Beyond Method

Research is often seen as a neutral, technical process through which researchers simply reveal or discover knowledge. A broader and more self-reflective stance is advocated in Beyond Method, one in which a knowledge of technique needs to be complemented by an appreciation of the nature of research as a distinctively human process, through which researchers make knowledge. Such an appreciation requires a reframing of understanding and debate about research, in a way that goes beyond considerations of method alone.

"Beyond Method provides a forum for scholars across health and human sciences disciplines to explore issues surrounding philosophy, methodology, and epistemology in the context of interpretive scholarship. The essays comprising this volume move beyond the practical descriptions or the "how to" of interpretive methods commonly found in textbooks to explore the contributions, underlying assumptions, limitations, and possibilities embedded within and across particular philosophical, methodological, and epistemological perspectives. They reveal the complexity and richness of understanding that emerges when philosophical issues are explicated within contemporary contexts, illuminating new possibilities for healthcare and human science scholarship"--Publisher description.

Stella Adler (1901–92) trained many well-known American actors yet throughout much of her career, her influence was overshadowed by Lee Strasberg, director of the Actors Studio. In Beyond Method: Stella Adler and the Male Actor, Scott Balcerzak focuses on Adler’s teachings and how she challenged Strasberg’s psychological focus on the actor’s "self" by promoting an empathetic and socially engaged approach to performance. Employing archived studio transcripts and recordings, Balcerzak examines Adler’s lessons in technique, characterization, and script analysis as they reflect the background of the teacher—illustrating her time studying with Constantin Stanislavski, her Yiddish Theatre upbringing, and her encyclopedic knowledge of drama. Through this lens, Beyond Method resituates the performances of some of her famous male students through an expansive understanding of the discourses of acting. The book begins by providing an overview of the gender and racial classifications associated with the male "Method" actor and discussing white maleness in the mid-twentieth century. The first chapter explores the popular press’s promotion of "Method" stars during the 1950s as an extension of Strasberg’s rise in celebrity. At the same time, Adler’s methodology was defining actor performance as a form of social engagement—rather than just personal expression—welcoming an analysis of onscreen masculinity as culturally-fluid. The chapters that follow serve as case studies of some of Adler’s most famous students in notable roles—Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and The Missouri Breaks (1976), Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976), Henry Winkler in Happy Days (1974–84), and Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Balcerzak concludes that the presence of Adler altered the trajectory of onscreen maleness through a promotion of a relatively complex view of gender identity not found in other classrooms. Beyond Method considers Stella Adler as not only an effective teacher of acting but also an engaging and original thinker, providing us a new way to consider performances of maleness on the screen. Film and theater scholars, as well as those interested in gender studies, are sure to benefit from this thorough study.

Publisher's description: In this original book, B. Kumaravadivelu presents a macrostrategic framework designed to help both beginning and experienced teachers develop a systematic, coherent, and personal theory of practice. His book provides the tools a teacher needs in order to self-observe, self-analyze, and self-evaluate his or her own teaching acts. The framework consists of ten macrostrategies based on current theoretical, empirical, and experiential knowledge of second language and foreign language teaching. These strategies enable teachers to evaluate classroom practices and to generate techniques and activities for realizing teaching goals. With checklists, surveys, projects, and reflective tasks to encourage critical thinking, the book is both practical and accessible. Teachers and future teachers, researchers, and teacher educators will find the volume indispensable.

In this book, Jim Masterson, Equine Massage Therapist for the 2006 and 2008 and 2010 USET Endurance Teams, and for equine clientele competing in FEI World Cup, Pan American and World Games competitions, teaches a unique method of equine bodywork, in which the practitioner recognizes and follows the responses of the horse to touch to release tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance.This practical book with step-by-step instructions, photographs and illustrations is ideally suited to accompany you to the yard/stables, where you can practice the Masterson Method techniques on horses. Expanded chapters with Tips & Techniques, anatomical explanations and examples from Jim's practice help deepen your understanding. A 'quick reference' section will point you to exercises that are specifically suited to your particular discipline, may it be dressage, endurance, eventing, or others in the vast realm of horse sports.

Brainstorming and Beyond describes the techniques for generating ideas verbally, in writing, or through sketches. The first chapter focuses on brainstorming, the foundation method for ideation, which is a complex social process building off of social psychology principles, motivational constructs, and corporate culture. Brainstorming is commonly portrayed as an easy way to generate ideas, but in reality, it is a complex social process that is often flawed in ways that are not self-evident. Chapter 2 discusses Brainwriting, which is a variation on brainstorming in which each person writes ideas down on paper and then passes the paper to a new person who reads the first set of ideas and adds new ones. Since there is no group shouting out of ideas, strong facilitation skills are not required, and more often than not, Brainwriting results greatly exceed those of group brainstorming in a shorter time because ideas are generated in a parallel, rather than serial, fashion. Brainwriting is useful when time is limited, groups are hostile, or you are dealing with a culture where shouting out wild or divergent ideas might be difficult. Finally, in Chapter 3, readers learn about Braindrawing, a method of visual brainstorming that helps practitioners generate ideas for icons, other graphics, user interface layouts, or Web page designs. Each of these methods provides readers with ways to generate, present, and evaluate ideas so they can begin building a strong foundation for product success. Learn the proper techniques for generating ideas with limited time, hostile audiences, and limited facilitation support Explores efficient processes for analyzing the value of ideas Examines ways to generate visual as well as textual ideas

Gareth Morgan believes that examining organizations and management should be interesting, creative, practical, challenging, and directly relevant to the needs of all students of organization and management. In an ingenious and utterly delightful selection of organizational "stories," Morgan presents unique insights drawn from actual corporate (as well as nonprofit, public, and institutional) experience. These carefully chosen examples illustrate both organizational success and failures . . . because we can learn from both! These "stories" offer the depth and breadth of perspective we have come to expect from Morgan′s insightful and often witty framework of organizational analysis. And, they are interwoven with excerpts from many of the "classics" in organizational literature. His aptly named "Mindstretchers" entices the reader to expand his or her personal repertoire of approaches to the understanding of and solutions to organizational problems and challenges. For instructors in the field of organizational studies who wish to have a broad and creative resource for their courses, this book is a resource you will use and reuse for many years to come. Followed by cases and exercises--again drawn from both private and public sectors--that challenge us to view organizations in new and different ways, Creative Organization Theory will undoubtedly prove to be a truly "mindstretching" book! This exciting and enjoyable volume is one you′ll turn to frequently. "An inspiration for the creative tutor . . . . and an excellent fund of knowledge and information for the teacher in the disciplines of business, management, and organizational theory. The book contains mindstretching and broadening ways of enhancing the thinking processes of anyone engaged in the study of organizations--a subject which otherwise provokes much yawning and other signs of boredom. The author provides much-needed refreshment and is revolutionary in his approach." --Simulation/Games for Learning "A rich complement to primary management texts, especially Morgan′s provocative Images of Organization. Although the book′s focus is private sector, the perspectives of organization are universal and translation to the public sector is smooth. Creative Organization Theory particularly is imaginative in challenging students to abandon set ways of thinking using a rich mix of ′′mind stretching′′ exercises, diverse articles, and stimulating cases." --Robert Mier, University of Illinois, Chicago "This resourcebook contains ideas, stories, cases, exercises, and pieces of information that will help the reader gain a broadbased understanding of the nature and function of modern organizations . . . . Very useful for teaching, as well as being a good read for those with a particular interest in this important subject." --Long Range Planning

Explores the methodologies and influence of acting teacher Stella Adler on her male students.