Lecture: Methodology & Critical Analysis

Analysis - 
Ability to use logic, reasoning and critical judgement to analyse ideas from a range of primary and secondary sources - employ critical and theoretical methodologies.

Methodology - 
Strategy of evidencing research - logical, systematic and structured ways of organising a research project and gathering necessary information. Evidence that you have reflected critically on various research methods and chosen the ones that are most appropriate for my particular research - explain why? Justify it. - Methodology is unique to each project.

Books on methodologies worth checking out:

• The postgraduate research handbook by Gina Wisker (Chapters 13, 14, 15)
• Doing your research project by Judith Bell.

Websites:

• Palsgrave Study Skills - choosing appropriate methodology

Methodology may include:

• Literature review - Libraries, Journals, Internet
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Sketchbooks/Critical diaries

1. Outline your methodology at start of dissertation - in the intro, don't go over 500 words if poss.
• State aim of dissertation
• If focusing on particular texts/theories, state which ones.
• State how the project is going to be tackled - why?
• Chapter by chapter breakdown

Critical Analysis - 

Selectivity - informed decision making - choosing most valid answer from a list of others - reasoned thinking - using evidence and logic to come to your conclusions

• Consider viewpoints - where was the author/artist/designer/photographer situated? - where the creator was coming from intellectually, emotionally, philosophically, politically. - time period.
• Where am I coming from?
• Context - Consider the influence of one or more of the following: time, place, politics, economics, technology, philosophy, scientific..

Argument - Interrogate question, get to the core of it.

Remember argument all throughout the writing process - will stop me from going off track:

What am I saying about this question?

• What is the point? What am I trying to say? - central argument.
• Have I got evidence to back it up?
• Could I find more evidence to support my conclusions? Where could I find it?
• Am I expressing myself clearly?

Remember to triangulate :

Pitting alternative theories against the same body of data - use 3 or more sources to justify point: Comparisons - similarities and differences.

Have a clear logical plan:

Keep it simple - refine what you want to say and focus on a few key issues. Better to look into a few key issues in depth than lots of issues briefly.

Use a mixture of citation styles :

• Quotation blocks
• Power phrase

Evaluate:

Using different sources to come to your own conclusions.