your research journey
DESCRIPTION
THe steps you will take on your research journey...TRANSCRIPT
Your Research JourneyLB616 Dr Lance Dann and Rob Greens
What is Research?
It is a disciplined enquiry into a
subject
STAGE 1
You have a hunch
Something is nagging you
Something you are dissatisfied with
You’ve noticed a new trend and no one else
You have a desire to figure something out.
Why do this research?
Is it appropriate?
Is there a need for it?
Is it something that you have the skills to carry out?
Do you really want to do it?
STAGE 2
Talk to your supervisor.
Carry out initial search for information around your idea
Has it been covered before?
Is too far out and no one has written about it?
Do you need other opinions?
STAGE 3
The Literature Review
Take advantage of what has been written before
Summarise and critique ideas.
Develop tools to use in your research.
Spots gaps or points you’d like fill
This will help you locate your position
Work out where you stand in the history of a discussion
Prepare you for the next crucial stage
Stage 4
IDENTIFY YOUR QUESTION
This is the spine of your research
It is the critical yardstick against which everything is tested.
It has to be a critical question.
It has to be strong enough to support all stages of your research.
BAD QUESTIONS
Has the role of the father in the sitcom changed in the last 20 years?
Does music in Horror films effect the audience’s emotional response?
How have Jewish comedians become part of the mainstream of US TV?
Will the Internet kill the Radio Star?
Stage 5
What is your methodology?
How are you going to test your question?
This is where your practice comes in.
You are going to try and make something that allow you to examine and enquire into your topic.
Theoretical researchers have a habit of seeing the world as being billiard ball smooth
The real world isn’t like that.
Practice is “mediated”
Practice is “contingent”
Practitioners are “pragmatic”.
Your practice is like an experiment
You are testing out you’re the reality of your ideas.
You will record the findings.
They might not be what you want or expect.
That doesn’t make it a failure.
Stage 6
Gather information
Examine data
Test out your findings
View things critically.
Synthesise information.
Stage 7
Conclusion
Put it all together
What did you find?
What does this mean?
What could be done next?
Remember
“Use your methodology to discipline your passion, not to deaden it.”