T H E S O C I A L S C I E N C E S

METHODOLOGY

Note: This Powerpoint will be revised continually through the semester.

Written and Revised by Scott Fritz, Ph.D. on August 29, 2015 at 2:35 pm

WHAT IS METHODOLOGY?

• “A systematic procedure, technique or mode of inquiry employed by …a particular discipline.” (Webster’s Dictionary 1967)• “A systematic plan followed in presenting

materials for instruction.” (Webster’s Dictionary 1967)• Analysis: “The process of breaking a complex

topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it.” (Wikipedia)

ANALYTICAL THINKING

• Hypothesis• Educated Guess• Tentative assumption based on observed data, but not

proven empirically

• Thesis• Analysis of fact and their relationship to one another• Facts prove hypothesis turns into Theory

EXAMPLES OF HYPOTHESIS/THEORIES

• Class Stratification• Gender Inequality• Environmental Destruction• World System Theory

• Can you come up with an example?

INDUCTIVE V. DEDUCTIVE REASONING

• Inductive Reasoning• Specifics to general

• Deductive Reasoning• General to specifics

QUALITATIVE V. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

• Qualitative Research• Used to understand ‘why’ and ‘how’• Good for individual case studies• Infer that case study reflects larger trend, but this needs to be

proven through quantitative research

Qualitative Research studies humans behavior• How do people decide?• Where does certain behavior occur?• When do actions occur• Why do people act the way they do?

Differs from Quantitative Research because much of the data of qualitative methods is non-numerica• Used to prove an assertion or hypothesis• Use of numbers, data, etc.

EPISTEMOLOGY

• “Branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and limits of knowledge.” (Wikipedia)• What is knowledge?• How is knowledge acquired?• To what extent is it possible for a given subject to

be know?• How do we know what we know?

THE OBJECTIVITY QUESTION

• Qualitative researchers question the ability to study in an objective way• Do scientists ‘filter’ their research through their

personal worldview?• Should researchers understand their own

biases?• Example: • Historians’ interpretation of the past can reflect more of

themselves rather than an accurate reconstruction of the past

TOPIC DEVELOPMENT

TOPIC V. THESIS

• The topic of this paper is _______________________.

• In this paper I will argue ________________________.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Lists books, articles, and sources that will be used or might be used• Each source is summarized• Make sure that you summarize it and explain how

it is going to apply to you paper topic• The goal is to discover what has not been

researched in your discipline (or topic).

EXAMPLE OF AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. New York: Anchor Books, 1995. Print.

Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic. In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun.

• Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Wal-Mart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES

• Primary Sources• Is a term used in a number of disciplines to describe

source material that is closest to the person, information, period, or idea being studied

• Newspaper articles, study results, etc.

• Secondary Sources• Is a document or recording that relates or discusses

information originally presented elsewhere.• Article in a professional journal, a book, etc.

TYPES OF ESSAYS

• Analysis Essays• Argumentative Essay• Persuasive/Persuade• Cause and Effect Essays• Comparison and Contrast Essays• Definition Essays• Narrative & Descriptive Essays• Division & Classification Essays

PAPER PROPOSAL

• A standard research paper proposal should not in general be longer than ten per cent of the total length of your planned paper

• A standard research paper proposal contains:• the topic,• the thesis,• the outline of planned research written in proper academic style,• the outline must demonstrate that you have researched

preliminary sources in your topic and have analysed your paper

• Additionally, a research proposal has to present a list of annotated bibliography describing the main significance of each source for the paper and advisably a list of further sources which you intend to use in addition to the main literature.

PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL WRITING

• Make sure that you write somewhere in your essay that this is a “senior thesis paper”

• W.C.=Word Choice• U.C. = Upper Case; L.C. = Lower Case• Awk. = awkward• Spell-out acronyms the first time• Spell-out abbreviations, particularly the first time• When using dates write it like 1900s, not 1900’s• Spell out contracts, like “don’t” to “do not” or “won’t” to

“will not”• Use page numbers• Do not be redundant in your use of the same word• Change pronouns to nouns

PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL WRITING

• Read out loud to yourself your sentences to see where the “flow” of your sentences hesitate• When you do this, you will catch yourself saying

the sentences in a more pleasing way, and revise the sentence accordingly• Be concise, and whenever you can say an idea

with fewer words, do so• One way that you can reduce the number of

words, write in the active voice (lets now talk about writing in the active voice)

WRITING IN THE ACTIVE VOICE

• To the house the dog went.• The dog went to the house.

• It was the summer that we went to the beach.• We went to the beach in the summer.

• To think that it was bad was the proclivities of the group.• The group thought that it was bad.

WRITING IN THE ACTIVE VOICEYOU TRY

• It was the ship that ran aground.• __________________________________.

• Walking through the streets of Istanbul was our objective.

• ___________________________________.

• The destination of Odessa was that which our tour guide thought was best for us.

• ___________________________________.

WRITING IN THE ACTIVE VOICEYOU TRY

• The best food in the trip that we had was in Quebec.• _________________________________________.

• It was through hard word that we accomplished the goal.• ______________________________________________.

• To see the mosque was the goal of the group.• ___________________________________________.

META-DISCOURSE USED TO FILTER-OUT ONE’S OWN PERSONAL BIAS

• Researchers examines themselves within the subject that the facts are about• Do I as a researcher have a socially or culturally

constructed bias that could skew my interpretation of the facts? • Does our worldview provide a superior model

interpretation?