Establishing the Object and the Logic of Inquiry in Qualitative Sociological Research

Establishing the object of study is a topic that is rarely addressed in the methodological literature. In this article, we explore methodological strategies for establishing the object of a study, and the implications of the establishment of the object for the research process. We propose a line of inquiry and a set of methodological prerequisites for establishing a researchable object and identifying appropriate data to represent the object. Our discussion centers on the importance of the research object in five critical phases of the research process: (1) establishing the object, (2) bounding the object, (3) identifying instruments of observation, (4) establishing empirical facts, and (5) extending the interpretation. We defer to our example of researching the transformations in the landscape of voluntarism in the Norwegian welfare society to illustrate the work involved in each phase. The article provides two key insights. On the one hand, it is essential to acknowledge that no single study can provide comprehensive answers to a broad and complex problem or topic. Treating the entire topic or problem as the research object – or taking the object for granted –can obscure the research process and analysis, ultimately undermining both the credibility and the contribution of a study. On the other hand, by accepting this limitation and committing to the rigorous work of constructing a clear and defensible research object, researchers can generate meaningful and credible knowledge about a specific aspect of the broader issue that initially motivated the inquiry. The focused approach we outline in this article not only facilitates informed discussion of the topic in light of new insights brought forward by a study, but also contributes to identifying what more must be known to lay the foundation for extending our knowledge of a research problem or topic in a field.