The Pivotal Role of the Methodological Focus: A Positive Critique of Anthony Giddens

Abstract

In the last chapter, I stressed the complexity, intricacy and variety of the research process, and the premium this places on the refinement of procedures of assessment, on the developing of guidelines that can help us to track this variety. I went on to discuss the relationship between research and writing and how the guidelines must help us to track the research within — and often in spite of — the writing (or whatever textual form it appears in). Reflexivity should be part of, directed towards, both research and writing, analysis and textuality. The display of reflexivity in the text should be a display of reflexivity about the analysis, and about the moves made in the construction of the text — it should reflect upon and expose its textual devices.