper meanings, attitudes, and subjective experiences behind these plans and intentions. Semi-structured interviews or focus groups could investigate how geopolitical uncertainty shapes young people’s perceptions of housing affordability, stability, and marriage prospects, drawing on interpretive frameworks like social constructionism or critical discourse analysis3.
2. Influence of Methodological Dualism on Research Design
The dualism may initially push the researcher to choose either a positivist, empirical approach (quantitative) or an interpretivist, hermeneutic approach (qualitative), reflecting the classic divide in social sciences between fact-based measurement and value-laden interpretation45.
Recognizing this dualism encourages adopting a mixed-methods design, integrating quantitative data (e.g., surveys on home ownership intentions) with qualitative insights (e.g., interviews revealing how geopolitical fears affect marriage decisions), thus overcoming the limitations of each method alone and providing a fuller picture45.
3. Practical Examples in Your Topic Context
Quantitative surveys could replicate approaches like those in studies of pre-marital attitudes in Hong Kong, which used self-administered questionnaires to gather statistically analyzable data on marriage intentions1.
Qualitative interviews could draw from critical discourse analysis methods used in housing studies to understand how young people in Hong Kong construct their housing narratives amid socio-political challenges3.
4. Reflexivity and Ethical Considerations
Dualism also prompts reflexivity about how the researcher’s own values and perspectives influence the interpretation of data, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like marriage intentions and housing plans under geopolitical stress4. It encourages transparent acknowledgment of value-laden aspects of research alongside empirical findings.
Summary
Methodological dualism affects your dissertation by framing the research methods into two broad categories: quantitative methods that measure Gen Z’s home ownership and marriage intentions numerically, and qualitative methods that interpret the meanings and social contexts behind these intentions under the 2025 geopolitical situation in Hong Kong. Awareness of this dualism encourages a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys with interviews or discourse analysis, to capture both the measurable impact and the subjective experiences of your target population. This integrated approach aligns well with the complex, value-sensitive nature of housing and marriage planning among young people facing geopolitical uncertainties."
My question 4: "Is dualism highly compatible with the research philosophy of critical realism?"
The reply: "Dualism is not highly compatible with the research philosophy of critical realism; rather, critical realism explicitly seeks to transcend and resolve dualisms prevalent in social science research.
Critical realism, developed by Roy Bhaskar, acknowledges the existence of real social structures and human agency but rejects the strict separation or opposition implied by dualisms such as structure vs. agency, individualism vs. collectivism, or facts vs. values. Instead, it emphasizes their dialectical relationship and interdependence within an open, changing social reality145.
Key points illustrating this compatibility issue include:
Critical realism critiques dualism by arguing that social phenomena cannot be fully understood if structure and agency are treated as separate, opposing entities. Instead, social structures enable and constrain human agency, while human actions reproduce or transform these structures in a continuous process145.
Bhaskar’s concept of dialectical critical realism explicitly addresses and attempts to overcome dualisms by focusing on the dynamic and reciprocal interactions between social structures and human agency, as well as other dualistic pairs16.
Critical realism’s ontological realism holds that social structures are real and have causal powers independent of our knowledge, but epistemologically it recognizes that our understanding is always partial and perspectival, thus avoiding the rigid binaries typical of dualism12.
Methodologically, critical realism supports the use of mixed methods and pluralistic approaches precisely because it rejects the idea that social reality can be captured adequately by either purely positivist (quantitative) or purely interpretivist (qualitative) methods alone, which often reflect dualistic thinking56.
Summary
Dualism, as a strict binary separation of concepts, is generally incompatible with critical realism, which instead promotes a nuanced, dialectical understanding that integrates and transcends such dualisms. Critical realism provides a philosophical foundation that bridges oppositions like structure and agency, enabling more comprehensive and reflexive social science research.
This makes critical realism a philosophy that resolves rather than embraces dualism in social science research."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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