Methodological critiques attend to the relationship between methods, evidence, and conclusions. This relationship is called "validity." Methodoligcal critique excercises help you to develop reading skills necessary to evaluate the validity of conclusions in published research. Practicing these critiques helps you to cultivate analytical habits that support effective research design.
Each critique is focused on the research publication excerpted in assigned chapters from Kahn and Fisher. The critique should be 2 single-spaced pages divided into the following sections:
Heading: Name, Chapter Number and Name, Date
How do the authors engage with previously published research? Quote and discuss an "They say / I say" move that cites previous published scholarship to frame the main argument.
What is the central argument of the research example? This discussion should include your own rephrasing of the argument along with a direct quotation that you think best captures the argument. Conclude with a diagramed statement of the argument in the formal terms we have been using in class (A ≈ B) using the following formatting: Thing [Relationship] Thing.
What kinds of methods were used to produce what kinds of evidence? This discussion should include explicit identification of method (e.g. survey, interview...) and description of its specific design and implementation in the research project. Use examples and quotations that refer explicitly to both methods used and examples of evidence produced.
In what ways do the research conclusions appear valid? What validity strengths and problems can you identify? Your assessment of validity should include a restatement of the argument and discussion of how specific methods and evidence produced support that argument. This discussion should use examples and quotations from the chapter to evaluate the validity of the research. Much of this section will reiterate points from the previous sections with an emphasis on their relationship.
What complementary research method might be used to address the research questions / forward the research argument? Include reflection on the specific kinds of evidence that would be produced and how it would relate with the question / argument.
What aspects of positivism and phenomenology/hermeneutics characterize the research? This discussion should identify specific aspects of the research and how they reflect specific features of positivism and phenomenology/hermeutics.
What practical advice and ethical considerations seems most useful in the chapter's introduction and reflection? Discuss the practical advice and ethical reflections offered by the author and indicate how, specifically, you will follow that advice in your research activity.
Independent Methodological Critique
Your final critique will be on a sociological or anthropological research publication of your own choosing. In selecting your publication, you might consider: 1) an article or chapter that you have read or are reading for a current or previous SOAN course; 2) an article or chapter that you might use in your research proposal assignment for this class. Include a full bibliographic citation of the selected source.
Keep all assignments in a portfolio that you bring to each class session.