Organising Your Research Project
Palgrave Study Skills Critical Thinking Skills Developing Effective Analysis and Argument - Stella Cottrell
Doing Your Research Project - Judith Bell
400 hours input
6-9000 words min or max 10 percent over or under
Informed practical outcome answering set question/hypothesis
14th Janu 2-4pm deadline
Submit a substantial draft by xmas break
Indepth/cohesive research project with practical and textual outcomes
Extensive body of research primary & secondary good academic sources
Analysis and evaluation
Coherent argument
Planning the project
Re write proposal
Write down all questions that I want to investigate
Consider each on there merits and focus on tow, a primary and a secondary. Complimentary or contrasting
A4 'first thoughts' sheet for each
What is the purpose of the study? Is your question researchable?
Working title/question
Title
Ideally the title should provide a thesis or an answerable assertion
Maybe opt for a title and a subtitle
Make notes of the key questions that your research raises as you go along. Try to encapsulate all of these in the overarching title.
15-20 words
Choose an appropriate tone
Ready for discussion with tutor on first tutorial
Project outline
Consider timings and timescales
Where and what I want done at each stage/week/day
Think about working title and the different components that need researching, whats most important etc
Allocate timings for everything
Draw up a project outline based on above
Allow generous time for initial readings and investigations of problems
Consider presentation of outcomes eg blog and formatting collation of outcomes both physical and on blog
Consider all tutorial sessions as mini deadlines
11th Dec 11 for turnitin
Literature Search - 1/2 Days
Plan focused readings
100 hours reading
Plan what I want to find out within my reading
Find out writers who specialize in my subject
5-6 Key base books
10 complimentary supplementary books
15-20 books to add small support and triangulation
www.jstor.org journals are good for precise arguments that can revolve around y question
Google scholar
British Library
Referencing
Start compiling a bibliography NOW using Harvard referencing
Name, forename, date, place, publisher, page
Gather quotes etc
Structure Dissertation into chapters
Separated into set chapters
Each chapter to evidence a different theoretical/methodological approach
Introduction to explain the structure of the chapters that will be different in focus aiming towards a conclusion that draws chapters together
Think about how chapters relate to practical practice
Move from general subjects and points to specific and focused
Approaches to Research
Quantitative
Surveys
Data Collection/Market Research
Qualitative
Interviews
Participant observation
Reflective Journal
Action research
