Can We Be Wrong? The Problem of Textual Evidence in a Time of Data

Andrew Piper (McGill University, Montréal)

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English

Cambridge University Press
19 November 2020

Literary theory; Literary studies: from c 1900 -; Database programming

Series: Elements in Digital Literary Studies

This Element tackles the problem of generalization with respect to text-based evidence in the field of literary studies. When working with texts, how can we move, reliably and credibly, from individual observations to more general beliefs about the world? The onset of computational methods has highlighted major shortcomings of traditional approaches to texts when it comes to working with small samples of evidence. This Element combines a machine learning-based approach to detect the prevalence and nature of generalization across tens of thousands of sentences from different disciplines alongside a robust discussion of potential solutions to the problem of the generalizability of textual evidence. It exemplifies the way mixed methods can be used in complementary fashion to develop nuanced, evidence-based arguments about complex disciplinary issues in a data-driven research environment.

By: Andrew Piper (McGill University Montréal)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 228mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 6mm
Weight: 144g
ISBN: 9781108926201
ISBN 10: 1108926207
Series: Elements in Digital Literary Studies
Pages: 75
Publication Date: 19 November 2020
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction, or What's Wrong with Literary Studies?; Part I. Theory: 1. Probable Cause; Part II. Evidence Eve Kraicer, Nicholas King, Emma Ebowe, Matthew Hunter, Victoria Svaikovsky, and Sunyam Bagga; 2. Machine Learning as a Collaborative Process; 3. Results; Part III. Discussion: 4. Don't Generalize (from Case Studies): The Case for Open Generalization; 5. Don't Generalize (At All): The Case for the Open Mind; Conclusion: On the Mutuality of Method.

Andrew Piper is Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at McGill University. He is the director of .txtLAB, a laboratory for cultural analytics, and editor of the Journal of Cultural Analytics. He is also the author of Enumerations: Data and Literary Study (Chicago 2018).