The analysis of consistency between sections of long texts: development of method, software, and techniques

• Grant number: 12/03185-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Business Administration
• Principal Investigator: José Osvaldo de Sordi
• Grantee: José Osvaldo de Sordi
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação. Centro Universitário das Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas (UniFMU). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project seeks to develop and test an approach to the analysis of the internal consistency of long texts. The approach involves concepts, techniques and tools. Necessary concepts include the importance of consistency for the generation of quality information as well as foundational ideas for the understanding of network techniques and internal references to documents. In addition to two existing programs which will be used, two software programs will be developed as part of this effort (a codifier and an integrator). One program, UCINET 6, generates indicators based on an analysis of networks, and the other, Netdraw, is used to generate a graphic representation of the network. The techniques to be developed involve both the application of relevant software (the utilization and ordering of application) and the interpretation of indicators and graphics produced by the network analysis programs. The primary research method to be used is that of Design Science, applied to pragmatic research and attempts to yield propositions of artifacts which will be tested by the supposed users of the artifact. The intended artifact is the approach to the analysis of consistency in long texts and the users are knowledge workers, represented by masters and doctoral students who have finished their research and need to develop a final version of their thesis or dissertation. The project envisions training pairs of committee chairs and graduate students in ten masters and/or doctoral programs in business. These pairs will be observed and analyzed in their use of the approach and will participate in tests to validate the approach. (AU)