Objects of Study Constructing a text for criticism

What is an object of study?

This is a contested issue! The humanities and social sciences have undergone enormous debate in the last few decades about what constitutes a proper object of study and what can be meaningfully said about it.

What is an object of study? For our purposes, we should seek accessible texts that document communication rituals in which our core problems appear.

Human Subject Research Because research on human subjects can entail profound risks and dangers for the participants (and others), all such projects must be submitted for approval to a IRB review board.

Human Subject Research Because research on human subjects can entail profound risks and dangers for the participants (and others), all such projects must be submitted for approval to a IRB review board. Collecting any data about living human beings, even simple surveys and interviews, need IRB approval

Human Subject Research Because research on human subjects can entail profound risks and dangers for the participants (and others), all such projects must be submitted for approval to a IRB review board. Collecting any data about living human beings, even simple surveys and interviews, need IRB approval Penn State's IRB page

Human Subject Research You can avoid the complexities of IRB approval by using publically available texts and personal “autoethnography” writing.

Texts

Consider using publically accessible texts:

Texts Consider using publically accessible texts: Public speeches by officials P.R. releases and other formal documents Published interviews Laws and other writing/speech that is part of the public record Published journalism and opinion pieces Media texts/fiction (e.g. film, TV, novels, etc)

Texts Consider using personal writing:

Texts Consider using personal writing: You can make your own journal writing part of the analyzable text of your project.

Texts Consider using personal writing: You can make your own journal writing part of the analyzable text of your project. Document/date your experiences, ensure that the place/people you describe remain anonymous, and make your writing rich enough to serve as an object of study

Texts Consider using personal writing: You can make your own journal writing part of the analyzable text of your project. Document/date your experiences, ensure that the place/people you describe remain anonymous, and make your writing rich enough to serve as an object of study For more on this approach, see these resources: autoethnography overview undergraduate paper example another example

Texts Remember: Your research will largely stand or fall on the coherence and significance of your object/texts.

Texts Remember: Your research will largely stand or fall on the coherence and significance of your object/texts. Constructing and justifying this object is one of your primary tasks.

Texts Remember: Your research will largely stand or fall on the coherence and significance of your object/texts. Constructing and justifying this object is one of your primary tasks. You will need real, specific, and documented communication behavior: language and human interaction.