conduct research?

What
defined as searching for knowledge people go through evidence books internet interviews anything else to prove a point Must be counted or true in order to support a point

Why
Reasons monitor a situation assess a situation evaluate impact of something develop a model that predicts the likely cause of events given a particular intervening variables or circumstances create or test a theory Strong research does not allow one to doubt YOUR understanding on the report Evidence understanding investigation

When
company proposals school assignments coursework meetings

How
read below for further notes

Where
reports events experiments assignments

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The Research Spiral

(Adapted from How to Research Loraine Blaxter, Christina Hughes and Malcolm Tight 2006)

Group or Individual Research

Group research enables you to share responsibility; lets you specialize in those aspects of the work to which you are best suited; provides you with useful experience of team working; allows you to take on larger-scale topics than you could otherwise manage; provides you with a ready made support network; may be essential for certain kinds of research. Individual research: gives you sole ownership of the research; means that you are wholly responsible for its progress and success; may result in a more focused project; is of an overall quality determined by you alone; means that you have to carry out all elements of the research process.

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Key Issues for Group Research

1 2 Does the group need and have a leader? Who is responsible for: organizing meetings? keeping records? chasing progress? 3 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the group for carrying out the research project? 4 How are the different roles and tasks required for the successful completion of the research project shared among the group? 5 Will everyone in the group have a role in each phase of the research, or will some specialize in particular phases? 6 Does every member of the group have a clear idea of their tasks and responsibilities? 7 Do you each feel able to respect differences between group members? 8 Are there individuals or sub-groups within the group who are not happy with the task or organization of the group? 9 How will the group deal with emotions? 10 Will the results of the research be reported on and written up individually, collectively or both?

Team Roles for Group Research

Organizer: Keeps meetings focused and in order, does his or her best to get through the agenda. Encourager: Brings good-humoured appreciation to proceedings, able to defuse tensions and revive flagging morale. Facilitator: Ensures that the quieter members of the group are heard and everyones contribution acknowledged. Recorder: Keeps a note of decisions (especially decisions as to who will do what before the next meeting), ensures that everyone is aware of them. Time-keeper and progress-chaser: Keeps an eye on the calendar and ensures that everyone is aware of the state of play. Coordinator: Sees the big picture (the strategic overview), with an eye for gaps and overlaps, and presents this to the team.

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Lookout: Visualizes future scenarios, is alert to issues that may be looming over the horizon, keeps everyone informed. (Levin 2005: 723)

What Students and Facilitators Expect out of each other during a Research

Responsibilities of Research Students

to tackle the research with a positive commitment, taking full advantage of the resources and facilities offered by the academic environment and in particular contact with the supervisor, other staff and research students; to discuss with the supervisor the type of guidance and comment believed to be most helpful, the training which might be required, and agree a schedule of meetings; to attend supervision sessions, meetings, seminars, lectures and laboratory

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Steps to conduct Research

(Adapted from How to Find Information by Sally Ramsey 2008)

What should You be Searching for?

Generally, one will research to explain the following: the problem that you are tackling. which approaches have been tried before. why they failed (otherwise it would be solved and no longer a problem). what your approach will be. background to your approach (previous work, etc.) How do you do a thorough, professional literature search: what you search what you search it for how you search it.
Adapted from A Gentle Guide to Research Methods by Gordon Rugg and Marian Petre 2006)

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What a Research Paper should Have

(Adapted from How to Research Loraine Blaxter, Christina Hughes and Malcolm Tight 2006)