Methodologies & Critical Analysis - Lecture

Methodologies & Critical Analysis

Methods:

How the information you have found is ..

• Sourced

• Collected

• Collated

• Presented

- How your organise your information and what you will do with it when you have found it.

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)

Theories - 

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

• 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

Social History / Marxist , Postcolonialism

Action Research

The list is endless list of possibilities - 

• Not being negative just making informed decisions.

Being Critical ...

• Critical - From the greek word kreinein meaning to separate or to choose.
• Skepticism.
• Reasonable thinking

- Stepping Away and using evidence and logic to come to your conclusions.

- Awareness of perspectives . Pick a side.

Try to consider different points of view.

Where am i coming from ?

Write a methodology which incorporates a theoretical approach - Critical Analysis is Needed:

Don't need your 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. - Consider the influence of one or more of the following: The time; Place; society; politics;economics; technology;philosophy;Scientific thought....

Evidence -  where is the evidence for what you are saying?
Can you find more evidence to support your conclusions?

Don't just make points! you need to back it all up with evidence!
Empirical
Practical
Data from surveys

EVIDENCE , REASON , LOGIC & ARGUMENT.

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

Evaluation 

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 thatIdentify 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.