Lecture two -
organising your research project:
a good book to help you with your research is – doing your research – Judith Bell
quantitative/qualitative:
– decide what methodlogies suit your research project, if it is not relevant don't do it
– what are you going to research and how – what methodologies
quantitative – statistical data, numerical analysis, analysing trends. People's opinion on mass.
Qualitative – content, ideas, theory.
Which are most efficient and valid for your research project. What sort of data to you want to get.
Action research:
test our research in real life. Reflect, diary, blog and apply it to research. Again it must be relevant ask yourself this question each time.
Organising the project:
organised – detailed and clear project plan it covers all bases until 17 January.
– Write down all questions that you want to investigate through your project
– cluster all questions into focused groups
– focus, edit all this stage to gain focus.
– Right first fought sheet
– what is the purpose of the study? Is it researchable
– why are you interested?
What to you want to do with it? What is the reason and purposeful looking at your chosen subject.
– What do you want to get out of it?
– Decide on a working title
– a bad title makes it difficult to write a dissertation, you need a focus in your title make sure you show your tutor the working title to okay it.
– Take questions and first thought sheet to tutorial.
Project outline.
– Consider timing
– 12 weeks is the Countdown.
– consider holidays/work/life you need to be realistic about what you can do in these weeks.
– Think about the title and different component parts that need researching.
– Allocate timings to each
– draw up project outline based on the above.
– Allow generous time for reading and writing up.
– Factor in tutorials.
Stick to what you agree with your tutor to benefit full capacity time.
Literature search and review:
– reading takes a long time so it is beneficial to learn how to read specifically what you need to know
– find key texts on your chosen topic
– focus your reading
– find key texts and plan to read fees
– find secondary source/criticisms of the essential texts (this will be good for triangulation) – use journals – J store.org
– use the given grid to organise things. This will allow you to build a database of relevant texts on your topic which you can easily access.
Ethics:
consider the ethical implications of your project.
– Does the research involve human participants?
Does the study involved the vulnerable old people who can't have a voice?
– Consent from people if they are involved
– are there issues of safety
– could it induce psychological stress, anxiety
– anonymity
– people have the right to withdraw.
Referencing:
– complete bibliography as you go this will make life easier at the end.
– Include details name page etc
questionnaires:
– must be a reason for questionnaire, don't just do one for the sake of it.
– Is it the best way to investigate your topic
– word questions with tutor. Must be precise. No assumptions, avoid loaded questions.
– What sort of question, what type of question will you ask
– record responses as soon as you complete the questionnaire
– sample size is important to take into consideration higher numbers equal more validity of questionnaire
interviews:
– is this the best way to investigate your topic? Is it relevant?
– Same rules apply as with questionnaire
– plan the interview
– how to structure it, set questions, or free conversation.
– If you choose to record the interview you must introduce yourself and explain what you are doing.
– If you are according seek the permission beforehand.
Observation:
– what you need to know?
– Participant/nonparticipant – what role will you play in the observation.
– Seek the permission beforehand
– repair and plan
– check list/chart/grid
to make sure observation is relevant and the most beneficial
critical diaries/reflective log:
– what is the purpose, make sure everything you put up is relevant
– be disciplined, set time aside to do this
checklist:
– don't procrastinate
– plan research methods carefully
– select the most appropriate research methods for project
– complete an ethics assessment
– do a literature review
– document all stages carefully
– create detailed project outline
– get the most from supervision tutorials
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