Studying Japan: Handbook of Research Designs, Fieldwork and Methods

Dr. Nora Kottmann; Prof. Dr. Cornelia Reiher

doi:10.5771/9783845292878

Summary

Studying Japan is the first comprehensive guide on qualitative methods, research designs and fieldwork in social science research on Japan. More than 70 Japan scholars from around the world provide an easy-to-read overview on qualitative methods used in research on Japan’s society, politics, culture and history. The book covers the entire research process from the outset to the completion of a thesis, a paper, or a book. The authors provide basic introductions to individual methods, discuss their experiences when applying these methods and highlight current trends in research on Japan. The book serves as a foundation for a course on qualitative research methods and is, but can also be used as a reference for all researchers in Japanese Studies, the Social Sciences and Area Studies. It is an essential reading for students and researchers with an interest in Japan!With contributions by: Chapter: Celeste L. Arrington, David Chiavacci, Andreas Eder-Ramsauer, James Farrer, Roger Goodman, Carola Hommerich, Nora Kottmann, Gracia Liu-Farrer, Levi McLaughlin, Chris McMorran, Caitlin Meagher, Kaori Okano, Theresia B. Peucker, Cornelia Reiher, Katja Schmidtpott, Christian Tagsold, Katrin Ullmann, Gabriele Vogt, Cosima Wagner, Akiko Yoshida and Urs Matthias Zachmann.Essays: Shinichi Aizawa, Noor Albazerbashi, Daniel P. Aldrich, Allison Alexy, Verena Blechinger-Talcott, Christoph Brumann, Genaro Castro-Vázquez, David Chiavacci, Jamie Coates, Emma E. Cook, Laura Dales, James Farrer, Flavia Fulco, Isaac Gagné, Nana Okura Gagné, Sonja Ganseforth, Sheldon Garon, Julia Gerster, Christopher Gerteis, Markus Heckel, Steffen Heinrich, Joy Hendry, Swee-Lin Ho, Barbara Holthus, Katharina Hülsmann, Jun Imai, Hanno Jentzsch, Aya H. Kimura, Emi Kinoshita, Susanne Klien, Gracia Liu-Farrer, Patricia L. Maclachlan, Wolfram Manzenreiter, Kenneth M. McElwain, Lynne Y. Nakano, Scott North, Robin O’Day, Robert J. Pekkanen, Saadia M. Pekkanen, Isabelle Prochaska-Meyer, Nancy Rosenberger, Richard J. Samuels, Annette Schad-Seifert, Katja Schmidtpott, Tino Schölz, Kai Schulze, Kay Shimizu, Karen Shire, David H. Slater, Celia Spoden, Brigitte Steger, Nicolas Sternsdorff-Cisterna, Christian Tagsold, Akiko Takeyama, Daisuke Watanabe, Daniel White, Anna Wiemann and Tomiko Yamaguchi.Foreword: Ilse Lenz and Franz Waldenberger.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2020
Copyright year: 2020
ISBN-Print: 978-3-8487-5085-6
ISBN-Online: 978-3-8452-9287-8
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Language: English
Pages: 376
Product type: Edited Book

Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis No access Pages 1 - 18
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Why this handbook and why now? No access
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3. 3. What this handbook is about No access
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4. 4. Editorial decisions No access
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5. 5. How to use this handbook No access
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6. 6. Structure and content of this handbook No access
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7. 7. Summary and future perspectives No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. The importance of personal biography No access
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3. 3. Interrogating the relationship between the person and society No access
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4. 4. Example of the impact of theoretical assumptions on research on contemporary Japan No access
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5. 5. Japanology versus Japanese Studies No access
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6. 6. Practical steps for beginning graduate research on Japan No access
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7. 7. Summary No access
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1.1 Positioning one’s own research in Japanese Studies: Between Area Studies and discipline No access Pages 40 - 42
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1. Puzzles from the real world No access
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2. From personal experience to a research project No access
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3. The challenge of Japan’s presumed uniqueness No access
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4. Be flexible! No access
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1. Finding a field site No access
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2. Settling in No access
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3. Some final thoughts on taking notes No access
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4. Further reading No access
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5. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What is the core of a research question? No access
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3. 3. Types of research questions: The common denominator and specific forms No access
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4. Authors:
  1. 4.1 Relevance No access
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  2. 4.2 Originality No access
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  3. 4.3 Rigour No access
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5. Authors:
  1. 5.1 The process: Ping-ponging back and forth No access
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  2. 5.2 Narrowing down your research question: Don’t bite off more than you can chew No access
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6. 6. How the research question affects your methodological choices: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches No access
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7. 7. Summary No access
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2.1 Your research questions may change and that is ok No access Pages 65 - 67
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1. Studying electoral politics and LDP single-party dominance No access
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2. What’s new is what’s old: Public opinion and economic performance No access
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3. Some concluding thoughts No access
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1. Research question first: From the question to the project No access
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2. Struggling with research questions No access
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3. Asking questions about non-change No access
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4. Concluding remarks No access
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5. Further reading No access
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6. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Case studies No access
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3. 3. Different approaches of case studies No access
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4. 4. Selecting cases: Analysis of a single case or multiple cases No access
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5. 5. The Kobe women’s panel study: An evolving project No access
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6. 6. Bounding cases and units of analysis No access
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7. 7. Knowledge production: The theory building and theory testing continuum No access
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8. 8. Summary No access
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3.1 Developing a comparative study: Single women in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai No access Pages 88 - 90
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3.2 Contained serendipity as fieldwork in Japan: Studying Chinese people in Japan No access Pages 91 - 94
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1. Research project: Studying institutional change in Japan through the lens of agricultural cooperatives No access
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2. Research design No access
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3. Problems and potential solutions No access
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4. General advice No access
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5. Further reading No access
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6. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Reviewing literature: Two kinds of review No access
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3. 3. Getting started: The scope of searching for secondary literature No access
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4. Authors:
  1. 4.1 Primary sources No access
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  2. 4.2 Secondary literature No access
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5. 5. Finding secondary literature No access
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6. 6. Cultivating a sense for the ‘best source’ No access
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7. 7. An inclusive approach to literature: Literature in Japanese and other languages No access
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8. 8. Reading secondary literature: Some practical advice No access
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9. 9. Identifying relevant debates and situating one’s own research No access
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10. 10. Writing the literature review No access
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11. 11. When to start writing No access
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12. 12. Summary No access
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1. Definitions No access
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2. Secondary sources No access
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3. Primary sources No access
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4. Bookstores in Japan: Some concluding thoughts No access
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1. Beyond disciplinarity: Positioning one’s own research No access
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2. Literature research: Hunting for relevant multilingual sources No access
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3. The politics of research: Blurred boundaries and ambiguous sources No access
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4. Engaged scholarship No access
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1. Zoning in: Localising the research No access
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2. Reorienting: Continued literature review in the field No access
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3. Zoning out: Situating your study No access
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4. Drawing on publications in Japanese No access
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5. Concluding remarks No access
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6. Further reading No access
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7. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What qualitative data collection methods are there? No access
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3. 3. What is each method useful for? No access
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4. 4. Which data collection method should you select for your research? No access
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5. 5. How to prepare your research? No access
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6. 6. How to position yourself when collecting data? No access
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7. 7. Summary No access
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1. Project methods No access
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2. Problems and ongoing problem-solving No access
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3. General advice No access
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1. Transnational research design: Following the staffing agencies and tracing mobility patterns No access
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2. Qualitative interviewing methods No access
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3. Patterns of cross-border labour mobility: The case of JiaIi Kobayashi No access
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4. Conclusion No access
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1. Access to the field and the interviewees No access
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2. Experimental design: Coming to terms with happiness No access
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3. Reflections No access
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4. Further reading No access
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5. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Getting started: Connecting with a Japanese university No access
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3. 3. Forging new ties in Japan No access
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4. 4. Pitches No access
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5. 5. Written self-introductions No access
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6. 6. Who you are matters No access
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7. 7. Go for the ask No access
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8. 8. Fieldwork stuff: Practical considerations No access
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9. 9. Fieldwork tips No access
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10. 10. Strategies for notetaking and storing data No access
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11. 11. The all-important thank you No access
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12. 12. Ethnography in and outside Japan via social media No access
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13. 13. Ethical concerns No access
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14. 14. Conclusion No access
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1. The practice of fieldwork No access
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2. Maintaining relationships No access
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3. The cosmology of fieldwork No access
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6.2 A mobilities approach to ‘Japan’ fieldwork No access Pages 173 - 176
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1. Studying national policies on the local level No access
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2. Open-ended field research No access
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3. Further reading No access
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4. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Qualitative interviews No access
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3. 3. Choosing the ‘right’ type of interview and questions No access
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4. 4. Selecting and finding interviewees No access
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5. 5. Preparing interviews: Location, timing and things to bring No access
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6. 6. Deciding on the language No access
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7. 7. The process of interviewing: Listening, contradictions and (non-)verbal expressions No access
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8. 8. Negotiating interviewer–interviewee relations and reflexivity No access
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9. 9. Recording, taking notes and (not) transcribing No access
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10. 10. Following up and keeping in touch No access
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11. 11. Summary No access
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1. Interview strategies No access
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2. Recording and ethics No access
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1. What are qualitative interviews? No access
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2. What can we learn from qualitative interviews? No access
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3. The art of interviewing No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What is participant observation all about? No access
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3. 3. Participant observations in Japan: From the 16th to the 21st century No access
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4. 4. Selecting field sites No access
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5. 5. Gaining access No access
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6. 6. Ethical implications No access
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7. 7. Positioning oneself in the field No access
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8. 8. Cell phones, writing pads and field notes No access
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9. 9. Summary No access
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1. How to observe No access
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2. Challenges during preparation and implementation No access
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3. General recommendations No access
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8.2 Doing and writing affective ethnographya No access Pages 227 - 230
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1. Framing the fields No access
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2. Selecting sites and sampling subjects No access
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3. Ethics and positioning in the field No access
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4. Further reading No access
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5. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. Authors:
  1. 2.1 Where to start your search? No access
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  2. 2.2 How to search the library catalogue No access
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  3. 2.3 How to search for Japanese language content in catalogues No access
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  4. 2.4 Japan-related library reference tools No access
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3. 3. Libraries in Japan No access
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  1. 4.1 Regional public archives (chihō kōbunshokan) No access
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  2. 4.2 Archives and collections of other public institutions: Libraries, museums, universities No access
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5. 5. Final comment No access
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1. Private archives: Business archives No access
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2. Public space as an archive: War memorials No access
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3. Summary No access
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1. Discovering the transnational in the sources No access
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2. Designing a transnational study No access
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3. Some advice No access
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1. White Papers in Japan: Characteristics and access No access
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2. Official macro statistics via e-Stat No access
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3. Accessing micro datasets from data archives No access
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4. Final remarks No access
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5. Further reading No access
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6. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What are mixed methods designs? No access
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3. 3. Overcoming the qualitative–quantitative divide: A pragmatic approach No access
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4. 4. Combining qualitative and quantitative data: Three core designs No access
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5. Authors:
  1. 5.1 Getting started with your research No access
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  2. 5.2 How to collect data No access
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  3. 5.3 How to analyse your data No access
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  4. 5.4 How to present and report your findings No access
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  5. 5.5 Stumbling blocks and how to avoid them No access
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6. 6. Summary: Prospects and challenges No access
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10.1 Reflections on multi-method research No access Pages 283 - 286
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1. Researching friendship No access
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2. Triangulating with contemporary literature No access
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3. Adding a quantitative lens No access
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4. Conclusion No access
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1. Questions as a starting point No access
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2. Tuning the interpretation via triangulation No access
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3. Importance of the historical context No access
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4. Summary No access
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5. Further reading No access
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6. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Qualitative data analysis and the research process No access
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3. 3. Approaches to data analysis No access
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4. Authors:
  1. 4.1 Transcribing and exploring the data No access
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  2. 4.2 Summarising and identifying the first themes No access
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  3. 4.3 Coding No access
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  4. 4.4 Identifying patterns and structures No access
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5. 5. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS): Pros and cons No access
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6. 6. Ensuring the quality of data analysis: Reflexivity, validity and reliability No access
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7. 7. Data analysis with Japanese language material No access
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8. 8. Concluding remarks No access
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11.1 Negotiating the ethics of gathering research data in a subcultural context No access Pages 310 - 312
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11.2 Researching sex and the sexuality of Japanese teenagers: The intricacies of condom use No access Pages 313 - 316
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1. Introduction No access
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2. Employee well-being in China and Japan No access
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3. Monetary policy No access
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4. Text-mining tools No access
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5. Conclusion No access
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6. Further reading No access
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7. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Grounded theory as one framework for coding No access
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3. 3. A blueprint for the process of coding No access
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4. 4. Data collection: What counts as data? No access
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5. 5. Identifying and isolating codes and concepts: Initial/open coding No access
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6. 6. How to do initial coding? No access
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7. 7. In vivo coding No access
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8. 8. Developing concepts: Focused/selective coding No access
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9. 9. How much is enough? Theoretical saturation No access
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10. 10. Coding as theory: Theoretical coding No access
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11. 11. Practical considerations: memos and diagrams No access
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12. 12. Conclusion No access
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1. Coding No access
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2. Themes No access
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1. Grounded theory and coding No access
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2. Grounded in the data or forced onto it? No access
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3. Absent or grounded in the data? No access
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4. Co-construction, self-reflexivity and cultural translation No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What are qualitative content analysis and frame analysis? No access
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3. 3. Getting started: Don’t wait! No access
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  1. 4.1 Interpretivist accounts No access
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  2. 4.2 Correlational or causal accounts No access
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5. 5. Units of analysis No access
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6. 6. Coding, categories and concepts No access
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7. 7. Manual versus computer-assisted analysis and feasibility No access
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8. 8. Presenting qualitative content analysis and frame analysis findings No access
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9. 9. Reliability and validity: Annotating and documenting the analysis No access
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10. 10. Summary No access
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13.1 Qualitative content analysis: A systematic way of handling qualitative data and its challenges No access Pages 363 - 366
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1. Confusion No access
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2. Decision No access
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3. Prospects No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What is discourse? No access
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3. 3. What is discourse analysis? No access
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4. Authors:
  1. Key steps 1–3: Decide on a research topic, explore its context and find a research question No access
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  2. Key steps 4–6: Clarify if and what type of DA to use and define key concepts No access
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  3. Key step 7: Select sources No access
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  4. Key steps 8–9: Find formal (and linguistic) structures and situate statements in their situational and material context No access
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  5. Key step 10: Interpreting data No access
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5. 5. Summary No access
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1. Introduction No access
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2. Step one: The broader theoretical picture No access
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3. Step two: The socio-economic context No access
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4. Step three: Material for analysis No access
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5. Step four: Identifying the actors of discourse No access
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6. Step five: Content analysis No access
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7. Step six: Conclusive evaluation of discourse No access
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1. Discourse and emotion No access
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2. The sensorial and affect No access
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3. Interactive approaches No access
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4. Conclusion No access
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1. Political discourse in Japan and the discourse on the work-style reform No access
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2. Salience No access
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3. Content and context No access
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4. Concluding remarks No access
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5. Further reading No access
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6. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. Getting started No access
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3. Authors:
  1. 3.1. PhD dissertations No access
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  2. 3.2. Journal articles No access
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  3. 3.3. Books No access
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  1. 4.1 Avoid writing myths No access
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  2. 4.2. Writing routines No access
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  3. 4.3. Write with others No access
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5. 5. Managing mental health No access
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6. 6. Conclusions No access
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1. Write as you go No access
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2. Making writing social No access
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3. Writing to different audiences No access
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4. Conclusion No access
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1. The power of stories No access
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2. Storify but don’t get carried away No access
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3. Conclusion No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction No access
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2. 2. What constitutes reliable and fair research? No access
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3. Authors:
  1. 3.1 Research design and data collection No access
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  2. 3.2 Data practices and management No access
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  3. 3.3 Presenting research results: Things to remember before and while writing No access
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4. 4 Closing remarks: Towards open Japan(ese) Studies No access
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1. Navigating ‘local moral worlds’ No access
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2. Writing ethnographies and balancing voices No access
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3. Final thoughts: The balancing act of cultural translation No access
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1. Selection of topic No access
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2. Modes of engagement No access
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3. Contact and research design No access
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4. Relationships with stakeholders, collection of data and written release forms No access
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5. Dissemination of research results No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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1. 1. Introduction: Reaching your audience No access
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2. 2. Think about your audience(s)! No access
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  1. 3.1 Conferences and workshops No access
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  2. 3.2 Academic journals No access
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  3. 3.3 From dissertations to books No access
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  4. 3.4 Beware of predators No access
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  5. 3.5 Promoting your publications No access
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  1. 4.1 Talking with journalists No access
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  2. 4.2 Publishing for a general audience No access
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  3. 4.3 Film and video No access
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  4. 4.4 Sharing data No access
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  5. 4.5 Connecting with a community No access
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5. 5. Conclusions: Balancing goals No access
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1. Choosing where and how to publish or present No access
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2. Conference presentations No access
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3. Some publishing problems: Edited volumes, language concerns No access
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4. General advice No access
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1. Pre-production: What story did we want to tell? No access
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2. Post-production: What story were we going to tell? No access
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3. Challenges and what we learned No access
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4. Conclusion: It’s a wrap! No access
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1. Further reading No access
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2. References No access
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Notes on contributors No access Pages 480 - 501