نوع مقاله : پژوهشی
نویسنده
استادیار جامعه شناسی، گروه علم و فناوری، موسسه مطالعات فرهنگی و اجتماعی ، تهران، ایران
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
This study aims to present an adapted methodology based on critical realism for the investigation of social phenomena in Iran. According to the critical realist approach, social reality is multi-layered, encompassing the empirical level, underlying structures, and causal mechanisms, and understanding it requires moving beyond surface-level observations to deeper layers. By reviewing and comparing existing realist methodological models, this article highlights the necessity of localizing and redesigning research methods for the Iranian context. The proposed model comprises eight stages: description, analytical decomposition, retroductive prediction, retroduction, comparison and refinement, objectification and contextualization, triangulation, and correction. Each stage is designed to enable researchers to identify the constituent elements and generative mechanisms of social reality, produce multi-layered and valid explanations, and align their analysis with Iran’s historical, cultural, and institutional context. Emphasizing reflexivity, continuous critique, and flexibility, this methodology facilitates the discovery of unseen causal mechanisms and the provision of realistic, context-sensitive explanations of complex social phenomena in Iran. The findings provide both practical and theoretical guidance for social science researchers in Iran, enabling them to employ critical realism to generate deep, valid, and locally grounded analyses.
Keywords: Critical realism, adapted methodology, causal mechanisms, contextualization, social research in Iran.
Introduction
One of the enduring challenges in social sciences is explaining complex social realities beyond surface-level observations. Dominant approaches often either reduce social phenomena to observable regularities or limit analysis to subjective interpretations. Critical realism offers an alternative by emphasizing a stratified ontology consisting of empirical, actual, and real domains, where underlying mechanisms generate observable events.
Despite its theoretical richness, critical realism suffers from methodological ambiguity. Existing methodological models remain either overly abstract or insufficiently operationalized. This limitation becomes more pronounced in non-Western contexts such as Iran, where socio-cultural and institutional specificities require methodological adaptation rather than direct importation. Therefore, this study seeks to critically examine existing models and propose a context-sensitive methodological framework.
Materials & Methods
This research adopts a qualitative, analytical-comparative design. Seven influential critical realist methodological models were selected as units of analysis. Data consisted of key theoretical texts and scholarly works in which these models are articulated.
The analysis was guided by four criteria:
1. Internal methodological structure
2. Engagement with stratified ontology
3. Approach to identifying causal mechanisms
4. Practical applicability in empirical research
Through systematic comparison, strengths and limitations of each model were identified. The study then synthesizes these findings to construct an alternative methodological framework.
Discussion & Results
The comparative analysis reveals three major patterns:
First, models such as Bhaskar’s remain highly abstract, offering strong philosophical foundations but limited empirical guidance. Second, approaches like those of Danermark and Bygstad provide more structured and applicable frameworks, enabling interaction between theory and data. Third, simplified models (e.g., Tapa or Ho) enhance usability but reduce analytical depth.
Across all models, the identification of causal mechanisms through retroduction remains central. However, differences emerge in how this process is operationalized. Models with iterative and flexible structures demonstrate greater capacity to address complex social realities.
Based on these findings, the study proposes an eight-stage methodology:
1. Description
2. Analytical decomposition
3. Theoretical redescription
4. Retroduction
5. Retrodiction
6. Comparative evaluation
7. Contextualization
8. Triangulation and iterative correction
This framework integrates theoretical rigor with empirical applicability while emphasizing contextual sensitivity.
Conclusion
Critical realism provides a powerful lens for understanding social reality, but its methodological underdevelopment limits its practical use. This study demonstrates that existing models, while valuable, require adaptation for context-specific research.
The proposed methodology offers a systematic yet flexible framework for analyzing social phenomena in Iran. By combining layered analysis, causal explanation, and contextual awareness, it enhances both explanatory depth and empirical applicability. This approach can contribute to revitalizing social research by enabling more realistic, non-reductionist, and contextually grounded analyses.
کلیدواژهها English
