This document discusses the process and criteria for conducting research for a dissertation or practice as research project. It outlines four key threshold criteria: subject knowledge, application of knowledge, communication skills, and independent research. It then provides guidance on various stages of the research process, including determining what information is needed, how to analyze results, collecting and recording data, and thinking through writing. The document emphasizes applying theory, developing themes, identifying relationships, and keeping thorough records. It also reminds readers to obtain ethical approval before working with participants.

1. Conducting your
research: data collection
DISSERTATION AND PRACTICE AS RESEARCH
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7
Dissertation
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2. Threshold Criteria (Dissertation)
 Demonstrate a detailed subject knowledge of well-established discipline
discourses and research methodologies.
 Critically apply appropriate methods of analysis and evaluation within
your project, synthesising a range of theories and approaches.
 Communicate ideas using appropriate conventions of grammar, spelling
and formatting, with a clear structure and adequate application of
referencing and paraphrasing.
 Work autonomously to source a relevant range of primary and secondary
research sources through selection and evaluation.
Week 5
Dissertation and Practice as Research

3. Threshold Criteria (PaR)
 Demonstrate a detailed subject knowledge of well-established discipline
discourses and practice-led/based research methodologies.
 Critically apply appropriate practice-as-research methods of analysis and
evaluation within your project, synthesising a range of theories and
practical approaches.
 Communicate ideas using appropriate technical and interpretative skills
and presentation and production values, grammar, spelling and use of
audio-visual technologies, with an adequate application of referencing.
 Work autonomously to source a relevant range of primary and secondary
research sources through both practical and theoretical engagement,
with selection and evaluation.
Week 5
Dissertation and Practice as Research

4. Threshold Criteria
 Subject knowledge – previous research, understanding and articulating
key ideas, debates, theories and methods
 Application of knowledge – designing an appropriate study – appropriate
methods – synthesised to critique your topic/practice
 Communication skills – written, spoken and performance skills –
appropriate grammar, spelling etc. appropriate technical application
 Independent research – sourcing appropriate research to support and
strengthen your own understanding
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

5. 1. What information do you need?
 Be selective
 Go back to your aims and objectives
 Mind map the key topics and subtopics
 Sketch out an outline of your dissertation
 Sketch out a chapter
 Sketch out an initial plan of your presentation
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Dissertation and Practice as Research
 Subject knowledge
 Application of
knowledge
 Independent research

6. 2. Have you decided how you are
going to analyse the results?
 Application of theory
 Developing themes
 Identifying relationships
 Statistical analysis
 Develop criteria for assessing your success
 As early as possible, start to consider how you will
make use of the information you gather.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research
 Application of
knowledge
 Independent research

7. 3. Collect your data
 Read your books
 Conduct your semiotic/performance analysis
 Attend your workshops/observations
 Conduct your interviews/questionnaires/focus groups
 Run your workshops
 Run your interventions
 Get in the studio
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Dissertation and Practice as Research
 Subject knowledge
 Independent research

8. 4. Thinking through writing
 Write down any interim interpretations
 Formulate hypotheses about what the material is
telling you and where it is leading
 It will be an iterative process
 Write down any methodological concerns you
might have – what might you have done
differently?
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Dissertation and Practice as Research
 Application of
knowledge
 Communication skills

9. Records
 Keep a list of sources – bibliography
 Keep a list of search terms used
 Keep track of the decisions you make regarding methods – and why you
changed your mind
 Keep records of the draft versions of questionnaires, workshop plans
 Design record keeping documents
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

10. Ethical
Approval
Remember you cannot
make contact or start
working with participants
until you have received
ethical approval
Dissertation and Practice as Research Week 7