research skills ms alison armstrong information literacy coordinator, auc main library & dr...
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RESEARCH SKILLSRESEARCH SKILLS
Ms Alison ArmstrongMs Alison ArmstrongInformation Literacy Coordinator, AUC Main LibraryInformation Literacy Coordinator, AUC Main Library
& &
Dr Pandeli M GlavanisDr Pandeli M GlavanisAssociate Director, CLTAssociate Director, CLT
In collaboration with THE AUC MAIN LIBRARYIn collaboration with THE AUC MAIN LIBRARY
WORKSHOP STRUCTUREWORKSHOP STRUCTURE
Research Skills & Techniques (PG)Research Skills & Techniques (PG)
Awareness of Research Environment (PG)Awareness of Research Environment (PG)
5 MINUTE BREAK5 MINUTE BREAK
Research Management (PG)Research Management (PG)
5 MINUTE BREAK5 MINUTE BREAK
Familiarity with Research Resources (AA)Familiarity with Research Resources (AA)
(Information Literacy)(Information Literacy)
ALL EXAMPLES USED BY ALL EXAMPLES USED BY PG ARE EXTRACTED FROMPG ARE EXTRACTED FROM
FINDING OUT FAST: INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS FINDING OUT FAST: INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS FOR POLICY AND DEVELOPMENTFOR POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT, ,
A THOMAS, J CHATAWAY & M WUYTS, A THOMAS, J CHATAWAY & M WUYTS,
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, LONDON, 1998SAGE PUBLICATIONS, LONDON, 1998
RESEARCH SKILLSRESEARCH SKILLS
The ability to recognize and validate The ability to recognize and validate
problems.problems.
Original, independent and critical thinking Original, independent and critical thinking
and the ability to develop theoretical and the ability to develop theoretical
concepts.concepts.
Knowledge of recent advances within one’s Knowledge of recent advances within one’s
field and in related areas.field and in related areas.
ZIMBABWE COOPERATIVESZIMBABWE COOPERATIVES
BACKGROUND:BACKGROUND:– Coop movement was in trouble & foreign NGO Coop movement was in trouble & foreign NGO
wants to help – commission research.wants to help – commission research. EXAMINE:EXAMINE:
– Tension between government & coop movement;Tension between government & coop movement;– Ways in which foreign NGOs might provide further Ways in which foreign NGOs might provide further
funding without increasing tension with funding without increasing tension with government.government.
ASSUMPTIONS:ASSUMPTIONS:– Government bureaucracy had turned hostile Government bureaucracy had turned hostile
despite political rhetoric.despite political rhetoric.
RESEARCH IN ZIMBABWERESEARCH IN ZIMBABWE
Most coops were in fact in serious trouble;Most coops were in fact in serious trouble; Many government officials were hostile;Many government officials were hostile;
BUT ALSO FOUND OUT THAT:BUT ALSO FOUND OUT THAT: Foreign NGOs had created dependency;Foreign NGOs had created dependency; Problem of attitude: Problem of attitude: all saw coops as all saw coops as
political, charitable social organisationspolitical, charitable social organisations;; A few successful coops which operated as A few successful coops which operated as
commercial entities.commercial entities.
MORE ASSUMPTIONSMORE ASSUMPTIONS
Coops were passive recipients of charity Coops were passive recipients of charity
from foreign NGOs; andfrom foreign NGOs; and
Business sector was hostile to coop Business sector was hostile to coop
movement.movement.
NEW RESEARCH QUESTIONNEW RESEARCH QUESTION
How can foreign NGOs help coops to How can foreign NGOs help coops to become:become:
Politically and commercially independentPolitically and commercially independentAndAnd
Make best use of government and business Make best use of government and business resources.resources.
i.e.i.e.Break dependency on foreign NGOsBreak dependency on foreign NGOs
LAND IN MOZAMBIQUELAND IN MOZAMBIQUE
BACKGROUND:BACKGROUND:– Peasants are being pushed off the land and Peasants are being pushed off the land and
afraid to talk about it. Foreign NGOs concerned.afraid to talk about it. Foreign NGOs concerned. EXAMINE:EXAMINE:
– How to use public international pressure to stop How to use public international pressure to stop it. Foreign NGO commissions research.it. Foreign NGO commissions research.
ASSUMPTIONS:ASSUMPTIONS:– Peasants cant defend themselvesPeasants cant defend themselves– Government uninterested in peasant plightGovernment uninterested in peasant plight– No public debate on issueNo public debate on issue
RESEARCH IN MOZAMBIQUERESEARCH IN MOZAMBIQUE
Government has already established Government has already established National Land CommissionNational Land Commission to draft revisions to draft revisions to law to safeguard peasant rights;to law to safeguard peasant rights;
Several local NGOs raising public Several local NGOs raising public awareness of the issue; andawareness of the issue; and
Local NGOs successful in helping some Local NGOs successful in helping some peasants defend their rights. (i.e. struggle to peasants defend their rights. (i.e. struggle to stop expropriation) stop expropriation)
NEW RESEARCH QUESTIONNEW RESEARCH QUESTION
How to assist and influence the work of How to assist and influence the work of
the National Land Commission?the National Land Commission?
How to assist local NGOs to fight more How to assist local NGOs to fight more
cases of expropriation?cases of expropriation?
PROBLEM OF ASSUMPTIONSPROBLEM OF ASSUMPTIONS
Enter crowded airport lounge;Enter crowded airport lounge; See one empty chair & I go to sit when I See one empty chair & I go to sit when I
notice someone spilt a drink on the cushion;notice someone spilt a drink on the cushion; I don’t have anything to wipe it so I sit on I don’t have anything to wipe it so I sit on
table;table; Another passenger comes along, looks at Another passenger comes along, looks at
chair and turns the cushion over and sits.chair and turns the cushion over and sits.
WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THAT?WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THAT?
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTRESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
Show a broad Show a broad understanding of the understanding of the
context, at the national and context, at the national and international level, in which international level, in which
research takes placeresearch takes place
FAMINEFAMINE Famine is due to a shortfall in available foodFamine is due to a shortfall in available food
PARADOXPARADOX In most famine areas food was being In most famine areas food was being
exportedexported during famine. during famine.
Explain how this can happenExplain how this can happen..
ANSWER TO PARADOXANSWER TO PARADOX
Amartya SenAmartya Sen (Nobel Laureate in (Nobel Laureate in Economics) has published extensively on Economics) has published extensively on the subject and showed – from extensive the subject and showed – from extensive research – that:research – that:
Market mechanisms (purchasing power)Market mechanisms (purchasing power) usually attracts food to wealthy urban areas usually attracts food to wealthy urban areas and away from rural famine areas who in and away from rural famine areas who in fact produce the limited food.fact produce the limited food.
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
Dispute between:Dispute between: World Resources Institute in WashingtonWorld Resources Institute in Washington Centre for Science & Environment in IndiaCentre for Science & Environment in India
WRI argues that China and India (as countries) WRI argues that China and India (as countries) emit more COemit more CO2 2 than the EU or Canada.than the EU or Canada.
CSE challenged the resultsCSE challenged the results
CSE ChallengeCSE Challenge
Emissions should be calculated according to Emissions should be calculated according to population size and by countrypopulation size and by country– Thus China and India are well below the EU Thus China and India are well below the EU
and Canada in global league table.and Canada in global league table.
AndAnd Luxury emissions should not be compared Luxury emissions should not be compared
to survival emissionsto survival emissions– Driving to the shops vs fuel for cookingDriving to the shops vs fuel for cooking
IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL POLICYIMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL POLICY
GENETICALLY MANIPULATED GENETICALLY MANIPULATED ORGANISMS (GMOs)ORGANISMS (GMOs)
Third World Network (TWN) a Malaysian Third World Network (TWN) a Malaysian NGO is trying to influence global policy on NGO is trying to influence global policy on GMOsGMOs
TWN makes use of scientists from GMOs TWN makes use of scientists from GMOs producing countries who are opposed to producing countries who are opposed to GMOs to support their caseGMOs to support their case
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR METHOD?WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR METHOD?
SCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS THE SCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWERANSWER
The use of such scientists may give scientific The use of such scientists may give scientific credibility to TWNs argumentcredibility to TWNs argument
BUTBUTTurns the entire GMO debate into a Turns the entire GMO debate into a
technical debatetechnical debate
THUS RISK IS TECHNICALTHUS RISK IS TECHNICAL
RATHER THAN SOCIAL IN NATURERATHER THAN SOCIAL IN NATURE
RESEARCH MANAGEMENTRESEARCH MANAGEMENT
Apply effective project management Apply effective project management through the setting of research through the setting of research
goals, intermediate milestones and goals, intermediate milestones and prioritization of activities prioritization of activities
USING PROJECT MANAGEMENT USING PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODLOGYMETHODLOGY
Information Literacy Sessions: Information Literacy Sessions:
Graduate Research Assistant Graduate Research Assistant Orientation SessionOrientation Session
Alison ArmstrongAlison Armstrong
Information Literacy CoordinatorInformation Literacy Coordinator
The AUC Library website The AUC Library website http://library.aucegypt.edu/http://library.aucegypt.edu/
How Do I?How Do I?
Quick LinksQuick Links
The AUC Library website The AUC Library website http://library.aucegypt.edu/http://library.aucegypt.edu/
Contact InformationContact Information
Library’s Graduate Research Liaison Library’s Graduate Research Liaison Hiltraut (Hildy) Benham 797-6358, email:Hiltraut (Hildy) Benham 797-6358, email: [email protected]@aucegypt.edu
Document Delivery 797 6365, or e-mail Document Delivery 797 6365, or e-mail [email protected]@aucegypt.edu
Today’s Presentation Alison Armstrong 797-Today’s Presentation Alison Armstrong 797-6356 [email protected] [email protected]