Research Terms

Summary – Research terms

Arguments

Weak arguments

* Emotionally toned „they failed hopelessly“; „they crippled a child’s chances of a successful career”

* Inconsequent arguments

* Begging the question statement is assumed to be true witout evidence other than the statement itself

* Tautology needless repetition of an idea

* Jargon specialized language used by people in the same work. Disguising a lack of clear thought

* Mere authority „world renowned author X said it so it must be true“

* Imperfect analogy

* Failing to distinguish factual statements from opinion

Forensic criterion

1. Identify key arguments in a piece of work and evaluate the soundness of the logic

2. Scour the piece for examples of weak arguments

Soundness of arguments

* Premises

* Inference words

* Conclusion

Radical critique

* Challenges assumptions

* Identify a conventional position

* Problematize it

* Identify contradictions & negotiations

* Use appropriate references and citations

Do’s

* Identify and discuss key studies include as much up-to-date material as possible

* Get the details right

* Critically analyze and evaluate the material

* Be analytical, critical and evaluative in your review

* Try to be reflexive – examine your own bias and make it known

* Use extracts, illustration & examples to justify your arguments

Don’ts

* Don’t discuss outdated or only old material

* Don’t use concepts to impress without definition

* Don’t drown in information

* Don’t accept or believe everything that is written

* Don’t only produce a description of the content of what you have read

* Don’t produce a list of items a list is not a review

Things to avoid in an abstract:

* Empty words & phrases

* Expletive constructions word that is in a sentence but does not have a spec. meaning on its own

* The passive

* Unplanned repetition

* Use shorten clauses

* Use elliptical constructions...