Refugees: Culture & Conflict - SOAN 323 - Steindorf

• What framework(s) or model(s) are the articles using to frame your topic?
  • Check the introduction, literature review, and/or abstract
  • Models are not theories; however, they are influenced by a theoretical framework
    • Theories are used to explain things, while models are used to discover things.
• What works are cited in the literature review or listed in the references? This may provide clues to what theory/perspectives are being used.
  • Look for words like paradigm, theory, perspective, or framework 
  • EX: Citing J. Piaget (in psychology) provides a Constructivist framework.
• What are the key arguments/questions?
  • Check in the abstract and/or introduction
  • Sometimes arguments are based on a theoretical framework
• Are similar questions posited by your sources?
  • Similar questions show a gap or need for explaining a “phenomenon”
• How are the articles defining the key terms you note? Are the various researchers in agreement with what these terms mean? If different researchers define these terms in different ways, it may have implications for how to address these concepts in the "field."
  • EX. How is culture defined?
  • Definitions can lead you to a discipline or theoretical perspective used to explain a concept.

Example articles:

1.  Baaz, Maria Eriksson, and Judith Verweijen. 2018. “Confronting the Colonial: The (Re)Production of ‘African’ Exceptionalism in Critical Security and Military Studies.” Security Dialogue 49 (1–2): 57–69.

2.  Beauzamy, Brigitte. 2007. “The Sex Which Is Not One.” Innovation: The European Journal of Social Sciences 20 (2): 95–107. doi:10.1080/13511610701502214.

Search for your topic in a database, but add "theory" in the abstract field. Since theories are typically mentioned in the abstract, this will help pinpoint potentially relevant theories.

Haven't found a relevant theory to use? Try globalization or critical theory for testing purposes during class.

Use the catalog or I-Share to search for sources in your theoretical and/or analytical framework. For example, search for "feminist theory."  When you find a source, browse the table of contents to find a chapter related to your research topic.

Haven't found a relevant theory to use? Try feminist theory or critical theory for testing purposes during class.

Use the Encyclopedia of Social Theory to read an overview on the theory discovered in the databases.  Remember to check out the bibliography for additional sources relating to the theory.

Haven't found a relevant theory to use? Try feminism or critical theory for testing purposes during class.

Search for your topic in a database's book reviews.  Book reviews will often highlight theory discussed in a book. They're also a great source for summaries of important concepts within your area of research, and you may notice who agrees with whom and what arguments come up repeatedly.

Haven't found a relevant theory to use? Try feminist theory or critical theory for testing purposes during class.