The Research Process Dr. Chris McMillan – Academic Skills Adviser chris.mcmillan@brunel.ac.uk
Writing your research proposal
What does it mean to be critical?
Being an active and critical reader
Organising and synthesising your research
Planning and structuring a literature review
Considering methodologies
Proposals are due on October 29th
The purpose of these proposals is to provide a framework for the remainder of your research and allow your supervisor to make sure you’re on track
There is no formal word limit or assessment procedure ◦ We expect that proposals should be around 2,000 words, but write as much as you need to fulfil the requirements ◦ Your supervisor will provide informal feedback
The aim(s) of the dissertation is(are) clear;
The dissertation draws on an appropriate range of academic work and demonstrates familiarity with the relevant literature(s);
The dissertation can realistically be undertaken within the limits of the resources available to you;
Ethical issues have been considered and dealt with appropriately.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12)
Research project title Research project summary Background to the research project Aims and objectives of the research project Research project study setting (where) Research project participants (who) Research project data collection (how) Proposed method of data analysis (how) Proposed timescale for undertaking and completing your research project References for the research project Ethical considerations relevant to the research project Details of host organisations and stakeholders involved
Defining and constructing the issue
Active and critical reading: the critique
Organising your research and ideas
Finding your critical intervention
Key Tip #1 Being critical is the key to research
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Moving from remembering, recording and describing information to analysing, evaluating and synthesising knowledge
Describing
Analysing, Evaluating and Synthesising
Critical thinking is a questioning attitude, rather than a set of skills
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Taking a critical and active attitude to reading is the most important first step in the research process
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Once you have identified the parameters of your project, it is vital to read widely
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You are not reading simply to catalogue information, but to find your intervention into the research
Why are you reading?
Survey Question Read Repeat Review
Set goals for your reading Read quickly: skim or scan In-depth Critical Analysis Are your questions answered?
Key Tip #2 Don’t read, interrogate
1.
Familiarise yourself with the structure and the context of the research
2.
Identify and summarise the main argument/conclusion
3.
Consider the method used to generate knowledge
4.
Evaluate the reasoning defending the argument
5.
Critically examine the evidence supporting this reasoning
6.
Summarise your position
Who are the researchers?
What is the context for the research?
What is the research trying to do?
What elements are you interested in?
Where in the research can you find this information?
Find the issue/question/objectives to which the research is responding
Consider the core response to these issues
Both these elements should be located in the introduction and conclusion
How has the knowledge been generated?
What research methods have been used? ◦ Are they valid and reliable?
What are the philosophical underpinnings or framework of understanding of the research? ◦ e.g. What assumptions are the researchers making about how the world works?
Examine the argument for reasoning that you disagree with and can critique academically
Note: An argument can be consistent but incorrect: ◦ ‘All New Zealanders are short. Short people should be shot. This person is a New Zealander. Therefore, they should be shot’
On what grounds would we debate this statement?
Assumptions are unstated reasons
When is a point argued, and when is it assumed?
Assumptions provide an opportunity to critique an argument
Conversely, some assumptions are necessary
‘Homosexuality is wrong because it is unnatural’ ◦ Is homosexuality unnatural? (critique of reasoning and evidence) ◦ Are unnatural things wrong? (critique of assumptions)
University enrolments in the Social Sciences will fall as fees rise and students look for value for money courses.
How has it been generated?
Is there sufficient evidence?
Is it reliable and valid?
Is it representative and relevant?
◦ Does it use examples, primary research or secondary research?
Summarise the author’s position
Critically note the strengths and flaws of the research
What have you learnt?
What do you disagree with?
How will you use this source in your own research?
Key Tip #3
Always consider how you will use the research in your project
Once you have researched an issue, it is vital that you organise this research in order to identify your intervention
Mind-maps can be used to create ideas and establish the key elements of your projects
Mind-maps also allow you to identify the connections between ideas and to synthesise key elements of the research
Place the question/issue in the middle of the page
Start with the most important issues
Add branches identified with single words or short phrases to represent key ideas
Allow ideas to connect from these branches and between branches
Let ideas come ‘organically’, rather than pre-planning your map
Do not judge yourself as you outline ideas
Ensure you critically respond to the ideas as the thoughts come to you
Identify key connections and contradictions
Use images/different colours to represent different elements – images allow for wider associations and colours make types of thoughts easier to identify
Ensure you note the source of information at the time
Thinking about your project, are you able to construct a brief mind-map of the different elements involved?
Once the research problem is constructed…
…and the literature has framed the background to the research
Your intervention into the research needs to be identified through the literature review
This can either be a question that investigates a gap in the research, or an argumentative position
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This needs to be articulated in the form of a literature review (in most projects)
What your lit review should do • Provide a clear and balanced account of the literature on a particular topic • Provide a rationale and a context for your project • Tell the story that leads to your project
A literature review is… An critical evaluation of scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations etc) that are relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory. Its purpose is to: • Give an overview of the ‘big issues’ • Summarise and evaluate other people’s work related to your study. What gaps are there? • Show your research skills – it must be logical, systematic and accurate
A literature review is NOT… • An exhaustive bibliography • A selection of quotes, summaries and abstracts – the sources must be discussed by you • A group of unconnected critical evaluations • A description of the topic area
• A repetition of what each article reported
The funnel metaphor Context Research history Debates
Your project/aims
Organising your review Chronological • Show advances • Changes over time • Issues to be addressed Thematic • Key issues, themes, debates • Isolate key issues Methodological • Different methods – evaluate • Identify key method
Having established this question we need to consider how best to approach the research
Different methods led to different results
Most importantly, select a research methodology and methods that can most appropriately investigate your research problem: this will have to be justified in your ‘methodology’ section
Thinking critically is the key to a good dissertation
It is vital to define the parameters of your research
Always ensure that you are reading critically and actively
Identify and critique the main argument, points of explanation and evidence
Find your critical intervention into the research – this is your research problem