Understanding Research

RESEARCH PROCESS

Different from field/discipline to another,

No “on size fits all”, Research in practice does not follow

this pattern precisely, Classic pattern:

1- Choose a topic and search the literature

Topic: - Related to your degree, - discipline, - coursework, - job, - interests, - general experience.

2- Review the literature

Why Conduct a Literature Review? Avoid “reinventing the wheel”

Learn from others in/outside your area Know the ‘leading edge’

Help define your objectives & hypotheses Source for research idea, research

approach Justify significance

Put your work in context within the field Link in discussion section of thesis

3- Defining the research problem

Students experience difficulties, Narrow down the general interest in

a research topic in order to focus on a particular research problem,

RP leads to the research questions, Focus your ideas, Decide the scope of your research

(one perspective, group of stakeholders, sector, geographical area, period of time...)

Sources of research problems

- Gap in the literature, - Suggestions for future research, - Graduation project,- Consultancy research,- .........

4- The research design

Determine: Your paradigm (positivism,

interpretivism) Your methodology

Research methodologies

Positivism methodologies Experiment Survey Cross-sectional studies Longitudinal studies

Interpretivism methodologies

Participant Observation

Ethnography Case study Grounded theory Action research Feminism

4- Collect the research data,

Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection.

Experiment Survey Secondary Data Analysis Content Analysis Historical Comparative Methods (Archival

Analysis ) Participant Observation In-depth Interview Focus Group Discussion

5- Analysing and interpreting research

data Methods will depend on your

research paradigm, qual vs quan data.

6- Writing the dissertation or thesis

Problems... Do not leave it until the very last minute.

Start writing up your research in draft as soon as you start early stages of the project

Structure of the thesis

1- Introduction (10 %)2- Review the literature (30 %)3- Methodology (20 %)4- Findings (30 %)5- Conclusions (10 %) References Appendices

Characteristics of good research Criteria Poor project Good project

Research problem

Unclear and unfocused Sharply focused Related to academic debate

Literature review

A list of items Relevance unclear Little or no evaluation Research questions missing

Critical evaluation of relevant, up-to-date literatureLinked to focused, feasible questions

Methodology Unclear research designNo justification of choice Not linked to the literature

Cohesive designExcellent review of research design optionsLinked to the literature

Analysis and discussion

Unclear findingsNo link with the literature

Clear findings Analytical manner of discussionGenerate new knowledge Linked to the literature

Conclusions Not linked to research questions Implications and limitations of results not addressed

Linked to research questions Attention given to implications and limitations

Referencing Plagiarism All sources cited in the text and bibliographic details listed at the end

Communication

Difficult to follow Grammar and spelling mistakes

Clear follow of ideas Appropriate grammar and spelling

Questions?