OUGD601: Methodology lecture

Every COP 3 project has to evidence a methodology.

You cannot research effectively without deeply analysing this research. It is unique to each individual project. 

A methodology is:

A logical systematic and structured way of organising a research project and gathering necessary information. Evidence that you have reflected critically in various research methods and chosen the ones that are more appropriate for your particular research project.

Research methodologies 

Palgrave methodoligies section.

-What research methods are you going to use

-quantative and qualitative and why have you made this destinction?

- what do you think your methods will enable you to discover?

- What might prevent you from discovering?

- What kinds of research methods would be the best suited to the kind of research you are undertaking and the research questions you are pursuing?

- What sort of problems do you envisage in setting up these methods?

-What are their benefits?

- What will you need to do to ensure they gather useful data?

Make sure you have a cross section of your methodology that incluseds different formats of outcomes.

-why you have done the primary/ secondary research.

A literature review is intialy part of every methodlogy, the key literature in a certain area. So for my dissertation this would looking at the key ethical theorists.

Why these are relevant to you and your research. Why a particular theory is appropriate is it the best way? can it be done better?

plan and outline your mehodology now and at the beginning of your dissertation.

If you are looking through a particular theoretical lense point this out and analyse why you have done this. Outline why you want to find this thing out (your essay title) and what can be gained from it. If you have made a decision to not look at certain texts explain why and cite the reason for your focus on others.

Critical Analysis:

Choosing a methodological approach inherently involves a critical appraoch and thought process.

Criticality is about seperating out the most valid answer from a selection of options. Use skepticism and look at every angle of a argument to test your pint of view in an analystical manner. Take a step backwards from your subject matter and try and be objective when arranging your points, survey a variety of different ideas. Simply consider other points of view and the validity of your sources. 

Consider the contrasting view that were around at the time of the conception of the text and the full context of written pieces, how could this have effected the subjectivity of the text or its bias? Why do certain writers come up with certain answers or point of view?

when was the writing/ theory made? what year was this? what politics/ time could have influenced this? what events were happening?

Consider why you have chosen the topic you have and how the text you produce could be effected by this.

Triangulation is a necesity.

Once you have the questin ask yourself

What do I want to say?

Have I got the evidence to back this up?

Do you need more evidence?

Is there somewhere specific t look and find more evidence?

Am I expressing myself clearly and logically?