Methodological issues in researching migration

Population geographers should consider a mixed methods approach to the stud y of migration. This methodological position arises in response to the chal lenges of contemporary social theory It is argued that application of struc turation theory favours use of a diversity of methods to investigate the re cursive relationship between agency and structure. Similarly a realist stan ce, as advocated by Sayer (1992), leads to a mixing of methods in order to carry out the synthesising asks expected of geographers. Postmodernism, whe n interpreted as method, also points the researcher to consider adopting fl exible research practices in order to capture the multiplicities of meaning associated with migration and place. These points are illustrated by a cas t study of migration to and from Hong Kong.