In his article, “What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This One- and How Can We Get Students to Join Us?”, Michael Kleine reflects on what creates a good research procedure; he boils it down to a hunter-gatherer strategy, and applies it to several researchers in their respective disciplines.
Source: Wikimedia
When Kleine uses the term “hunter-gatherer”, however, he does not refer to the popular concept of primitive societal methods of providing food for the early humans. But still, he kinda does… In both contexts, a hunter searches, thinks critically, and applies them self to the environment. On the other hand, gatherers search, sift, collect, and filter out what may be bad. So, in research, we must tap into our hunters and gatherers to develop a purpose, find sources, and apply the right sources to the production of the end product. When stratified, the process is broken down into collection, sifting, trend-finding, and writing.
Applied to my current research project, everything has its place (as it should). The project calls for us to think about a topic and apply it in a contemporary or abstract sense. From there, we collect our sources in the archives, analyze them, and sift through what is needed and what is not, only keeping whatever is useful and necessary. From here we are to find a “trend” or a pattern which may still apply to modern or abstract, and then apply our findings and write it.
And as far as I can see, his process applies directly to me:
Much like the scientist, social-studies, and English writers he interviewed, my collection has to do with the literal collection of evidence and sources, rather than reflection on word choice and audience.
Since most of my sources will/are news paper archives, I have a lot to sift through. I only keep and read what is related to my subject to avoid wasting valuable time and clutter of “iffy” sources.
The trend I’m looking for is a trend in the social inclination of students. Were students as open-minded then as they are now? Have students always been open minded? Who exactly do students disagree against, and about what?
Lastly, the writing, where I will apply my trends to shed insight on the social inclinations of students, as well as what builds these inclination, and what starts them.
Photo Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalina_hunter_gatherer.jpg