How to write a report

First, how to choose the problem

I have been lingering with me. In the more than a year of writing the doctoral thesis's opening report, the instructor Professor Xue Wei repeatedly asked a question: "What is your puzzle?" How many times I answered without thinking, "My problem is Why can't China's semiconductor industry develop?" Teacher Xue’s question, with its unique savings, laughs and does not answer. I am both annoyed and sorrowful in my heart: such a simple truth, such an obvious answer, what is wrong? !

The mystery lies in the "level" of the question. Different from policy research reports, academic articles gather theoretical level and solve theoretical problems. Theory is a logical system constructed from a series of prefaces and terminology. The theory of a particular field has its specific concepts, categories, and research paradigms. Only under the same concepts, perspectives and paradigms can the theory be able to talk; only through dialogue can the theory develop. Very few essays are about creating new theories. It is certainly best, but it is very difficult. Most of us develop on the basis of existing theories. Therefore, when asking questions, we should express them with terms and clear logic that can be understood by “internal”. Looking at the question I originally asked, "Why can't China's semiconductor industry develop?" This is just an inquiry into the phenomenon, not a theoretical proposition to be verified. My theoretical proposition is: "Is China's industrial policy process an elite-led consensus process?" In this proposition, the terms "policy process", "elite politics", and "consensus appeal" outline the general scope of the theory and Perspective.

Second, the choice of the problem is a process of "splitting the bamboo shoots." Theoretical problems are always hidden behind complicated and complicated realities, and the discovery of theoretical problems requires the ability to apply theoretical thinking. The training of theoretical thinking is a long-term accumulation process. However, beginners do not have to be discouraged. In general, they can be divided into “three steps”: the first step is to define a “scope of interest” such as semiconductor industry, information industry, rural medical care, higher education system, etc. Reports, government literature, and academic articles find the “sticky” or “hot spots”. The second step is to summarize the theoretical perspectives of previous researchers to analyze the "sticky" or "hot spots" and what theoretical tools are used, such as the perspective of public finances and the paradigm of social conflicts. The third step is to examine the researchability of the problem, which is the feasibility of our own research space and research. For example, can Western theories not explain China's problems? Or can the same problem be explained by different theories? Or is the assumption of the theory itself and the logical deduction of defects? By answering these questions, we find a foothold in our research. However, we must also pay attention to whether our research is possible within one to two years of the prescribed period. Is data acquisition feasible? and many more.

Finally, how to state the problem? Declaring a problem is essentially a process of condensing the core point of view. The point of view should come from thinking and summarizing the actual problems, rather than “cutting the feet” for the sake of theory. China's political, economic and social development is full of dynamic and rich scenes. How can it be expressed in proper terms and accurate logic? Ambitious beginners often come up with grand concepts or frameworks, but my advice is to narrow the scope of the study as much as possible, to clarify the object of the study, to clarify the memory logic of the object, and to ensure that the normative study can be completed in a limited time.

Thesis. For example, "China's semiconductor industry policy research" is a very vague statement, we can shrink the topic from several aspects: time: from 1980 to 2000; object: government insurgents and decision-making behavior, not market, enterprise, Governance structure, etc.; Perspective: Elite research in politics and government theory; Case: 908 Project, 909 Project, File No. 13 and Electronic Revitalization, two major projects and two semiconductor projects in the field of semiconductor policy from 1980 to 2000 An important file. Through such a clear definition, we will focus on the obvious concepts of “policy process”, “elite” and “consensus”, and the problem will come to the fore. At the same time, the problem is clear. We have clear standards when we filter information and materials. In this era of “information redundancy”, we can greatly improve research efficiency.

Second, how to do literature review

First of all, we need to "review the literature, so we must summarize and comment on the literature with the author's own critical perspective, not just the "stacking" of academic research in related fields. The main line of commentary should be developed according to the problem, that is, other How do scholars view and solve your problems, and are there any flaws in their methods and theories? If other scholars have solved your problems perfectly, then there is no need to repeat the research.

The meaning of the literature review is clear, and now it is said how to do literature review. Although collecting information as widely as possible is a responsible research attitude, it is extremely easy to introduce people into the literature if there is a lack of standards.

Tip 1: Target the mainstream. Mainstream literature, such as core journals in the field, classic works, research reports of specialized departments, opinions and expositions of important compounds, are “compulsory courses” for literature review. The relevant reports or remarks in most mass media, although somewhat valuable, can be simplified if time and energy are limited. How to find out the mainstream of the field? It is recommended to start from the following ways: First, the Chinese and foreign academic journals of the library, after finding one or two "classic" articles, "shun the vine", pay attention to their references. Higher-quality academic articles usually do not ignore mainstream and classic literature in the field. Second, the use of the "Chinese Journal Network", "Foreign Journal Database Search" and the foreign language reading room of the school library can find some of the earlier classic documents. The third is the National Library. Some social science books published in the 1970s and 1980s, and even the school libraries are often not collected, but the national map is a lot. Not only that, but the national map also contains a lot of research China. Political and government foreign language books can be easily accessed from the Internet.

Tip 2: Organize at any time, such as classifying documents, recording document information and place of collection. It took a long time to do a doctoral thesis. Some of the documents were not necessarily useful at the time. I couldn’t find it afterwards, so sometimes the record is necessary. Luo servants have accumulated a list of books on the study of China's policy process, and also recorded the book classification number and location of the book. At the same time, for a particularly important document, you may wish to make a reading.

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