ASSIGMENTS—AAAS 754
AUTUMN 2007
FINAL
ASSIGNMENT—DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
SELECT JUDITH
BUTLER BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEEK 3—QUIZ
NO. 1 due Monday Oct 8
WEEK 1 THINKING ALOUD--Preliminary Issues and Questions to think through for Monday, September 24.
[NB: Write down in your notebooks summaries of your
thoughts]
1. What are the major differences between INTERDISCIPLINARY and MULTIDISCIPLINARY?
2. How does contemporary Black Studies as a “discipline” fit under the two terms above?
*3. Read the following essay,
“Sociology and African-American Studies” by Ronald L. Taylor
Contemporary Sociology > Vol. 28, No. 5 (Sep., 1999), pp. 517-521
JSTOR URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0094-3061%28199909%2928%3A5%3C517%3ASAAS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-%23
be prepared to give verbal responses to the following questions which are based on the essay:
a. State one aspect of social science research practices/perspectives in the 1960s with regard to African American society/culture.
b. What specific contributions has African American studies of the last three decades made to the theoretical perspectives and empirical research of sociologists?
c. What are some disciplines and fields of study that are engaged as scholars make advances in African American Studies?
*You can also browse/download, directly form my homepage,
the essay at:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/socioaaa.pdf
Discussion questions (Babbie)
Chapter
1 Human Inquiry and Science
10. Compare premodern, modern, and postmodern views of
reality.
11. Describe what is meant by science being
logico-empirical.
12. Describe the three major aspects of the overall
scientific enterprise.
13. Define theory and indicate how it differs from philosophy
or belief.
14. Give three examples of social regularities.
15. Respond to the three
objections commonly raised regarding social regularities.
16. Define aggregate and present a rationale for
why social scientists examine aggregates.
17. Give four examples of variables and their respective
attributes.
18. Differentiate independent and dependent
variables by definition and example, and show how they contribute to
understanding causality.
19.
Compare idiographic and nomothetic explanations.
20. Compare induction and deduction as ways of developing theories. 21. Compare
quantitative and qualitative data.
22.
Differentiate pure and applied research.
23. Identify two basic ethical rules in doing social research.
SUMMARY
People live in a world of two realities.
People know things through agreement, the things people consider to be real
because they have been told they are real. People also know things through
direct experience. The scientific approach to both realities demands that two
criteria be met: an assertion must have both logical and empirical support.
Hence science is a special form of human inquiry, the result of the human
desire to predict future events and to understand patterns of cause and effect.
ESSENTIAL TERMS/BRIEF DEFINITIONS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS
RE-READ O’LEARY, PP.
10-11 and the given supplementary pages and to the following assignment
NB: In addition to the specific pages provided, kindly visit the online pdf glossary to enrich your definitions (http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/754gloss.pdf
In one sentence, each, define:
A. REFLEXIVITY (see also p. 176)
B. ACTION RESEARCH (see also p. 98; 133; Babbie, p. 296)
C. INTERPRETIVISM
D. ETHNOGRAPHY ( see also p. 118-120; also Babbie, p.289)
E. CASE STUDY (p. 115-117; also Babbie, p. 293)
F. TRIANGULATION (p. 115; also Babbie, p. 113)
G. REDUCTIONISM (Babbie, p.101; see also O’leary p.5)
H. In one sentence distinguish between NOMOTHETIC and IDIOGRAPHIC science/model (Babbie, pp. 21-24; 114)
I. LIST THE FOUR
CATEGORIES OF RESEARCH summed up in O’LEARY,
pp. 132-133
J. LIST THE FIVE DOCUMENT TYPES described in O’LEARY, p.178
K. In one short paragraph summarize major differences between POSITIVIST AND POST-POSITIVIST METHODS/ASSUMPTIONS as summed up in O’LEARY, pp. 4-8
L. Write one-sentence summary for each of the SEVEN SPECIALIZED QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS STRATEGIES in O’LEARY, pp.199-200.
M. COMPARE and SYNTHESIZE THE ONE-PAGE HANDOUT-RP2, O’Leary p.208, AND Babbie p. 113—RP3 with my original handout RP1. Write your own additions/suggestions that might help develop a strong, practical outline.[You can create your fresh outline of research proposal]
N. List FIVE criteria, features or practices that distinguish QUALITATIVE from QUANTITATIVE MEASURES (see handouts as a starter)
QUESTIONS—MID-TERM EXAM (TAKE-HOME; DUE MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 5)
PART 1 OF 2
Essay 1: “Are There Feminist Research Methods? Mona
Lena Krook
JSTOR or
direct link:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/femMeth1.pdf
[1] What is “Black feminist thought” and who are
some exponents/scholars identified with this “thought”? (List three names)
[2] What
is standpoint theory? Write a paragraph in which you make your own argument to
either support or disclaim this theory. In the paragraph, consider relevant
terms such as reflexivity, subjectivity, objectivity, interpretivism,
multivocality, reader-response theory, deconstruction, etc. (see today’s
handouts also)
[3] In one sentence state the relevance of
Participatory Action Research to feminist methodologies
[4] In one sentence summarize the “scientific
method” as summed up in Mona Lena Hook (“Are there Feminist Research
Methods?”)
[5] In one sentence summarize the distinctions
between “Method” and Methodology” as summed up in Mona Lena Hook (“Are
there Feminist Research Methods?”)
Drawing on Mona Lena Hook AND more on Patricia HARDING
(Intro, Tomorrow, Conclusion
chapters in Feminist Methodology book),
answer the following:
[6]What is the main argument, basis, rationale
or justification for Feminist Methodology?
[7] List the FIVE APPROACHES that feminist
scholars employ to “produce better accounts of gendered lives.” What additional
approaches/epistemologies/paradigms are described in the readings from Harding?
LINKS
TO HARDING, FEMINIST METHODOGY chapters:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/fem_epis_conclusion.pdf
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/fem_epis_intro_harding.pdf
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/fem_epis_tomorrow.pdf
GENERAL:
[1] Who was SOJOUNER TRUTH, WHAT IS THE TITLE OF
HER FAMOUS SPEECH, WHY IS SHE COUNTED AMONG EARLY FEMINISTS?
[2] list the THREE BASIC UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGES
PART 2:
Read the INTRODUCTON CHAPTER and the THREE
ESSAYS in BLACK STUDIES: theory,
method, and cultural perspectives. (See book on reserve; chapters are
also online as one pdf at:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/blckstdm.pdf
SUMMARIZE the contents IN ABOUT 3, DOUBLE-SPACED
PAGES by responding to the following
questions:
[1] describe, in very precise terms, the main “theoretical models,” “empirical
models,” and “paradigms” employed in Black Studies and their main limitations
[2]
Using Daudi Azibo’s essay, “PERSONALITY, CLINICAL AND
SOCIAL........APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE RESEARCH FRAMEWORKS.” (same pdf
file, blckstdm.pdf)...as a point of departure,
a.
briefly list and describe some of the “appropriate frameworks”
b. give
examples of “Africentric” viewpoints or paradigms and briefly discuss
their relevance to the quest for useful paradigms and methodologies
[3] Discuss, drawing on your understanding of
qualitative and quantitative methodologies (including their problems and
prospects) and how each or both (i.e., integrated, mixed method) can inform
Black Studies methodologies.
FINAL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR FINAL PAPER
(Previous work—quality and quantity—is taken into account and credit applied, in principle)
DUE DATE: FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 30; NO EXCEPTIONS
links to files for pt 2:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/oral_trad_vansina.pdf
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/history_linguistics.pdf
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/sources_techs_obenga.pdf
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/avorgbedor1/fifteenC_sources.pdf
[A]
The collection of essays titled SURVEY RESEARCH IN AFRICA: Its
Applications and Limits(ed. William O’Barr, David Spain and Mark
Tessler. Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1973)
call no. HN29 .O22 ON RESERVE (AAAS 754/863); ALSO AVAILABLE AT FAES
STACKS; also per Ohiolink.
Published in 1973, the contents are still relevant to contemporary
issues of research methodology and theory building in African and
African-American Studies.
1. a. “The History and Conduct
of Survey Research in Africa” (by the editors, pp. 3-19)
Summarize, in one sentence, the basic nature or features of survey
research in Africa before and after the 1950s. summarize also, in
another sentence, what you know or have learned so far about problems and
prospects of survey research in African American Studies?
b. In one sentence explain what the author means by
the following statement: “Perhaps the most significant epistemological issue
confronting social science today stems from its attempt to emulate natural
science” (p.14ff). Include in your response at least one problem, consequence
or bias associated with such “scientific posture.”
c. State the main reason why SURVEY
RESEARCH was popular and easily carried in Africa, as discussed in Pierre
van den Berghe, “Social Science in Africa: Epistemological Problems,” pp.
25-35.
2. Write one-sentence definitions of the following terms, using your own
words [these are discussed in pp; 36-47 (also in question 1.c)]:
a.
NOMOTHETIC____________________________________
b. IDIOGRAPHIC____________________________________
c. POSITIVISM______________________________________
d. REIFICATION____________________________________
d. ETHNOCENTRISM___________________________________
3. a. From the same pages (i.e., 36-47, CHAPTER 3: “WARRING
EPISTEMOLOGIES: QUALITY AND QUANTITY IN AFRICAN RESEARCH, Ronald Cohen ),
Summarize in about five sentences the basic merits and problems
associated with both QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE research
b. Summarize, in about five
sentences, additional merits and problems associated with
quantitative/survey research in Africa, drawing on chapters 4 and 5 (i.e., pp.
49-69: “Some (Problems of Quantitative Research in Africa;” “Research
Method or culture-Bound Technique? Pitfalls of Survey Research in Africa”)
B: HISTORY AND METHODOLOGY
Methodology and African prehistory / [General History
of Africa], VOL 1. UNESCO International Scientific
Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa ; editor, J. Ki-Zerbo Publish
Info London : Heinemann Educational Books ; Berkeley : University of California
Press, 1981, VOL 1, DT20
.G45 1981 V1 SUL Reference Stacks:USE IN LIBRARY, ACK
Stacks:MISSING, ACK Stacks:AVAILABLE, OSU Book Depository: AVAILABLE IN
OHIOLINK SYSTEM
Jan VANSINA, “Oral Tradition and its Methodology.” Pp.
142-165.
1. Provide one-sentence definitions for the following terms:
a. Griot/jali________________
b. Epic___________________
c. Hadith____________________
d. Panegyrics___________________
e. Mnemotechnical aid (p.. 152)____________________________
2. According to Vansina, “Only by cataloguing the various types of
narrative belong to the particular ethnic group being studied---is it possible
to discern not only favourite images or expressions but also the stereotyped
episodes,…migratory legends. (p.147)
List here examples (at least three) of “narrative forms” found in African
societies: a.____________b._______________c.__________
3.A. “The functions and the
literary form taken together constitute a valid typology which will enable the
historian to make a general evaluation of the probable distortions which his
sources may have suffered….” (p.150)
In ONE SENTENCE give example(s) of how the “social framework of a tradition”
(p. 148ff) (or sociocultural institutions) would FUNCTION to construct and
validate history in African societies. (Some of these institutions are
discussed also in Obenga, pp. 72-85: “Sources and specific Techniques used in
African History”)
B. In about five sentences, summarize
Vansina’s examples and arguments identifying and supporting the importance of
memory/memorization, “mental framework/unconscious collective ideas and images
[cultural memory?] and “relative chronology” in reconstructing history in
African
4. Finally, the authors highlights several examples that come from
linguistic, musical, ritual, social, religious….practices. With the great
diversity of African social and cultural systems and the great body of
performance traditions in mind, reflect (in a few sentences) on the challenges
and kinds of disciplinary background and training the rounded or competent oral
historian must possess. Mention one way in which the oral historian might work
to separate, for example, a “hearsay” from an “eye-witness” account.
5. “History and Linguistics” P. Diagne, pp. 233-259. In this essay the
author describes specific indigenous syllabic/alphabet writing systems.
A. Mention three of these (and the
ethnic group[s] and summarize, IN ONE SENTENCE ways in which
these can contribute to the study/our understanding of history in Africa. NB:
Some of these autochthonous writing systems are described also in Obenga, pp.
72-85: “Sources and specific Techniques used in African History” in relation to
his discussion of historical linguistics and oral history in Africa.
B. “Written Sources
Before the fifteenth Century” H. Djait, pp. 89-113. In about five
sentences, summarize some of the problems associated with scholars who
impose ethno-cultural categories (atlases) or distinctions between, for example
“black Africa” and the “Maghrib/Egypt. What is the author’s basic rationale or
premise for distinguishing five (i.e., a – e) “regional divisions”? (p. 91ff)