Introduction to Research

Introduction to Research

• Research as a Conversation: Research is not just about gathering information but engaging in a conversation with your audience, contributing to their understanding of a topic.  

• Understanding Your Role: As a researcher, you are not merely presenting facts but offering reasons for your audience to care about your findings. You are contributing to a body of knowledge and understanding.  

• The Importance of Audience: Understanding your audience is crucial. You need to consider their existing knowledge, expectations, and potential responses to your research.  

• Research is a Process: Research is rarely linear; it involves moving back and forth between different stages, refining your questions, and adapting your approach as you learn more.  

• The Value of Sharing: The ultimate goal of research is to share your findings and contribute to a wider understanding of a topic, whether through written work or presentations.  

Additional Considerations for Students Studying Literature

• Literature as a Conversation: Literary texts engage in conversations with each other, with their historical and cultural contexts, and with their readers. As researchers, you are entering into this ongoing dialogue.

• Interpretation and Argumentation: Literary research often involves interpreting texts, making arguments about their meaning and significance, and supporting those arguments with evidence from the texts and other sources.

• Close Reading and Analysis: Close reading and analysis are essential skills for literary research, allowing you to uncover nuances and complexities in the texts you are studying.

• The Role of the Researcher: As researchers in literature, you have a responsibility to engage with the texts thoughtfully and critically, offering interpretations that are grounded in evidence and contribute to a deeper understanding of the works.

By understanding the key points from the introduction of The Craft of Research and considering the specific nuances of literary studies, you can embark on your research journey with a strong foundation and a clear sense of purpose.

Preparation Activity: Introduction to Research

Reading: Introduction: Your Research and Your Audience

Objective: To introduce the fundamental concepts of research in the humanities and its connection to the audience.

Instructions:

1. Reflective Essay: Write a few paragraphs reflecting your understanding of research in the humanities. Consider the following questions:

• What is the purpose of research in the humanities?

• How does research in the humanities differ from research in other fields (e.g., sciences, social sciences)?

• What role does the audience play in humanities research?

• How can researchers effectively connect with their audience?

• What are some potential challenges in communicating research findings to different audiences?

2. Case Study Analysis: Select a research article or book in the humanities and analyse how the researcher(s) connect with their intended audience. Consider the following:

• Who is the intended audience for this research?

• How does the researcher establish their role and credibility?

• What strategies does the researcher use to engage the audience?

• Are there any potential areas where the connection with the audience could be improved?

3. Discussion Preparation: Prepare for an in-class discussion on the role of research and audience in the humanities. Be ready to share your insights from the reflective essay and case study analysis.

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Class Outline: Introduction to Research

Objective: To provide an overview of the research process in the humanities and facilitate a discussion on the importance of audience engagement.

Outline:

1. Course Introduction and Overview:

• Introduce the course, its objectives, and the overall structure.

• Briefly discuss the expectations for student engagement and participation.

• Provide an overview of the research workflow in the humanities, highlighting the key stages and their interconnections.

2. What is Research?

• Define research in the context of the humanities.

• Discuss the different types of research conducted in the humanities.

• Emphasise the importance of asking meaningful questions and seeking answers through rigorous inquiry.

3. Connecting with Your Audience:

• Discuss the significance of understanding and connecting with the intended audience in humanities research.

• Explore the different roles that researchers can adopt and how these roles shape the research process and communication.

• Analyse how audience expectations and needs influence the selection of research topics, methodologies, and presentation styles.

4. Discussion:

• Facilitate a discussion based on the students' reflective essays and case study analyses.

• Encourage students to share their perspectives on the purpose of research in the humanities and the challenges of audience engagement.

• Address any questions or concerns that students may have about the research process.

5. Activity: "Research in the Real World"

• Engage students in a brainstorming activity where they identify examples of research in their everyday lives.

• Discuss how these examples demonstrate the principles of inquiry, problem-solving, and communication that are central to humanities research.

• Highlight the connection between everyday research practices and the more formal research they will be conducting in the course.

Reading for Next Week: Chapter 1: From Topics to Questions