Academic Writing – Page 3 – Scribbles from the Ivory Tower

This post provides an introduction to the issue of choosing your methods in research.

Once you have decided on a research question, you’re now likely going to start choosing what methods to apply in your research.

Depending on your field of study, your go-to methods will likely be either quantitative or qualitative. Some may say that quantitative methods are better than qualitative methods. Note that neither method is “better” than others absolutely. Imagine trying to cut a steak using a bread knife. Theoretically, you could do it, but then it’ll take a goddamn long time and you’re not doing justice to a prime cut of meat. Instead of insisting on using a bread knife, go buy a proper steak knife. That analogy illustrates the issue of methods: none are absolutely better, they just have different utility depending on what you’re trying to cut. As King, Keohane, and Verba wrote in Designing Social Inquiry (1994):

“All good research can be understood—indeed, is best understood—to derive from the same underlying logic of inference.”

Besides, choosing between qualitative or quantitative isn’t even half the battle.

Continue reading “Ivory Tower Writing #5: Deciding your methods” →

This post addresses the problem of the research question and how one may formulate it.

Ah, the research question. Perhaps one of the most dreadful parts of the pre-writing phase, yet the most important. You see, the research question is essentially your idea—which I assume you already have at this point—given physical form. Without it, your research will likely drag you all over the place, making you feel even more lost.

Continue reading “Ivory Tower Writing #4: Formulating the research question” →

This post covers the art of looking for ideas to write about.

In Ivory Tower Writing #2, I covered the general writing process. Now, let’s dive into the details of the parts, starting with the pre-writing part.

Perhaps the single most excruciating thing during the pre-writing part is finding an idea. Without an idea, you simply don’t have a paper.

Continue reading “Ivory Tower Writing #3: Looking for ideas” →

This post covers the basics of the writing process, from pre-writing, writing, and post-writing.

Like most art forms, writing is a process. Like, a really long process and not to mention agonizing. If this deters you, then perhaps you want to reconsider your life choices. Then again, you need the degree so bad, either to make your parents happy or to get that job you want but will never get.

Continue reading “Ivory Tower Writing #2: The writing process” →

This post is an introduction to the Ivory Tower Writing series.

After a prolonged absence (I think it’s been almost a year since I last posted something here), I’ve decided to restart operations. And what better way to do that than starting a new article series!

Continue reading “Ivory Tower Writing #1: What, why, and how” →