Dear all,
please find a CfP for a special issue of the Journal of Mixed Methods
Research on mixed methods in migration research attached.
Deadline for abstract submission: 30 April 2014
kind regards,
Rossalina Latcheva
Ken Horvath
Manfred Max Bergman
CALL FOR PAPERS
Mixed methods in migration research: epistemological foundations,
methodological challenges, practical applications
Journal of Mixed Methods Research – Special Issue
Guest editors: Rossalina Latcheva, Kenneth Horvath, Manfred Max Bergman
Although mixed methods play an important role in the field of migration
research, there has been very little discussion on the epistemological
and methodological foundations, benefits, challenges, and implications
of mixed methods research in migration research. This special issue aims
to fill this gap. It discusses which special challenges arise for mixed
methods in migration-related research fields, problems that need to be
considered when applying existing epistemological and methodological
approaches, and what general lessons for social science emerge from
particular examples of migration research. In doing so, it partly draws
on on-going methodological debates of both quantitative and qualitative
migration research, but the primary aim is to identify and develop
issues that are characteristic for mixed methods: how mixed methods help
to understand the complexities of contemporary migration patterns, the
respective function and value of quantitative and qualitative design
components (which may partly differ from other research fields),
challenges of integrating these components (e.g. in
multi-national/multi-lingual research settings), and how to present
complex findings (in a field marked by political interests and heated
public/media debates).
The special issue is organised around three main themes – proposals may
focus on any of the listed or similar issues:
1. Discussion of epistemological and ontological foundations and their
implications for researching migration-related phenomena: What
implications do different meta-theories (critical realism, pragmatism
etc.) have for mixed methods approaches in migration research? Which are
the crucial ontological aspects of migration-related phenomena and
processes that lead to the need for mixing methods? What challenges and
potentials does the field of migration research hold for
meta-theoretical discussions?
2. Evaluation of existing (even if implicit) mixed methods approaches in
migration research and their theoretical underpinnings: How are current
research practices anchored in meta-theory? Are applications of mixed
methods designs justified with regard to the investigated phenomenon?
Which components – qualitative and quantitative – are used for what
purpose? How is integration achieved, at which levels of analysis, in
which phases of research? Can applicability of the chosen mixed-methods
design be assured beyond the context of development and application? Are
there any region-specific aspects to be considered?
3. Identification of research interests that ask for mixed methods
strategies: Which current debates and research interests require mixed
methods designs? In particular, what implications does the recent
"transnational turn" in migration research have? What are the advantages
we may expect of mixed methods and what challenges arise? There are
countless substantial starting points for this kind of discussion in the
field of migration research, such as changing migration dynamics in
various geographical areas, the interrelations between migration and
social inequalities, political discourse and public opinion and their
relevance for migration patterns, biographies and societal
transformations, and problems related to researching groups that are
hard to reach.
We explicitly encourage submissions with an interdisciplinary outlook.
Proposals that substantiate their methodological argument with examples
from concrete research projects are particularly welcome. However, the
focus should be on methodological and epistemological reflection.
If you are interested in contributing to this special issue, please send
an extended abstract of around 500 words to [log in to unmask] by
30 April 2014.
Decisions will be communicated by 31 May 2014. Accepted authors will be
asked to submit their full paper by 30 November 2014. All papers will
undergo rigorous double-blind review by at least two experts. Please
visit the JMMR homepage for manuscript guidelines and details of the
reviewing process
(http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal201775&ct_p=manuscriptSubmission). All full papers must follow the criteria mentioned there.
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