Methods Course 2022 KF3BAS2Links to an external site.

Briefing notes at start of course:

In both the general doctorate and ‘artistic’ doctorate models there are three strong themes.
 
(i)      theoretical + research paradigms
(ii)     disciplinary context(s)
(iii)    choice of– and rationale for the choice of –method

The doctoral researcher should be able to demonstrate capacity to work with these three general areas of consideration and questioning – regardless of their métier, practice, discipline or art form.

A core assumption of the course is that in order to successfully complete a doctoral programme a researcher should be able to demonstrate an ability to critically explore method choice and arguments about method with respect to different kinds of knowledge claims. 

This applies even if the researcher's position is to argue against the centrality of method or to critique method discourse as ideological / misguided / Eurocentric / patriarchal / unsuited to their practice and context / or otherwise ill-founded. (Such arguments are often made and have critical importance. However, there remains a task for doctoral researchers to disclose the pathways they are following or constructing anew, and to give account of why they have followed these paths and not others.

The course is introductory and basic in nature, which means that it will be necessary for each researcher to do independent work (identifying their own additional resources) in order to elaborate their own positions and practices vis-a-vis research method questions and debates.

The basic purpose of the course is to enable you as a researcher:

• to articulate (and problematize) the difference between method (how something is done) and methodology (how a particular way of researching is described, explicated and reasoned) with reference to your actual enquiry
• to identify and evaluate the viability of different research methods and different forms of argumentation with respect to how research is organized, implemented and communicated within your wider field of enquiry (not just your own project)
• to develop a clearer “research design” and "research plan" for the completion of your own doctoral research project
• and to situate your own research undertakings with respect to debates about the viability / non-viability of method disclosures in research practices across the arts and other domains. (i.e., to understand why “method” talk is so contentious for some colleagues, and work out your own position.)

The basic model of doctoral education is that one learns the craft of research by doing a substantial and sustained research project of several years (typically 3 to 5 years).

Therefore, there is a particular concrete research project AND a more general expanded discussion of the principles, challenges, protocols, and cultures of research practice.

Typically, the way in which a doctoral research project is communicated and disclosed within the examination process for the award is different from the way everyday research work (outside of an examination process) is done, because in the doctoral exam process there is a very specifically tuned and highly focused scrutiny for the purposes of the exam.

One aspect of this is that grappling with epistemological questions (theories of knowledge); methodological questions; and general contextualization is made very prominent in the doctoral exam process.  (This can create paradoxes for all concerned, but is typically seen as a pedagogically useful way to develop critical judgement and epistemological position.) This will often give rise to a challenge:

• How do you frame what you are doing not only as the PRODUCTION of craftwork / art / design / performance / theatre / music etc., but also as the ACTION of enquiry / generating new understanding for others / creating new knowledge and insight etc.?
• Part of this will mean that often the existing ways in which the research project is described and announced may be challenged or questioned.
• This questioning happens in order to address how you do research, and how you learn to improve and develop how you do future research, whether operating collectively or otherwise.

You can see the formal course document that describes the course, its credits etc. here: course plan KF3BAS2Links to an external site.

Here is the schedule:  https://canvas.gu.se/eportfolios/1764/Home/SCHEDULE_METHODS_2022

Here is a list of PhD examples that we will be looking at during the course: https://canvas.gu.se/eportfolios/1764/Home/PhD_EXAMPLES_METHOD_STATEMENTS