Methodology
How the information you have found is ...
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)
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
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.
