1 / 8

Methodological Journeys: Navigating Research Terrain with Precision and Purpose

This insightful essay delves into the nuances of adopting diverse research methods to fit the nature of inquiry and desired outcomes. Drawing from the experiences of honours students, it emphasizes the importance of staying true to the research question and maintaining methodological integrity. By considering theoretical frameworks and practical circumstances, researchers can effectively convey their findings to others. The metaphorical exploration of being a "miner" seeking objective truths or a "traveller" bringing back crafted narratives adds depth to understanding research approaches. Highlighting the significance of using tools judiciously within a theoretical backdrop and scientific community, this essay advocates for intelligent methodological use tailored to each unique research endeavor.

rory
Download Presentation

Methodological Journeys: Navigating Research Terrain with Precision and Purpose

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it Have method, will travel -ethnographer’s calling card

  2. Most or all of you will know this already • Based on my work with honours students and journal and conference referring.

  3. Out of the mouths of babes • “The researcher can adopt any approach and/or method that represent the true nature of the inquiry and the type of information required (Bell, 1998)”  (honours student essay on method)

  4. How does one do that? • Never losing sight of the research question • Staying true to the nature of enquiry • A methodological issue • resolved by theoretical position and secondarily by the practical circumstances • What is needed to be known? • How can I tell that I have found or not found the knowledge? • What is the nature of the knowledge? • How do I tell others such that they will believe me?

  5. Divining one’s methodological attitude • Kvale’s(1996) metaphor: • Are you (and your community of intelligibility) a miner or a traveller? • A miner searches for nuggets of truth • Facts are facts and can be established objectively • A traveller goes to foreign lands and brings back stories • Facts are constructed, imagined, discussed and disputed

  6. Method as a toolbox • Many students see the toolbox and consider and apply the tools and methods with little discrimination • What tools used are dependent upon the problem at hand • The theoretical backdrop • The (scientific) community of intelligibility • Norms and customs of the strange tribe you belong to.

  7. So I believe it is about the intelligent use of tools with a clear focus on what it is you are doing. • It isn’t what you use but the way that you use (and justify) it

  8. Well that’s enough about you, let’s talk about me! The postmodernist interviewer

More Related