Methodologies and Critical Analysis Lecture

Methodology

How the information you have found is ...

 
•Sourced
•Collected
•Collated
•Presented
Qualitative and Quantitative data.
Who WIll I talk to ? Why? What will I ask?
 
You need to clearly evidence why you selected these methods of gathering information and selecting evidence and why they are the most appropriate for your study...

This will make you appear to be in control and aware of what you are doing...
 
Ultimately a methodology is there to show I'm in control. Talk about the methodology in the introduction.
 

 

Is it appropriate?

What is the organzing principle?
What is the inquire procedure?

To describe and analyse… methods, throwing light on their limitations and resources, clarifying their suppositions and consequences, relating their potentialities to the twilight zone at the frontiers of knowledge… (Kaplan, 1973:93)

It is not that we must somehow ‘please’ our critical colleague audiences; the deeper issue is to avoid self delusion. After that we can turn to the task about how we did study, and what worried us about its quality. Without such methodological frankness, we run the risk of reporting ‘knowledge that ain’t so’. (Miles & Huberman, 1994:294)

CHOOSE ONE KEY THEORY

These can help you decide upon the methods you use

Alternatively the material you find may suggest the appropriate theories

 Could include practical work

Examples of theories often used by students:

•Psychological- S.Freud; C.Jung; J.Lacan; L.Mulvey etc.

•Communication theory- J.Fiske, etc.

•Postcolonialism- Spivak, Said, Bhabha etc.

•Social History of Art- T.J.Clarke, J.Berger etc.

•Marxism / Post-Marxism- Frankfurt School

•Gender Studies / Feminist- G.Pollock; L.Nochlin

Action Research - Testing - Letterpress

Need some sort of critical Lense

There must be some theory.

 

WRITE A METHODOLOGY WHICH INCORPORATES A THEORETICAL APPROACH

 

Critical Analysis is Needed

 

WE DON'T WONT PERSONAL OPINION! Just the truth.

The opinion needs to be arrived at by evidence of research and logic.

 Being critical is about interrogating the sources you are using.  Try consider different points of view.

How is my choice of topic influenced by my emotions; aspirations;context.

 

CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING

 

Why was he making it, What was he doing?

 

Don't just make points! you need to back it all up with evidence!

• Empirical
• Practical
• Data from surveys

FIND MORE THAN ONE SOURCE TO SUPPORT MY CONCLUSIONS AND ARGUMENT

ARGUMENT

What do I want to say?

Have I got the evidence to back it up?

Where else do I need to look in order to find more evidence?

TRIANGULATION

Pitting alternative theories against the same body of data

 Need a Clear Logical Plan

Keep it simple- refine what you want to say and focus on a few key issue

Look into your key issues in depth and bring in the maximum evidence in to support your views

Discuss your issues and the evidence you have found in a clear and logical manner

Move from the general to the specific

 

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS STEP BY STEP

Step one

Identify an aspect of your specialist subject that you would like to explore.

Step two

Select a writer or theorist and a particular piece of writing about your specialist subject.

Step three

  Make notes that

  Identify the key points in the writing.

Step four

What evidence is used to support or 'prove' the key points'.

Step five

Is it convincing?

What else needs to be said in order to 'prove' the key points?

Step six

Write a response to the piece of writing and comment on:

the implications for your work; do you agree/ disagree with what has been said ? Does it help to support 

your views/ argument?

the thoughts you have had as the result of reading this piece;

on the evidence used by the writer.