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Course Leader: Brian Ward Office: 235 Keene-Flint Hall Office Hours: T 2-3.00pm R 2.45-4.15 pm e-mail: wardb@ufl.edu More info: http://plaza.ufl.edu/wardb/amh6290. AMH 6290 (Research). Planning & Organizing a Research Project. The Basic Questions 1. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
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Course Leader: Brian Ward Office: 235 Keene-Flint Hall Office Hours: T 2-3.00pm R 2.45-4.15 pm e-mail: wardb@ufl.edu More info: http://plaza.ufl.edu/wardb/amh6290 AMH 6290 (Research)
Planning & Organizing a Research Project The Basic Questions 1. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? 2. HOW AM I GOING? TO DO IT? 3. CAN IT BE DONE IN THE TIME AVAILABLE?
Planning & Organizing a Research Project 4 Criteria For A Good Research Project DOABLE Can it be done? Can I do it? VIABLE Can it be done in the time allowed? Are the sources/materials available? ORIGINAL Is it worth doing? SUSTAINABLE Will it hold my interest?
Doing A Research Project • 1. Review & evaluate general and specific literature. • 2. Identify gap/problem/issue/conflict or other trigger for research project in the literature. • 3. Formulate possible solutions/questions/alternative interpretations on which to base the research project. • 4. Undertake substantive research. • 5. Sort and analyse research materials. • 6. Interpret findings & results in the context of the initial questions/focus of the project. • 7. Assess the implications of your findings for the field of knowledge/subject area. • 8. Summarise conclusions (empirical – theoretical – methodological). • 9. Write the paper/thesis.
Organizing A Research Project The Linear Model Literature Research Trigger Methodology Substantive Research Analysis Interpretation Results Conclusions Writing
Organizing A Research Project, 2 The Modified Linear Model Literature writing up Trigger writing up Methodology writing up etc., etc.
Time Management, 1 A Typical Model 15% Literature Evaluation 10% Methodology 40% Substantive Research 10% Analysis 25% Writing up
Time Management, 2 Monitoring Progress 1. SET DAILY/WEEKLY/MONTHLY TASKS 2. PRIORITISE TASKS 3. REVIEW WEEKLY/MONTHLY ACHIEVEMENTS
Crises with Research Projects, 1 The Common Problems a) Drifting From The Topic b) Difficulties With Methodology c) Difficulties With Substantive Research d) Problems With Findings & Interpretation e) Writer’s Block Some Solutions a) Regularly Review Progress b) Acknowledge Existence of a Problem c) Get Help
Crises with Research Projects, 2 CURING WRITER’S BLOCK ORGANIZATION & STYLE 1. Planning carefully vs Writing ‘free-style’ and editing carefully 2. Style pointers for a coherent thesis/essay: a) forecasting b) signposting c) linking 3. Write and re-write many drafts & show them to colleagues. 4. TALK to Peers and Supervisors
Completing a Research Project, 1 Basic Structures of Research Papers 1. Chronological 2. Thematic 3. Hybrid
Completing a Research Project, 2 What To Include In All Good Research Papers 1. Why has the research been done? 2. How has the research been undertaken? 3. What was found? 4. What do the findings mean? 5. What are the implications for the field of knowledge/subject area?
Completing a Research Project, 3 Presentation Of Papers 1. The importance of multiple drafts & critical reading 2. Outside readers – supervisor and colleagues 3. Spell checks; grammar checks 4. Take time over the apparatus (notes, list of sources, bibliography, etc)