Methodological Essays

  • Bruner and Wittgenstein: Language Learning

    4279 Words  | 9 Pages

    comes with its acquisition of language, but before we can engage in any pedagogical efforts to further infant development or to aid atypical cases, we need to understand methodologically what occurs during language learning. Jerome Bruner, in a methodological adaptation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's middle and later work in an extension of Noam Chomsky's LAD, has put forth one influential proposal (Bruner 1983). Ludwig Wittgenstein's own remarks on the topic also furnish an interesting story independent

  • Reflexivity in Ethnographic Research and Writing

    1614 Words  | 4 Pages

    modernism and modernity. Reflexivity emphasizes the point of theoretical and practical questioning, changing the ethnographers view of themselves and their work. There is an increased awareness of the collection of data and the limitation of methodological systems. This idea becomes inherent in the postmodernists study of the culture of the anthropologist/ethnographer. In much of his essay, Marcus shows that reflexivity is an immense area of comment and interest by questioning: Is reflexivity

  • Behaviorism Essay

    3387 Words  | 7 Pages

    Behaviorism must be seen as a methodological proposal of explaining the behavior of organisms from the lowest to the highest. Explaining human and nonhuman behavior by reference to scientific laws and the theories expressed of physical states, events, and entities. Because modern psychology emerged roughly in the mid-19th century, information of behaviorism was gathered in its early stages by introspection (looking at your own inner states of being; your own desires, feelings, and intentions) then

  • Philosophical Anthropology

    2994 Words  | 6 Pages

    including philosophical thinking are characteristically human, philosophers may come to reflect upon how such functions are conditioned by human conditions. But such conditions can be addressed by empirical sciences as well, sometimes with greater methodological care or seriousness than can be found among some philosophers, as in cognitive psychology or cultural anthropology. If, in the course of the development of philosophy as a discipline, human experience becomes the primary thematic ... ... middle

  • Sociological Theory: Positivistic, Interpretative, And Critical

    1875 Words  | 4 Pages

    defining each of these theories, it is important to determine the ontological basis orthe theory's basis for determining what is knowable; the epistemological basis or the theory's relationship between the knower and the knowable; and, finally, the methodological basis or the theory's method for gathering data and obtaining knowledge. A.POSITIVISTIC 1.Ontology. The positivistic theory is based on an ontology ofbeing a realist.The realistic slant of positivism is also known as determinism.The positivist

  • Ethnography

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    as self-indulgent narcissism, but its true scope reaches much further. While some ethnographic texts exhibit an overemphasis on the author, and his position within the work, this is one extreme of the range reflexivity, which also serves as a methodological tool, unincorporated into the writing, and as a means to account for the ethnographers biases and affects on his informants. This entire span of meaning is shown in anthropological research and writings, in varying manners and to different ends

  • Metaphors in Philosophy

    4156 Words  | 9 Pages

    This paper deals with the question of whether metaphors are sufficient for the fulfillment of philosophical tasks, and, if they are, which cognitive or methodological place metaphors can have within philosophical discourse. We can distinguish three attitudes toward metaphors. First is the general rejection of metaphors in philosophy. Second is the unrestricted affirmation of metaphors as ‘absolute’ and as compensating for metaphysics. This conception will be analyzed critically and shown to be self-contradictory

  • American Studies

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    valid answer and would really go into great detail in her article so that it was easy to pick up the information. These two articles were very much related, but at the same time they were very different. This leads into the past and current methodological approaches in studying American culture and what different authors have to say. “The methodology of early American Studies practitioners in the 30s, 40s, and 50s was named the symbol myth school approach. They came up with a set of assumptions

  • The Meaning and Implication of Oral History

    3314 Words  | 7 Pages

    historians who are competing in a tight job market. However, the importance of oral history goes beyond practical considerations. Its methodological innovations enhance yet at the same time challenge the discipline. In this paper I will discuss some of the key issues anyone who intends to “do” oral history ought to consider. While I will briefly address some of the methodological concerns, the main focus of the paper will deal with the meaning and implication of oral history. Oral history, especially

  • Social Research

    1830 Words  | 4 Pages

    AISHA GITTENS-HIPPOLYTE Taking Two Of The Theoretical Approaches To Social Research Discussed In The Module, Demonstrate The Connections Between Their Ontological, Epistemological And Methodological Assumptions. Which Method Or Methods Would Proponents Of Each Theory Favour As A Result Of Their Assumptions. In order to understand the production of sociological knowledge one must first examine the thought processes that lay behind each piece of research. Before a particular subject matter is researched

  • Thoughts on a Possible Rational Reconstruction of the Method of

    3264 Words  | 7 Pages

    a Possible Rational Reconstruction of the Method of "Rational Reconstruction" ABSTRACT: Rational reconstructions standardly operate so as to transform a given problematic philosophical scientific account-particularly of a terminological, methodological or theoretical entity-into a similar, but more precise, consistent interpretation. This method occupies a central position in the practice of analytic philosophy. Nevertheless, we encounter-even if only in a very few specific publications-a vague

  • Methodological Individualism

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    endless debate is ongoing involving fundamental issues pertaining between methodological individualism and methodological holism. The reason this is such a deep rooted heated debate amongst researchers is the fact that it touches upon our most 'deeply-seated' beliefs about the nature of the individual and of society, our knowledge about these, and the idea of a good society (Udehn, 2002). According to Parsons (1937) methodological individualism is a claim in social phenomena which must be explained by

  • Anxiety and Athletic Perfomance

    2826 Words  | 6 Pages

    going to explain what treatments that can help the athlete cope with the anxiety issues. History and Terminology The reasons that previous research on this subject has been hard to synthesize is because of numerous reasons, those including ‘methodological flaws’ such as lack of clear definitions and also lack of clear ‘theoretical construct.’ In the following section terms will be established for words that will be throughout this paper. Also, this section will provide an overview of theories that

  • The Free Will in Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes

    3757 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Free Will in Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes I In Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes takes the reader through a methodological exercise in philosophical enquiry. After stripping the intellect of all doubtful and false beliefs, he re-examines the nature and structure of being in an attempt to secure a universally valid epistemology free from skepticism. Hoping for the successful reconciliation of science and theology, Descartes works to reconstruct a new foundation of

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    2765 Words  | 6 Pages

    Uncle Tom's Cabin Methodological Introduction In writing this essay, I was specifically interested in discovering what was behind the genre protest against Uncle Tom's Cabin. Consequently, the brunt of my research has been historical -- seeking out criticisms of the novel, written immediately or shortly after its publication, that deal with the issue of genre. Although this study is by no means comprehensive, I have attempted to do a general analysis of the specific protests themselves

  • Descartes Methodological Skepticism

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Descartes’ first meditation, “What can be called into doubt”, is an introduction to his methodological skepticism. The meditation starts off by Descartes reflecting on his beliefs and coming to realize that many of these beliefs have turned out to be false in the long run. This causes him to question his belief system and make him wonder about what other beliefs of his are false. He is intent on finding a way in which all of his beliefs will be indubitable. To do this, he figures that the best way

  • Methodological Issues In Organizational Change

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    Methodological Issues Faced In studying organizational change, researchers would do well to take a step back or change their perspectives from time to time. By looking too often at the pieces of the whole the connection to the whole is lost (Senge, 1990). Communication

  • Methodological Atheism In Jesus Camp

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    or practice from an objective standpoint. This is why most scholars who study religion utilize the functionalist approach in order to look for a particular function that religion plays in society. One of the key components of this approach is Methodological atheism, or remaining suspicious of supernatural claims. In addition, the functionalist approach breaks down religious claims into social functions and focuses on what purpose a religion serves for the insiders who practice it. This approach involves

  • The Debate Between Methodological Individualism and Holism

    1827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Explain and evaluate the debate between methodological individualism and holism. Introduction The explanatory variants of MI and holism are likely to be interdependent; both individualists and holists contribute meaningfully to the nature of social explanations. MI states that social phenomena are fully explained only when there is reference to the behaviour and action of individuals. Holism states that it is the study of collective forces, groups, and organisations

  • Comparing Weber's and Durkheim's Methodological Contributions to Sociology

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparing Weber's and Durkheim's Methodological Contributions to Sociology This essay will be examining the methodological contributions both Durkheim and Weber have provided to sociology. It will briefly observe what Positivists are and how their methodologies influence and affect their research. It will also consider what interpretative sociology is, and why their type of methodology is used when carrying out research. It will analyse both Durkheim's study of Suicide and also Webers