Tuesday 7 October 2014

LECTURE 02: METHODOLOGIES + CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Methods

How the information you have found is —

  • Sourced
  • Collected 
  • Collated
  • Presented

Consider what you are going to with the information you have collected and define how it acts as a strategy for starting you dissertation.

You need to consider, what your researching, why and when it comes to an end. 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.



Methodology
noun
a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.
"a methodology for investigating the concept of focal points"

To describe and analyse .. Methods , throwing light on their limitations and resources clarifying their suppositions and consequences, relating their potentialities to the tight 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)

Picking a methodology is like picking a side, and you must define why you have picked that side.



Theories

These can help you decide upon the methods you use Alternatively the material you find may suggest the appropriate theories.

Theory — dictionary definition

Choose at least one key theory that relates to the material you are looking at! 
  • 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 — more can be found here >






There is an endless list of possibilities, its important to choose theories and methods most appropriate to your subject.



Something to consider is does your essay have a clear and consistent methodology that is relevant to your subject.



Critical Analysis

Not to be confused with finding faults within something or being negative, being critical is about waying up different sides of an argument and evaluating material based on research and evidence.

Reasoned thinking — 'stepping away' and using evidence and logic to come to your conclusion. Critical analysis is about not being biased when writing an essay and having an open minded and intellectual view. Try consider different points of view, How is my choice of topic influenced by my emotions; aspirations;context.

  • Try to consider points of view.
  • Challenge your theory — look at it with your guard up.
  • Critique authors, artists ect — also yourself why are you doing this?



Context

Consider the influence of one or more of the following —

  • Time
  • Place
  • Society
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Technology
  • Philosophy
  • Scientific thought


Evidence

What is the evidence for what your saying?
Could you find out more evidence to support your conclusion?

This could take the form of — 
  • Quotes
  • Statements
  • Interviews
  • Empirical
  • Practical
  • Data from surveys
Evidence > Reason > Logic > Argument — these are imperative to include in your essay.


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


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.
A basic chapter by chapter break down.

Evaluation

You need to show the reader that you are evaluating the evidence for its relevance and reliability.
Looking at and coming to the value of your evidence.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS STEP BY STEP
  1. Identify an aspect of your specialist subject that you would like to explore.
  2. Select a writer or theorist and a particular piece of writing about your specialist subject.
  3. Make notes that Identify the key points in the writing.
  4. What evidence is used to support or 'prove' the key points'.
  5. Is it convincing?  — What else needs to be said in order to 'prove' the key points?
  6. 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.

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