1project lecture 2 study projects pjs30 project coordinator: rod jeffcote lecture 2 : literature...
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1Project Lecture 2
Study Projects PJS30
Project Coordinator: Rod Jeffcote
Lecture 2 : Literature Reviews+
How to get a First!
2Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
• A Literature Review is the finding, selection and critique of what has been written about the subject matter of your Project.Finding: Literature SearchSelection:Choosing what is the most relevant,
authoritative workCritique: The comparison, contrasting, evaluation,
synthesis and criticism
3Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
• For a Study project this might be to:– Look at the history / background of the topic– Find the most authoritative & current literature on
the topic and evaluate / critique it– Locate your research question in the context of the
literature– look at research methods that could be used (if doing
primary research)
4Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
NB. A study project that does not have any primary research can become, in effect, an extended Literature Review
5Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
Literature Search & Review
What are the key sources?
What are the major issues & debates
What are the key concepts, theories and ideas?
What research methods are used and why?
How is knowledge on this topic structured & organized
What are the main questions in this field?
History and origins of the topic
My evaluation, insight and contribution to the topic Source: (Hart, 1998)
6Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
Analysis v Description
• You will need to describe many elements in your review but the focus should be on analysis.
• Analysis is the who, where, what and why of a subject together with the unpicking of it.
• In amongst this (or at the end) should be your own critique.
7Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
Critique• Focussing on the work not the author(s).• Comparing, contrasting and evaluating ideas,
theories and positions and defending them, or pointing out weaknesses.
• Being aware of your own position, stance, view, methodological standpoint.
• Finding fault in fact, argument, evidence, technique or interpretation.
• Selecting, synthesizing, and re-formulating to form a new idea or view.
8Project Lecture 2
What is a Literature Review?
• All projects should contain a Literature Review in some shape or form but they will differ according to the Project type and subject matter.
• Your Supervisor should be able to guide you in the appropriate direction.
9Project Lecture 2
How to get a First !
First class projects generally have (amongst others) the following characteristics:
• Boldness• Novelty• Passion• Self-confidence
10Project Lecture 2
Writing
Your prose style should be:
• Crisp• Clear• Well-structured• Grammatically correct• Jargon-free
11Project Lecture 2
Titles
• Titles should be clear and appropriate. Don’t worry too much about finding a ‘snappy’ or witty title.
• Clear, to the point and professional is what you want.
• A good device is to split the title with a colon :
12Project Lecture 2
Titles
Are you lonesome tonight ? : A comparative study of computer dating techniques
13Project Lecture 2
Presentation
• Though presentation is not marked as such (unless it is so poor as to be unintelligible) it sets the tone.
• First class projects are invariably well presented in terms of layout, print quality, use of graphics, etc.
14Project Lecture 2
The Abstract
• Not crucial for marks but it the first thing readers see and it sets the tone.
• Abstracts should be 50 - 150 words.
• Should be a précis of the whole project (i.e. Research question, methods, contents and conclusions)
15Project Lecture 2
The Abstract
• Look at Abstracts of published articles and in past projects.
• Ask your supervisor’s advice
• You can leave it until the very end of the project
16Project Lecture 2
The Introduction
• Should set the project in context by laying out the research question with any relevant background information.
• If you wish to include some personal thoughts and comments here you may do but don’t let them detract from a professional ‘feel’ to the work. Otherwise write in the 3rd person.
17Project Lecture 2
Writing in the 3rd Person
1st Person: “I constructed a questionnaire to discover the pattern of distribution.”
3rd Person “a questionnaire to discover the pattern of distribution was constructed.”
18Project Lecture 2
Main Chapters
• Should be well structured and flow logically.
• Should be strong on analysis (how, why, with what effect, etc.) and not dominated by descriptive material (over-reliance on facts and figures).
19Project Lecture 2
Literature Reviews
• All projects should have a literature review of some sort.
• These should involve some kind of critical review of the literature in the field.
• It should be as thorough and up-to-date as possible.
20Project Lecture 2
Literature Reviews
• Glaring omissions of key theories or texts will lose you marks.
• Reviews should not be simple ‘re-presentations’ but offer some original interpretation, insight, criticism and point out any gaps that perhaps you intend to fill.
21Project Lecture 2
Literature Reviews
• First-class projects exhibit the facility to ‘handle’ and ‘play’ with concepts, data, ideas and arguments.
22Project Lecture 2
Primary research
• Methods appropriate for the data required and the research question.
• Poor projects gather data that is either not meaningful or is not used effectively.
• Any statistics should be explained clearly and use figures / graphs.
23Project Lecture 2
Primary research
• Display results clearly using graphics where possible.
• Explain why you used this particular methodology / approach.
• Put large amounts of data / calculations / results, etc in appendices.
24Project Lecture 2
Primary research
• Evaluate your research to identify strengths and weaknesses. Say clearly how you would change it if you were to do it again and why.
25Project Lecture 2
Case Studies
• Information and background gleaned from the case will be clear, pertinent and accurate.
• Avoid superfluous information
• Cases illustrate and illuminate but they have no statistical significance, so be careful with any general conclusions.
26Project Lecture 2
Conclusions
• Difficult to get right.
• They should be appropriate to what you have found out, or built, i.e. not too grandiose nor should they underplay what you have done.
• Give some pointers to what might be useful in the way of further research, development or direction.
27Project Lecture 2
References and Bibliography
• First class projects are normally characterized by accurate and appropriate citation of references in the text, and a bibliography that conforms fully to an accepted format.
• Harvard APA style is the format adopted by the Faculty of Technology.
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References and Bibliography
Free leaflets on theHarvard APA style areAvailable from the Library.
See also the LibraryWebsite.
29Project Lecture 2
Length
• Actually not that critical.
• Many first class projects are very short, and often at the bottom end of the word range. Very few are over length.
• Quality not quantity is the key !