Overview
This exercise is intended to provide you with an opportunity to reflect on the readings that you
have completed. This assignment isn’t meant to be an exhaustive review of the readings, but
rather as a way to get you to delve deeper into the issues around sociological research
methodologies.
Your reflection will be evaluated for content (e.g. completeness, ability to summarize your
thoughts in a clear, concise manner).
Technical Guidelines (you *will* lose points if you fail to follow these technical details)
– Half a page to one page in length
– Double-spaced
– 1-inch margins
– 11 pt Arial font
Prompt:
Write your reflection as an answer to the following question:
1.) Choose one of Luker’s arguments in Chapter 4 or 5, and evaluate its usefulness as a
tool for conducting your own work.
(For example, in Chapter 4, one argument Luker makes is that doing sociological
research means that we are using a logic of discovery, and not a logic of verification to
ask our research questions).
Things to consider (these are suggestions, you don’t have to answer all of them):
– Do you agree or disagree with Luker’s argument? Why or why not?
– What concrete, useful lesson is Luker trying to teach you, and do you think that it
is advice that you are likely to use when you are developing your own research?
Why or why not?
– Does her argument change your perspective on a potential project you were
thinking about doing? How so?
– What questions or criticisms do you have regarding Luker’s argument or point of
view?