Mixing Social Science and Software Design - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal: Mixing Social Science and software Design   Your name   Course name             Professors’ name Date Abstract It could be argued that the discussion that surrounds development of software methodologies has evolved in the past years, from a focus on information technology and computer science to issues of values, meaning and communication. This shift in which development of software is perceived in the professional world can be explored through the use of a Foucauldian analysis of the discourses surrounding software development. This attempt will form the basis of a reflection on a particular form of discourses that methodologies used in software development, because in the past these methodologies has been the object of a struggle between various institutions, and these institutions have been competing in establishing a version of ‘truth’ with regard to this matter. When we understand how development of software methodologies have changed could improve individual understanding of their relationship with other sectors such as psychology or sociology, and this will provide a basis in which software methodologies will be designed, this paper will introduce a way in which such analysis could be performed. Theoretical background and Research question Although the concept of software development is a young human activity, software development is rich in history, and is made up of failures, innovation and incredible successes. With the development of ‘social web’ it can be argued that the process of software development and how interactive systems are being created, assessed and adopted has strongly influence the lives of many people in the world. Software design methodologies history could be divided into three main phases. The first phase, is the need for the software to support human in doing their tasks, inspirations was taken from industrial world, for instance on the ‘waterfall software development model’ where different various part in the development were organized in sequential and planned manner (Royce, 1970). In the earlier 60’s it was noted that large number of software projects were failing, and this was considered as ‘software crisis (Naur and Randell, 1968). The issue that was involved in software development was become of a problem as new methods of software development methodologies started to evolve and professionally diversify, while multidisciplinary approaches such as human-computer interaction, stated gaining academic momentum, as there was need for interaction between people and the system, and properly bringing out their requirements started to take the central stage in software development. Therefore, new development methodologies such as user-centric interactive and agile development techniques were designed and applied with success to a number of software projects. So much emphasis has been put during development of software on ‘users needs,’ it has been widely adopted in software development methodologies highlighting the importance of values as well as issues of meaning and communication between various stakeholders in software development projects; therefore the social aspect of this activity. The purpose of these research would to try and identify the relationship between various institutions and the speaker of truth that involves software developments field influenced that will shape methodologies used to develop software, also we can borrow Carabine’s (2001) words, “the aim of this research will involve uncovering, on a modest scale, apparatuses and institutions involved in the production of discourses and knowledge, and the power effects of software development in the world.” Methodology This research will use Foucauldian analysis of the way dissertation that surrounds methodologies of software development, and this has been shaped by competitive forces that are being used to establish a certain ‘objective truth’ about this object. The primary data that will be used in this research will be professional articles, books and scholarly articles from academic and those that are available in professional communities; which will have software development as a subject. In the research particular attention will be given to articles published in 60’s where ‘software crisis’ was noted, as well articles which have been published in the past and those that have been recently been published. Also, articles which will compose the data corpus will be given special attention because it will ensure its representablilty and pertinence of this research. Since the matter of software development have been much talked about in the public domain, it will make sense by investigating scholarly articles and press articles that are available on the Internet, also the research will encompass the whole problematic relationship between software design methodologies and the issues that involves meaning, identity and communication. In the context of Foucauldian analysis approach to the interpretation of discourse that involves methodologies in software development, the data that will be involved will be those that are relevant such as those that are perceived legitimate and position of power of the authors existing in particular field. Critical evaluation The research proposal which has been presented above, topic of methodologies in software development and dissertation surrounding software development can be investigated using wide range of discourse methods, and each method will rely on different theoretical and epistemological bases. For example, Conversation Analysis (CA) will focus on face-to- face interaction between people that are involved in the development of software. However, as said by Wetherell (2010), Conversation Analysis would adopt a different approach in relationship to what constitutes the relevant information in regard to study of this particular objective. In places where Foucauldian approach would be relevant, in most of historical and sociological perspective in which objective of the study inscribe itself into, Conversation Analysis will consider any data that will not be directly linked to a particular set of interactions that is being studied as beside the point. Thus, Conversation Analysis approach will not be used to study journalistic and academic publications, but emphasis will be put to focus in the actual, ‘real time’ interactions between individuals. Therefore, relevant data that will be collected in the framework of this research will be recordings made during development meetings, or in situations where aspects of software developments projects are being put into perspectives or discussed by different institutions such as corporate client and web agency. Conversation Analysis methods and theories would be analyzed in this particular object of study and this will be actual conversations of stakeholders in the framework of software development project. Such approach will bring better understanding of the way different people are in different institutions, and these different people having a stake in software development project. Conversation Analysis centered will be used in this institutional talk and this is according to Heritage (2001) or Silverman (1997) descriptions. Discursive analytic approaches will also be used in the research as described by Potter and Wetherell (2001), this analysis will consider how the subject will be made available within the discourse shape and also it will identity of people who are involved in such an activity. In Conversation Analysis (CA) approach, a bridge will be built between Foucauldian and “subject of language’ of approaches to discourse in the research proposal. Reference List Carabine, J. (2001) Unmarried Motherhood 1830-1990: A Genealogical Analysis, Chapter seven in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse as Data: A Guide For Analysis, Sage Publications. Davies, B. and Harré, R. (1990) Positioning: the discursive production of selves, Reading nineteen in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader, Sage Publications. Gergen, K.J. (1994) Self-Narration in Social Life, Reading eighteen in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader, Sage Publications. Heritage, J. (2001) Goffman, Garfinkel and Conversation Analysis, Reading four in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader, Sage Publications. Horton-Salway, M. (2001) The Construction of M.E.: The Discursive Action Model, Chapter four in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse as Data: A Guide For Analysis, Sage Publications. Naur, P., and Randell, B. (1968) Software engineering: Report of a conference sponsored by the NATO Science Committee, Scientific Affairs Division, NATO. Potter, J., and Wetherell, M. (2001) Unfolding Discourse Analysis, Reading fourteen Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader, Sage Publications. Royce, W. W. (1970) Managing the development of large software systems, Proceedings of IEEE WESCON. Wetherell, M. (2001) Debates in Discourse Research, Reading twenty seven in Wetherell, M., Taylor, S., Yates, S.J. (2001) Discourse Theory and Practice: A Reader, Sage Publications. Wittgenstein, L. (1953) Philosophical Investigations, trans, by G. E. M. Anscombe. Macmillan, New York. Read More