Can anyone help me with research methodology please??! on PostgraduateForum.com

SakuraM
7 years ago

Hello!
I am working on a PhD proposal about Britain and/in the Middle East and I'm wondering if anyone could help me pick a research methodology. I am thinking about Historicism (obvious)...what other tools do you suggest? I don't know if it's only me but I find this part more challenging than the actual research!!! Your input is greatly appreciated. Anything related to Chomsky methodology-wise would be a plus.
Please don't hesitate to send me links to actual proposals/ theses using the methods you advise. I am really stuck!!!
Thanks for your help!!!

skyisnotthelimit
7 years ago

Hey SakuraM. Tell us more about what you want to do, which angle do you want to cover, what do you want to focus on? things like that. because with what you have written it is a bit difficult to understand what you want to do and as such recommend any research method.

S

SakuraM
7 years ago

Quote From skyisnotthelimit:
Hey SakuraM. Tell us more about what you want to do, which angle do you want to cover, what do you want to focus on? things like that. because with what you have written it is a bit difficult to understand what you want to do and as such recommend any research method.

Hello skyisnotthelimit and thanks for the post!

Well, this is still a bit tentative as I am not 100% settled on the exact angle but in a nutshell what I want to do is explore the role of the UK in the current situation in the Mideast post-9/11/War on Iraq/ "Arab Spring". I'll have to revisit the history of the two entities since Britain's involvement in that region at the end of the 19th century/ beginning of the 20th and the impact of its doings then on the current situation. It involves international relations/ politics/ geostrategy, etc. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

Thanks in advance for any help!

skyisnotthelimit
7 years ago

Quote From SakuraM:

Quote From skyisnotthelimit:
Hey SakuraM. Tell us more about what you want to do, which angle do you want to cover, what do you want to focus on? things like that. because with what you have written it is a bit difficult to understand what you want to do and as such recommend any research method.

Hello skyisnotthelimit and thanks for the post!

Well, this is still a bit tentative as I am not 100% settled on the exact angle but in a nutshell what I want to do is explore the role of the UK in the current situation in the Mideast post-9/11/War on Iraq/ "Arab Spring". I'll have to revisit the history of the two entities since Britain's involvement in that region at the end of the 19th century/ beginning of the 20th and the impact of its doings then on the current situation. It involves international relations/ politics/ geostrategy, etc. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hey SakuraM. That is a very interesting topic. From what I see, in terms of methodology it can depend on whether you're more familiar with qualitative or quantitative methods. OR both. IT would be ideal if you could go for a mixed methodology involving:

a. literature review (that would enable you to revisit the history of the two entities)
b. in-depth interviews with stakeholders for example politicians, experts of international relations etc.
c. a survey to measure the perceptions of people about UK's role in the mentioned situation. That can enrich your research greatly. a survey always does - I think.

Good luck :)