Research Design: A Case for Methodological Pluralism

The third chapter starts with an explanation as to why the Brazilian sugarcane complex was selected as the case study and how the field studies were realized. Within this chapter the research design and the methodological approach are discussed and a method set in order to structure and apply the data is compiled and analyzed. Since there is no single conclusive final methodological principle as argued by a variety of economists and other social scientists, methodological pluralism is needed. Because the research focuses on innovation and technological developments as well as on the dynamic aspects of the sugarcane complex a qualitative approach is considered adequate. The dynamic nature and the reflexive, empathic and holistic character of qualitative research speak for a qualitative approach with the aim of understanding people and their opinions and not just to measure them. Qualitative research is however time- and cost-intensive and objectivity, validity as well as reliability are difficult to provide. Thus quantitative approaches or as in the case of this research, descriptive statistics and numerical data are included in order to check and review the results of qualitative research. The concept of triangulation which implies research within multiple methods and from different perspectives is referred to within this chapter in order to elucidate the advantages of combining research approaches. Thus methodological pluralism, the integration of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, is advocated within this chapter.