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proliferation of research into more narrow questions

English translation: generation of (more) research on more specialized questions

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:proliferation of research into more narrow questions
Selected answer:generation of (more) research on more specialized questions
Entered by: Jenni Lukac (X)

09:07 Dec 1, 2011
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Government / Politics
English term or phrase: proliferation of research into more narrow questions
Elements of Rosenau's pretheory served as the basis for the comparative study of foreign policy along the lines noted by Holsti. Decision-making theory heavvily influenced the study of U.S foreign policy where the focus became on the role of the president and the foreign policy bureaucracy. Such commitment to middle-range theory resulted in a proliferation of research into more narrow questions and microphenomena, analysisi not conductive to the broader study of foreign policy change.
ahmadwarshal
Local time: 17:57
generation of (more) research on more specialized questions
Explanation:
The "narrow" here means more specific, rather than general, questions.
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 17:57
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2generation of (more) research on more specialized questions
Jenni Lukac (X)
5an abundance of research
Ty Kendall
4rapid increase of research into more restricted questions
B D Finch


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
generation of (more) research on more specialized questions


Explanation:
The "narrow" here means more specific, rather than general, questions.

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 17:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  3ADE shadab
3 hrs
  -> Thanks very much, Mohd.
agree  Abouzar Oraki: Yep!
4 hrs
  -> Cheers and thanks, oraki.
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
an abundance of research


Explanation:
They are using "proliferation" as a synonym of "abundance".

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-12-01 09:17:41 GMT)
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""There has been an abundance of research on social media, but to date, no one has asked in a comprehensive way: why do people share?"
https://plus.google.com/116876299840083569147/posts/hyobSk9o...

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Note added at 23 mins (2011-12-01 09:30:37 GMT)
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pro·lif·er·a·tion/prəˌlifəˈrāSHən/Noun: 1.Rapid increase in numbers.

a·bun·dance/əˈbəndəns/Noun: 1.A very large quantity of something.

I think these terms equate well as the intended meaning of "resulted in a proliferation of research into more narrow questions and microphenomena" could be replaced by "resulted in an abundance of research into more narrow questions and microphenomena"

The only real difference is that "proliferation" emphasises the process, "abundance" emphasises the result. It's a pretty fine nuance in a sentence such as this one though.

Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Ambrose Li: I think it is more likely to be an increase instead of just an abundance. The focus of the research shifted from being mainly broad-based to mainly narrow-based.
6 mins
  -> I disagree, "proliferation" is a pretty loaded term. It suggests rapid growth which results in an abundance of something. "Increase" is far more neutral than "proliferation", similarly, "a lot" is more neutral than "abundance".
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): 'rapid increase' would be an alternative, or escalation.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Tina!
disagree  B D Finch: I think that there is a considerable difference between 'abundance', which can be a large but stable quantity, and 'proliferation', which means a rapid increase.
8 hrs
  -> Yes, I agree, which is why I said that "abundance" refers to the result (a large amount) whereas "proliferation" refers to the process. The end result of proliferation is an abundance of something. In this case, the nuance is so thin that either is poss
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
rapid increase of research into more restricted questions


Explanation:
So, the author is saying not just that the quantity of such research balooned, but that the questions investigated were of more limited scope and less connected with anything else than had been the case with previous research.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2011-12-01 17:33:22 GMT)
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Of course, that is a gift for people of limited talent seeking to obtain PhDs.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 17:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 18
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you

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