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Can Economics Become More Reflexive? Exploring the Potential of Mixed Methods

In: Handbook on Economics of Discrimination and Affirmative Action

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  • Vijayendra Rao

    (The World Bank)

Abstract

This chapter argues that Economics can learn from Cultural Anthropology and Qualitative Sociology by drawing on a judicious mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to become more “reflexive.” It argues that reflexivity, which helps reduce the distance between researchers and the subjects of their research, has four key elements: cognitive empathy, the analysis of narratives (potentially enhanced by machine learning), understanding process, and participation (involving respondents in research). The chapter provides an impressionistic and non-comprehensive review of mixed-methods relevant to development economics and discrimination to illustrate these points.

Suggested Citation

  • Vijayendra Rao, 2023. "Can Economics Become More Reflexive? Exploring the Potential of Mixed Methods," Springer Books, in: Ashwini Deshpande (ed.), Handbook on Economics of Discrimination and Affirmative Action, chapter 14, pages 323-349, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-19-4166-5_19
    DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-4166-5_19
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    1. Christopher Udry, 2003. "Fieldwork, Economic Theory, and Research on Institutions in Developing Countries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(2), pages 107-111, May.
    2. Blattman, Christopher & Lessing, Benjamin & Tobon, Santiago & Duncan, Gustavo, 2021. "Gang rule: Understanding and Countering Criminal Governance," SocArXiv 5nyqs, Center for Open Science.
    3. Jayachandran, Seema & Biradavolu, Monica & Cooper, Jan, 2021. "Using Machine Learning and Qualitative Interviews to Design a Five-Question Women's Agency Index," IZA Discussion Papers 14221, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Rao, Vijayendra & Ananthpur, Kripa & Malik, Kabir, 2017. "The Anatomy of Failure: An Ethnography of a Randomized Trial to Deepen Democracy in Rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 481-497.
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