Method. A tricky thing really. Method is defined as “the principles and empirical processes of discovery and demonstration considered characteristic of or necessary for scientific investigation, generally involving the observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to demonstrate the truth or falseness of the hypothesis, and a conclusion that validates or modifies the hypothesis.”
My methods are varied. I have methods for sampling for example. Within my sampling methods, there are methods for sample selection of households, methods for sampling of calves, methods of sampling for households meeting criteria for further oberservation and hypothesis exploration, and methods resulting from the modification of these sampling methods in the field. I also have methods for analysis of laboratory data, methods for the analysis of survey data, and methods beyond methods for drafting a methods section containing so many varied methodologies. My methods section is the most incomprehensible collection of scientific and techno-babble I have ever generated. Amusing and terrifying. At first I was proud, but now I am ashamed. In order to save my soul from scientific and academic hell, I will post a new methods section here; one that captures in exquisite detail the realities of the research and procedures implemented by the researcher, and one that is actually intelligible to the non-veterinarian, non-biologist, non-research scientist, and my mother.
This will be a monumental achievement, and one that I hope to continue with the remainder of my thesis. My goal is to draft two theses: 1) the MSc. thesis for the University of California, Davis and for publication; and 2) the alternate thesis, a manual of sorts for the non-scientist on how molesting calves in Tanzania can prove a point about disease transmission.
Would somebody please add these guys to the Registered Sexual Predators database!
Tomorrow I will present my methods. Thereafter will come my rationale, my results, and my conclusions, all sporadically interrupted of course by relevant details surrouding their respective composition. How tremendous.
1 response so far ↓
Mary // March 11, 2009 at 1:11 am |
Your mother is anxiously awaiting the Reader’s Digest version (BIG PRINT, OF COURSE!)
of your next installment of The Thesis.