I am required to read a couple of research papers and identify the philosophy and method utilized in a research paper. Suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You.
Hi Duke - I used to work at University of Plymouth. A good spot!! My answer is that it would depend on the depth of critical appraisal required. You could simply look just to the title and abstract if all you had to do was list them. If a moderate to in-depth appraisal was required then you would need to use tools at your disposal i.e. CASP. The attached chapters may assist from a text that I co-author. The first is general search and review process and the other is more detailed critical appraisal of single studies. It's nursing-focused - but the principles are generic. The two quantitative and qualitative critical appraisal frameworks are in-depth.
The research philosophy can be identified via a number of ways, thus: the concepts used, the conceptual and/or theoretical framework, the kind of authors cited -positively and negatively-, the challenges or bets set out by the author in that paper, or also the silence whti the paper about some schools, concepts, understanding s and interpretations.
As for the method used, I would recommend to read as many papers and books as possible about reserach methodology. And then go back to the papers you are studying.
I usually just look at the citations, usually at the end of the paper, and then try to work out which are the seminal texts for the author/s of the paper, which is usually stated explicitly in the abstract at the beginning of a paper. If still unclear I read the introduction to the paper, and if that does not indicate the seminal texts - then I tend to lose patience unless, as in your case, I really have to wade through a paper to find out the basis for its being written at all! Once I find seminal texts I usually get the titles and read their introductions and conclusions, and if interested, read the whole book or paper, and over time I have built up a considerable number of reference points in that way, but if you are early years, you can create a reading list for the holidays! I am sure that will be something to look forward to, ha, but very useful if you are keen on your subject area. Remember that theories are simply descriptions of what the describer believes is happening, has happened or will happen, and all descriptions are paradoxical [a philosophical point that not all philsophers agree with of course!].
Thank you gentlemen for your replies. I will take the advice to mind.
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