answering the “so what?” question: chuck tilly’s 2003 guide

One of the perennial issues for novice and expert researchers alike is answering the “so what” question of why bother researching a particular phenomena.  In particular, sociologists must justify their places in a big-tent discipline, and orgheads swim in the murky expanse of interdisciplinary waters.  For such researchers, this question must be answered in presentations and publications, particularly in the contributions section.

While it’s easy for expert researchers to melt into a potentially crippling existential sweat about the fathomless unknown unknowns, novice researchers, unburdened by such knowledge, face a broader vista.  According to Chuck Tilly,* researchers need to decide whether to enter existing conversations, bridge two different conversations, initiate a new conversation, or…???**

Since I couldn’t remember Tilly’s exact quote about conversations despite hearing it at least twice during his famous Politics and Protest workshop (before at Columbia, now at the GC), I pinged CCNY colleague John Krinsky.

Krinsky responded to my inquiry by sharing this great questionnaire and chart of low/high risk/reward research: TillyQuestionnaire_2003.  This document offers helpful exercises for discerning possible contributions for research projects at all stages.

*For Krinksy’s (and others) tribute to Tilly’s mentorship and scholarship, go here.

** If anyone remembers Tilly’s exact quote about conversations, please share in the comments.