methods_tools.md

RESEARCH METHODS/TOOLS

Resources for writing academic papers in plain text

The core idea is could be described as source code approach to academic writing in which you will need:

1. a text editor of your liking for editing the source code
   • Notepad is good, but for windows I recommend Markdown Pad and
   • for OS X maybe Mou, Clockwork Engine or perhaps TEXTS.
   • Also, Sublime Text is an excellent editor of all OS's.
   • There are several others if you google
2. pandoc for converting source code into formats you like
   • syntax for pandoc markdown
   • try pandoc online
   • install pandoc
3. latex for scientific journal article pdf's

General introductions

• in English a this is great starting point: WRITING AND PRESENTING SOCIAL SCIENCE
• in Finnish from my blog: Markdown ja pandoc - tekstipohjaisen tieteellisen kirjoittamisen työvirta

Some screenshots

Sublime text 3 in Windows

Gedit 3 in Ubuntu-linux (with embedded shell)

Collaborative writing tools

There are several web based solutions and more popping up all the time.

For sketching

• http://muistio.tieke.fi/
• http://kirjoitusalusta.fi/
• google docs

For academic writing

• https://www.authorea.com/
• https://editorially.com/
• https://draftin.com/
• http://www.penflip.com/

Presentation frameworks

• http://slid.es/
• http://prezi.com

Analytical tools

Computation analysis

• R-project for statistical computing and graphics
  • CRAN Task View: Natural Language Processing
  • CRAN Task View: Statistics for the Social Sciences

Examples of digital analysis tools in humanities

• Kindred Britain
• process of a slave revolt in Jamaica in 1760-1761 in a map
• a Roman forum digitalized
• play with masterpieces
• Analyzing and locating blog and tweet feeds
• Spatial History project at Stanford

Qualitative analysis

• http://www.umass.edu/qdap/
• http://www.pressure.to/qda/