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Tocqueville's Observations: Method, Madness, or Both?

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Tocqueville Teaching Modules

PEDAGOGICAL GOALS

To appreciate the importance of one's research method

To consider the nature of and approaches to objectivity as a goal for observation, analysis, and evaluation

To illuminate the insights of Democracy in America by placing them in historical and methodological context

KEYWORDS
Research Methodology
Observation

COURSES FOR WHICH THIS MODULE IS MOST APPLICABLE
Research Methods
American Studies
American History
Sociology

DISCUSSION STARTER
DISCUSS the following questions:

Consider key elements of Tocqueville's character and background. For example, he was young, intelligent, educated, male, French, Catholic, and of noble birth. Will such characteristics shape in obvious or subtle ways how Tocquev ille conceives of his enterprise, where he chooses to go and not go, what he chooses to see and not see, with whom he chooses to speak and not speak, and what he notices and what he ignores?

It seems not only that such a personal framework is inevitable but also that its impact is not obviously good or bad. Consider how one might eliminate, limit, or at least acknowledge such personal elements. In a contemporary age of "science," there seems to be an instinctive inclination to objectivity over subjectivity. Assuming one can be more objective, what value does such an approach provide? Is there a cost and/or risk to such an approach?

One of the more remarkable aspects of Tocqueville's work is that it seems that he may have seen American democracy more clearly and deeply because of and not despite his status as a foreigner. In what ways and under what circumstances can a person who "belongs" to a group, nation, or situation, fail to be perceptive precisely because he is too close to it; a foreigner may have better insights precisely because she has detachment and her focus is fresher.

"I admit that I saw in America more than America; it was the shap e of democracy itself which I sought, its inclinations, character, prejudices, and passions; ... " (Democracy in America, "Author's Introduction") Can one validly generalize from a discrete set of observations in one country at one point in time to democracy as a broad and enduring concept. How?

Tocqueville necessarily relied upon those he met during his travels for observation, analysis, evaluation, and context. Not being a native, how could he receive this input critically and process it intelligently? How can we as readers separated by 160 years receive Tocqueville's "input" critically and process it intelligently?

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

IDENTIFY a treatment written by an American contemporary of Tocqueville which focuses upon a topic, event, person, or place dealt with by Tocqueville. COMPARE and contrast the two "studies," seeking to explain how and why they are similar and/or different.

Have half the class CONDUCT a careful examination of their home institution and half the class conduct a careful examination of a "comparable" neighboring institution. COMPARE the two sets of studies substantively and methodologically.

For class discussion and/or paper assignment, have students CONSIDER where Tocqueville did not go, whom Tocqueville did not talk with, what aspects of Jacksonian-era America Tocqueville did not focus upon." PLAN a second Tocqueville trip: The America Alexis Never Saw.

For class discussion and/or paper assignment, have students CONSIDER a 1990's Tocqueville trip: Where Tocqueville should go today, whom Tocqueville should talk with today, what aspects of present-day America Tocqueville should focus upon. PLAN this new Tocqueville trip.

For class discussion and/or paper assignment, have students assume that they have been given a study-abroad scholarship to spend a year tourin g and studying France. Upon their return, they must PREPARE a report on democracy in France. Learning from both the strong and weak points of Tocqueville's method, where should they go, whom should they talk with, what aspects of present-day France should they focus upon. PLAN this new trip.

For class discussion and/or paper assignment, COMPARE Tocqueville's personal observational method with an alternative method that might be chosen today to generate similar insights: A telephone survey of a random sample of Americans or a focus group. Compare and contrast the two methods and consider how the results might be similar and/or different.

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