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Questions of scale

Questions of scale. Finding your way to a compelling question. topics. What is your interest area broadly described? Is there a physical or virtual “site” in which your interest lies? Is there a population or characteristic group about which your interest lies?

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Questions of scale

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  1. Questions of scale Finding your way to a compelling question

  2. topics • What is your interest area broadly described? • Is there a physical or virtual “site” in which your interest lies? • Is there a population or characteristic group about which your interest lies? • Complete the following sentence: • The topic of my paper/study/research is ____________. • Now frame that topic as a question…this requires thinking of the topic from a particular perspective or context.

  3. Frames • Conceptual frames can come from disciplinary fields: • Psychology • Sociology • Economics • History • Political Science • Conceptual frames can come from comparative analysis: • Compare and contrast • Thematic similarities or differences • Conceptual frames can come from problems of practice (often still disciplinary) • How can we make this better?

  4. Levels of analysis • Using a single conceptual frame, try scaling up and scaling down your topic to explore different levels of analysis: • Mega: what is your topic at an almost global level? • Meta: what is your topic at a disciplinary level? • Mezzo: what is your topic at a theoretical level? • Micro: what is your topic at a practical level? • Minutiae: what is your topic at an exemplary level?

  5. Questions • For example, if my topic is socialization in student organizations, here’s a draft (not perfect) of five levels of questioning: • Mega (humanity): how do people form groups? • Meta (disciplinary): what is the nature of socialization? • Mezzo (theoretical): how do norms work to control human behavior? • Micro (practical): how does hazing serve to socialize new fraternity members into group membership. • Minutiae (exemplary): how does drinking upside-down martinis help fraternity pledges bond with one another?

  6. Finding the right level • Depending on your assignment or task there is an appropriate level of analysis and questioning to explore. • Most students suffer from working with topics that are either too broad or too detailed. • Many students suffer from working with topics that have not been framed conceptually thus they have difficulty constructing a question or thesis. • To write a good paper or design a good study you must appropriately name your topic and conceptually frame that topic as a compelling question.

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