Conceptual or methodological alternatives available at each stage have both fundamental strengths and weaknesses. Although some alternatives have more drawbacks than others, no alternative is free of limitations. Fourth, choices about research are subject to a wide variety of constraints. As researchers move through the set of choices, every choice made in the research process influences and restricts choices made later. Substantive conclusions about a phenomenon typically are bound by the sequence of conceptual and methodological choices that led to them.
Constraints also exist that are independent of past choices in a research cycle.
Recognition of these constraints is a recognition that the research process is an open system. A consideration of both the logical and practical constraints on choices in past research should highlight blind spots and open avenues for improvement. The articles will either address particular issues based on the topic of the class session or serve as illustrations of particular issues. In addition, chapters from well-established scholarly books pertaining to research methodology will be included. Besides the readings, I will lead a discussion of the assigned articles and chapters each session, and I will charge one or two students per session with the responsibility of finding an additional related article or book chapter to discuss and critique.