Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences

Abstract

The paper focuses on the potential of qualitative research methods in security studies of the social sciences. It deals with the research question of how triangulation may work to explain complex phenomena of social sciences. The paper serves as a model case, which has been employed as a methodological framework for a PhD dissertation to examine phenomenon of security. Hence, it could also serve as methodological toolkit to examine any social dynamic by combining different methods, approaches, and tools. It adopts the case study method and delineates a single-case design by combining various data collection and analytical tools at different levels in qualitative research. The paper concludes that any single method may deprive the researcher of accurate findings, whereas a combination of different techniques and tools may serve the cause in an appropriate manner.