As an undergraduate student who is thoroughly invested in learning about qualitative research strategies, it is becoming increasingly evident that most original ideas have already been explored, sometimes in detail, by other literature in the field of interest (in my case, terrorism studies). From your experience, do you have any recommendations for a student on how to approach a project in a way that will increase the likelihood of finding and filling gaps? All feedback is greatly appreciated.
Though it is very common for students (me included) to want to discover something new or making a breakthrough, that can often be irrational. I'm not saying it's impossible, but there are better goal to spend your energy than to look for an original idea never explored by anyone.
As a researcher, I think, what matters most is your own passion for the topics and the studies. Originality tends to follow experience, when you spend enough time on certain topic, you'd begin to see its quirks and edges otherwise go unnoticed, you'd start questions further, you'd start think beyond what's written. Then, you'll see, there are a lot of details not yet covered by that topic.
Beside that, what you can do is to explore the other techniques and methodologies (the more you understand, the more you can assess details).
Additionally, (this is my personal favorite in qual studies) I think it is wise to always give more attention to the context. We often have a ton of literatures available on a certain topic, but we do not have specific context on them. (This isn't original, but a good example. E.g why is it Japan's homeless individuals different from those of the rest of the world? This question leads to a rather specific variable regarding specific cultural value in play. This value exist accross all culture, but only expressed in certain individuals, with Japan collectively). So, again, from looking closer, which is only possible if you are experienced enough, you get to develop a big ideas original to you.
Last but not least, (this isn't practical, but very helpful for every social scientist), see which perspective of humanity fits your beliefs more. E.g i'm an existentialist; i personally believe that life is to become, so existentialism perspective fits me perfectly. Because of that, my research questions often focus on one's motives (what are they become by act a certain way and what motivates that?). This tends to limit my mind wondering about too much all-over the place questions.
Anyway, i hope this helps. Goodluck for your research!!
PS: originality is hard, and if the goal is to make a variable, theory, or a concept, it will take years, and decades to perfect it. So, don't give up, you'll get there eventually.
Though it is very common for students (me included) to want to discover something new or making a breakthrough, that can often be irrational. I'm not saying it's impossible, but there are better goal to spend your energy than to look for an original idea never explored by anyone.
As a researcher, I think, what matters most is your own passion for the topics and the studies. Originality tends to follow experience, when you spend enough time on certain topic, you'd begin to see its quirks and edges otherwise go unnoticed, you'd start questions further, you'd start think beyond what's written. Then, you'll see, there are a lot of details not yet covered by that topic.
Beside that, what you can do is to explore the other techniques and methodologies (the more you understand, the more you can assess details).
Additionally, (this is my personal favorite in qual studies) I think it is wise to always give more attention to the context. We often have a ton of literatures available on a certain topic, but we do not have specific context on them. (This isn't original, but a good example. E.g why is it Japan's homeless individuals different from those of the rest of the world? This question leads to a rather specific variable regarding specific cultural value in play. This value exist accross all culture, but only expressed in certain individuals, with Japan collectively). So, again, from looking closer, which is only possible if you are experienced enough, you get to develop a big ideas original to you.
Last but not least, (this isn't practical, but very helpful for every social scientist), see which perspective of humanity fits your beliefs more. E.g i'm an existentialist; i personally believe that life is to become, so existentialism perspective fits me perfectly. Because of that, my research questions often focus on one's motives (what are they become by act a certain way and what motivates that?). This tends to limit my mind wondering about too much all-over the place questions.
Anyway, i hope this helps. Goodluck for your research!!
PS: originality is hard, and if the goal is to make a variable, theory, or a concept, it will take years, and decades to perfect it. So, don't give up, you'll get there eventually.
Why limit your future? Don’t limit your interests to qualitative research. Keep a very open mind and involvement in quantitative research and it’s methodologies.
Originality in built on cultivating a deep interest in comparing perspectives to best see what is missing in an approach to a problem.
Challange the standard in the literature. That may be hard but it is fun and gives new insights. That is, for example, what we try to do when analyzing "Terror per Capita" instead of "Total Terror" as most of the literature does. The paper is now forthcoming in the Southern Economic Review: Article Terror per Capita
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