Qualitative Case Study

The methodological choice of this study is a qualitative case study. This method will enable the study to focus on the specific issue – integration – in the setting of second-generation Afghan immigrants, within the particular context of Iran. This research design is useful when trying to capture different structures within a special cultural setting and put that in a contextual understanding of a concept, such as integration. It has been discussed among researchers whether a case study is a methodology, a research strategy or merely a choice of what is being researched (Flyvbjerg, 2006). In this study, however, it will be used as a method, even though it should be acknowledged that this method also impacts the strategy and focus of the study.

This information may not be possible to capture in a rightful way using surveys and statistics (Corbin and Strauss, 1998: 11), thus a qualitative method is more suitable than quantitative. As argued by Corbin and Strauss (1998:11), qualitative research methodology is useful when obtaining an understanding of the nature of integration and individual experiences, since this enables the researcher to interpret the thoughts and feelings within the given context. Within qualitative research, focus is directed towards how the respondents describe their social reality (Bryman, 2012: 341), which is what this study seeks to understand in order to answer the research question.

Further, another reason behind why quantitative data will not be used in this study is related to the risk that the respondents and the researcher might put themselves in, by collecting data on sensitive and sometimes controversial topics. Furthermore, using qualitative data is also suitable in order to fill the existing research gap on this specific topic. However, combining qualitative and quantitative data is advisable for future research since this could help to widen the picture through comparing the different data and deepen the

However, only being reflexive on one’s role as a researcher is not enough to remove the present power relations between researcher and respondent. Consequently, it is important to use strategies that are sensitive to the power imbalances and allow social research to connect with social change. Standpoint epistemology is presented by Sprague (2005) as one method to help to overcome the biases and power imbalances within research. This method is challenging the researchers authority to set the agenda, prioritize respondents of being the “knowledge-producer” and decide how to interpret and disseminate the results, among other things (Sprague, 2005). Ultimately, the researcher is the primary tool in qualitative research and thus, both England (1994) and Sprague (2005) argue that reflexivity is imperative to understand how the findings are presented and how knowledge is