A research paper involves arguing and presenting a thesis, analyzing and persuading the reader of one's position using facts, details, examples and opinions. Choosing a good research topic is important - it should be interesting, researchable, based on facts rather than opinions, and narrow enough to be completed using available resources. Some ways to choose a topic include brainstorming, making idea webs or diagrams, and narrowing a general topic by adding more specific details. A supervisor can guide the research process but the student must work independently while receiving feedback and advice.
The document discusses research idea generation and question formulation. It describes that generating research ideas is one of the most difficult aspects of research. Ideas can come from rational thinking such as examining strengths and interests or creative thinking such as keeping an idea notebook. Techniques like brainstorming and SCAMPERR can help stimulate new ideas. Once an idea is generated, it needs to be narrowed into a focused research topic and then further refined into a clear research question to guide the study. The research question should be feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant.
This document discusses reflective practice and self-assessment in education. It provides definitions and perspectives on reflective practice from thinkers like Socrates, Joseph Vaughan, John Dewey, and Donald Schon. The document outlines the mindset of a reflective practitioner and presents the reflective practice cycle. It also shares York-Barr's theory of action for reflective practice, which involves pausing, openness, inquiry, thinking, learning, and action to enhance student learning. Key points are that reflective practice centers around a problem or dilemma and that reflective practice means no class will be the same.
The document discusses research questions in education research. It explains that research questions provide focus and direction for a research project by identifying what is being studied, such as the causes and consequences of bullying in schools. Good research questions are developed through reflection, extensive reading, discussion, drafting initial questions, and refinement. The type of research question depends on the type of research being conducted, such as descriptive questions for exploring phenomena or causal questions for determining relationships between variables.
The document provides guidance on writing a dissertation. It explains that a dissertation is a structured, extended piece of independent research that demonstrates a student's capabilities. It adheres to academic principles such as developing an argument in response to a central question. The document outlines the key components of a dissertation, including proposing a topic, developing a theoretical framework, conducting a literature review, describing methodology, presenting findings and discussion, and properly formatting references. It emphasizes that a dissertation must be well-organized, clearly written, and avoid plagiarism.
The document outlines the key components and guidelines for writing a research report. It discusses the structure, which includes preliminary pages, the main text, and end matter. The preliminary pages cover the acknowledgments, abstract, table of contents, and lists. The main text includes sections on the introduction, problem statement, objectives, methodology, literature review, data analysis, findings, and conclusions. The end matter consists of the bibliography and appendices. Guidelines emphasize being objective, minimizing technical language, and ensuring the report is logically structured, grammatically correct, and attractive in appearance.
The document describes a case study where a corporate HR head betrays the trust of an employee seeking a job by informing the police about the employee's criminal past after gaining his confidence. This leads other employees to lose faith in the HR head as his actions amount to a breach of trust. The document asks how the VP of the company should resolve this situation arising from the HR head's behavior.
This document provides an outline and overview for writing a research proposal. It discusses reasons for conducting research such as contributing to knowledge and solving problems. A proposal and research proposal are defined as plans for carrying out a task or study. Guidelines are provided for preparing to write a proposal, including contents. A proposal should have chapters on introduction, literature review, and methodology. The introduction states the problem, purpose, significance and research questions or hypotheses. The literature review establishes the theoretical or conceptual framework and reviews related work. The methodology describes the research design, participants, instruments, and analysis plan. Ethical considerations must also be addressed.
The document discusses research idea generation and question formulation. It describes that generating research ideas is one of the most difficult aspects of research. Ideas can come from rational thinking such as examining strengths and interests or creative thinking such as keeping an idea notebook. Techniques like brainstorming and SCAMPERR can help stimulate new ideas. Once an idea is generated, it needs to be narrowed into a focused research topic and then further refined into a clear research question to guide the study. The research question should be feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant.
This document discusses reflective practice and self-assessment in education. It provides definitions and perspectives on reflective practice from thinkers like Socrates, Joseph Vaughan, John Dewey, and Donald Schon. The document outlines the mindset of a reflective practitioner and presents the reflective practice cycle. It also shares York-Barr's theory of action for reflective practice, which involves pausing, openness, inquiry, thinking, learning, and action to enhance student learning. Key points are that reflective practice centers around a problem or dilemma and that reflective practice means no class will be the same.
The document discusses research questions in education research. It explains that research questions provide focus and direction for a research project by identifying what is being studied, such as the causes and consequences of bullying in schools. Good research questions are developed through reflection, extensive reading, discussion, drafting initial questions, and refinement. The type of research question depends on the type of research being conducted, such as descriptive questions for exploring phenomena or causal questions for determining relationships between variables.
The document provides guidance on writing a dissertation. It explains that a dissertation is a structured, extended piece of independent research that demonstrates a student's capabilities. It adheres to academic principles such as developing an argument in response to a central question. The document outlines the key components of a dissertation, including proposing a topic, developing a theoretical framework, conducting a literature review, describing methodology, presenting findings and discussion, and properly formatting references. It emphasizes that a dissertation must be well-organized, clearly written, and avoid plagiarism.
The document outlines the key components and guidelines for writing a research report. It discusses the structure, which includes preliminary pages, the main text, and end matter. The preliminary pages cover the acknowledgments, abstract, table of contents, and lists. The main text includes sections on the introduction, problem statement, objectives, methodology, literature review, data analysis, findings, and conclusions. The end matter consists of the bibliography and appendices. Guidelines emphasize being objective, minimizing technical language, and ensuring the report is logically structured, grammatically correct, and attractive in appearance.
The document describes a case study where a corporate HR head betrays the trust of an employee seeking a job by informing the police about the employee's criminal past after gaining his confidence. This leads other employees to lose faith in the HR head as his actions amount to a breach of trust. The document asks how the VP of the company should resolve this situation arising from the HR head's behavior.
This document provides an outline and overview for writing a research proposal. It discusses reasons for conducting research such as contributing to knowledge and solving problems. A proposal and research proposal are defined as plans for carrying out a task or study. Guidelines are provided for preparing to write a proposal, including contents. A proposal should have chapters on introduction, literature review, and methodology. The introduction states the problem, purpose, significance and research questions or hypotheses. The literature review establishes the theoretical or conceptual framework and reviews related work. The methodology describes the research design, participants, instruments, and analysis plan. Ethical considerations must also be addressed.
Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision MakingGabriel Barina
The document provides guidelines for a rational approach to problem solving and decision making. It outlines 7 steps: 1) define the problem, 2) look at potential causes, 3) identify alternatives, 4) select an approach, 5) plan implementation, 6) monitor implementation, and 7) verify if the problem was resolved. It also contrasts this rational approach with an organic approach that is more flexible and adaptive to chaotic changes.
This document discusses research methods and the importance of research. It notes that research aims to increase knowledge and discover answers to questions through creative and systematic work. Research provides the basis for government policies, helps solve business problems, and addresses social issues. It also helps students earn PhDs. Motivations for research include curiosity, a desire to understand causes and effects, and a desire to solve problems or do creative work. Good research must be logical, empirical, use common concepts, and have a design that aligns with its objectives. Limitations include data that may not be fully valid or adequate to support conclusions, the inability to analyze all influencing factors, and samples that may not be truly representative.
This document discusses data analysis methods for research. It covers:
1. Quantitative data analysis which involves analyzing numeric data using statistical techniques like descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression. Quantitative data can be nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio. Visualizations are also used.
2. Qualitative data analysis which analyzes non-numeric data like text. It involves categorizing data, identifying themes across data sources, and linking findings to theories. Grounded theory is an inductive qualitative method.
3. Both types of analysis require interpreting results, comparing to other research, and proposing hypotheses or explanations. Researcher bias must be considered for qualitative analysis.
Ethnography is a branch of anthropology that focuses on understanding a culture from the perspective of the people in that culture. There are two main types: micro ethnography, which studies narrow aspects of a culture, and macro ethnography, which studies broader aspects. Ethnographic research involves observing a group in its natural setting through long-term interaction and participation to understand cultural behaviors, artifacts, and speech. It provides insights into cultural health beliefs and practices.
The document discusses selecting a research problem and provides guidance on various factors to consider. It begins by defining what constitutes a research problem and some common types of problems. It then covers important considerations for selecting a problem such as ensuring the topic is significant, feasible to study, ethical, and of personal interest to the researcher. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for a clear research question and discusses how to write effective questions and define key terms. The document also provides an overview of the research process and common components of a research proposal or report.
The “Methods” section of a research paper contains the essential details for other scientists to replicate the study and helps the common readers understand the study better.
https://www.cognibrain.com/how-to-write-the-methods-section-of-your-medical-research-paper/
The document provides guidance on writing an effective research proposal. It discusses key factors to consider such as having a significant research problem or idea, clearly describing the problem or idea, and aligning with funding priorities. It outlines important sections to include such as objectives, methodology, timeline, budget, and qualifications. Factors that proposals cannot control like agency politics and competition are noted. The document emphasizes that proposals should be carefully researched, planned, and executed to maximize quality and chance of funding.
The document provides an overview of grounded theory methodology for analyzing qualitative data. It discusses open, axial, and selective coding as the three stages of coding in grounded theory. Open coding involves preliminary labeling of raw data. Axial coding identifies relationships between open codes. Selective coding identifies broader themes by focusing on a core category and relating other categories to it. Coding frames, memos, and constant comparison are also important aspects of grounded theory analysis.
1. A scientific poster should communicate research findings visually and concisely. It should highlight key findings and attract viewers from a distance.
2. Effective posters use a clear layout with sections arranged from top left to bottom right. Text should be brief and graphics should support the message. Less than 30% of the poster should be text.
3. Important elements include the title, author names, introduction/abstract, objectives, methods, results, conclusions, and references. Font sizes should be large enough to read from 3 feet away.
Self-reflection- Dr Ryan Thomas WilliamsRyan Williams
John Dewey (1859 -1952)
A key figure in progressive education
Incidental reflection: active at the time/an event is occurring
Systematic reflection: through making sense of that experience through systematic reflection
Donald SchÖn (1930 -1997)
Much concerned how society, organisations and individuals learn and develop the term ‘ reflective practitioner’
Reflection-in-action: respond flexibly to a given situation and prevent us from sticking to rigid plans
Reflection-on-action: to think about an event; what happened/how other people react, what the outcome was/what is the interrelationship between our actions and outcome
The document provides guidance on writing effective abstracts. It explains that abstracts should be brief yet accurate representations of documents, and discusses the key parts of abstracts including introductions, methods, results, and conclusions. The document also offers tips on writing style, common problems to avoid, and how to organize and structure abstracts.
This document outlines the typical structure and contents of a research report, which usually includes the following main sections: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. The introduction provides background and context for the study, while the literature review analyzes related work. The methodology describes the research design and procedures. Results are then presented, followed by a discussion of what the results mean. The conclusions summarize the findings and their implications. Finally, recommendations provide suggestions for application or further research.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL PREPARATION & MOTIVATION EFFORTSJustin K George
This document provides guidance on preparing a research proposal. It discusses the key elements that should be included in a proposal such as an introduction describing the background and problem statement, objectives, significance, limitations, literature review and methodology. The introduction to a proposal should interest the reader and lay the foundation for the research problem. A literature review demonstrates knowledge in the field and informs the researcher of previous related work. The methodology section describes how data will be collected and analyzed and why that specific approach is being used. Writing a clear, well-structured proposal is important for obtaining approval and support for a research project.
The document provides guidance on selecting a research topic, including brainstorming ideas, choosing a manageable topic, defining the topic as a focused research question, and formulating a thesis statement. Some key steps are brainstorming topics based on personal interests or current events, reading background information to identify keywords, focusing the topic by limiting its scope, and researching the topic to answer the research question. The goal is to select a topic that can be thoroughly researched within the assigned parameters.
This document provides guidance and suggestions for preparing for and handling a viva voce (oral defense) examination. It discusses the two types of viva approaches, greeting the examiners, listening carefully to questions, giving precise but explanatory answers, and not apologizing. It includes checklists for knowing the research benefits and limitations, examiners' backgrounds, current research, and backed up evidence. It suggests having a mock viva, re-reading the thesis, preparing examples questions and answers, and studying the examiners' backgrounds. The document outlines dos and don'ts, handling questions politely, maintaining eye contact, and focusing on questions. It provides sample viva questions and suggests knowing how to discuss the research methodology, analysis approach
This document provides guidance on selecting a dissertation topic, including considering personal and external factors. Personal factors to consider include academic interests, topic knowledge, and relevance to future goals. External factors involve topic manageability within time/resource constraints, relevance to the course of study, originality, significance, and suitability for quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. The document outlines dissertation grading criteria including requirements for distinction, merit, and pass marks. Example dissertation proposals and formatting guidelines are also provided, as well as resources for searching online thesis databases.
Problem (how to form good research question)metalkid132
The document discusses how to form a good research question. It outlines the importance of having a well-defined research question and lists characteristics of effective questions such as being answerable, specific, and building on previous research. The document also provides guidance on developing a research question by selecting a topic and issue and determining if a topic can be researched. It describes how to transform a research question into testable hypotheses and common mistakes to avoid such as questions being too broad, subjective, controversial, familiar, or technical.
This document provides an overview of a workshop on writing for academic publication. It discusses various techniques for getting started with writing, such as brainstorming, outlining, and writing to prompts or limits. It also covers defining the audience and purpose, choosing an appropriate publishing outlet, and elements of an academic article like the title, abstract, introduction and literature review. Later sections address drafting, revising, and submitting articles for publication. The goal is to help participants learn strategies for successful academic writing.
The document provides guidance on writing a successful research paper in 10 steps: 1) understand the genre, 2) choose a topic, 3) narrow the scope, 4) develop a thesis or research question, 5) conduct research, 6) create an outline, 7) write a first draft, 8) revise the draft, 9) proofread, and 10) submit the paper. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the assignment, finding a topic you're passionate about, doing thorough research, developing a strong thesis or research question, and revising. The key aspects are motivation, understanding sources and source evaluation, creating an outline after research, and focusing revision on higher-order concerns than proofreading.
Slides from the Alden Library workshop on using the citation manager Zotero for Your Literature Review. The presentation includes advice on organizing your materials with Zotero tools, managing PDFs and extracting annotations from a PDF file with Zotfile (a Zotero add-on) and strategies for creating citations with Zotero depending on how you do your writing.
The document provides guidance on selecting a research topic for a paper or project. It recommends brainstorming potential topics, researching background information, focusing the topic into a clear research question, developing keywords, and defining the topic as a thesis statement. Key steps include exploring interests and current events, limiting broad topics, researching more about the topic, and considering who, what, when, where and why questions related to the topic. Example topics and research questions are given to illustrate the process.
Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision MakingGabriel Barina
The document provides guidelines for a rational approach to problem solving and decision making. It outlines 7 steps: 1) define the problem, 2) look at potential causes, 3) identify alternatives, 4) select an approach, 5) plan implementation, 6) monitor implementation, and 7) verify if the problem was resolved. It also contrasts this rational approach with an organic approach that is more flexible and adaptive to chaotic changes.
This document discusses research methods and the importance of research. It notes that research aims to increase knowledge and discover answers to questions through creative and systematic work. Research provides the basis for government policies, helps solve business problems, and addresses social issues. It also helps students earn PhDs. Motivations for research include curiosity, a desire to understand causes and effects, and a desire to solve problems or do creative work. Good research must be logical, empirical, use common concepts, and have a design that aligns with its objectives. Limitations include data that may not be fully valid or adequate to support conclusions, the inability to analyze all influencing factors, and samples that may not be truly representative.
This document discusses data analysis methods for research. It covers:
1. Quantitative data analysis which involves analyzing numeric data using statistical techniques like descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression. Quantitative data can be nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio. Visualizations are also used.
2. Qualitative data analysis which analyzes non-numeric data like text. It involves categorizing data, identifying themes across data sources, and linking findings to theories. Grounded theory is an inductive qualitative method.
3. Both types of analysis require interpreting results, comparing to other research, and proposing hypotheses or explanations. Researcher bias must be considered for qualitative analysis.
Ethnography is a branch of anthropology that focuses on understanding a culture from the perspective of the people in that culture. There are two main types: micro ethnography, which studies narrow aspects of a culture, and macro ethnography, which studies broader aspects. Ethnographic research involves observing a group in its natural setting through long-term interaction and participation to understand cultural behaviors, artifacts, and speech. It provides insights into cultural health beliefs and practices.
The document discusses selecting a research problem and provides guidance on various factors to consider. It begins by defining what constitutes a research problem and some common types of problems. It then covers important considerations for selecting a problem such as ensuring the topic is significant, feasible to study, ethical, and of personal interest to the researcher. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for a clear research question and discusses how to write effective questions and define key terms. The document also provides an overview of the research process and common components of a research proposal or report.
The “Methods” section of a research paper contains the essential details for other scientists to replicate the study and helps the common readers understand the study better.
https://www.cognibrain.com/how-to-write-the-methods-section-of-your-medical-research-paper/
The document provides guidance on writing an effective research proposal. It discusses key factors to consider such as having a significant research problem or idea, clearly describing the problem or idea, and aligning with funding priorities. It outlines important sections to include such as objectives, methodology, timeline, budget, and qualifications. Factors that proposals cannot control like agency politics and competition are noted. The document emphasizes that proposals should be carefully researched, planned, and executed to maximize quality and chance of funding.
The document provides an overview of grounded theory methodology for analyzing qualitative data. It discusses open, axial, and selective coding as the three stages of coding in grounded theory. Open coding involves preliminary labeling of raw data. Axial coding identifies relationships between open codes. Selective coding identifies broader themes by focusing on a core category and relating other categories to it. Coding frames, memos, and constant comparison are also important aspects of grounded theory analysis.
1. A scientific poster should communicate research findings visually and concisely. It should highlight key findings and attract viewers from a distance.
2. Effective posters use a clear layout with sections arranged from top left to bottom right. Text should be brief and graphics should support the message. Less than 30% of the poster should be text.
3. Important elements include the title, author names, introduction/abstract, objectives, methods, results, conclusions, and references. Font sizes should be large enough to read from 3 feet away.
Self-reflection- Dr Ryan Thomas WilliamsRyan Williams
John Dewey (1859 -1952)
A key figure in progressive education
Incidental reflection: active at the time/an event is occurring
Systematic reflection: through making sense of that experience through systematic reflection
Donald SchÖn (1930 -1997)
Much concerned how society, organisations and individuals learn and develop the term ‘ reflective practitioner’
Reflection-in-action: respond flexibly to a given situation and prevent us from sticking to rigid plans
Reflection-on-action: to think about an event; what happened/how other people react, what the outcome was/what is the interrelationship between our actions and outcome
The document provides guidance on writing effective abstracts. It explains that abstracts should be brief yet accurate representations of documents, and discusses the key parts of abstracts including introductions, methods, results, and conclusions. The document also offers tips on writing style, common problems to avoid, and how to organize and structure abstracts.
This document outlines the typical structure and contents of a research report, which usually includes the following main sections: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. The introduction provides background and context for the study, while the literature review analyzes related work. The methodology describes the research design and procedures. Results are then presented, followed by a discussion of what the results mean. The conclusions summarize the findings and their implications. Finally, recommendations provide suggestions for application or further research.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL PREPARATION & MOTIVATION EFFORTSJustin K George
This document provides guidance on preparing a research proposal. It discusses the key elements that should be included in a proposal such as an introduction describing the background and problem statement, objectives, significance, limitations, literature review and methodology. The introduction to a proposal should interest the reader and lay the foundation for the research problem. A literature review demonstrates knowledge in the field and informs the researcher of previous related work. The methodology section describes how data will be collected and analyzed and why that specific approach is being used. Writing a clear, well-structured proposal is important for obtaining approval and support for a research project.
The document provides guidance on selecting a research topic, including brainstorming ideas, choosing a manageable topic, defining the topic as a focused research question, and formulating a thesis statement. Some key steps are brainstorming topics based on personal interests or current events, reading background information to identify keywords, focusing the topic by limiting its scope, and researching the topic to answer the research question. The goal is to select a topic that can be thoroughly researched within the assigned parameters.
This document provides guidance and suggestions for preparing for and handling a viva voce (oral defense) examination. It discusses the two types of viva approaches, greeting the examiners, listening carefully to questions, giving precise but explanatory answers, and not apologizing. It includes checklists for knowing the research benefits and limitations, examiners' backgrounds, current research, and backed up evidence. It suggests having a mock viva, re-reading the thesis, preparing examples questions and answers, and studying the examiners' backgrounds. The document outlines dos and don'ts, handling questions politely, maintaining eye contact, and focusing on questions. It provides sample viva questions and suggests knowing how to discuss the research methodology, analysis approach
This document provides guidance on selecting a dissertation topic, including considering personal and external factors. Personal factors to consider include academic interests, topic knowledge, and relevance to future goals. External factors involve topic manageability within time/resource constraints, relevance to the course of study, originality, significance, and suitability for quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. The document outlines dissertation grading criteria including requirements for distinction, merit, and pass marks. Example dissertation proposals and formatting guidelines are also provided, as well as resources for searching online thesis databases.
Problem (how to form good research question)metalkid132
The document discusses how to form a good research question. It outlines the importance of having a well-defined research question and lists characteristics of effective questions such as being answerable, specific, and building on previous research. The document also provides guidance on developing a research question by selecting a topic and issue and determining if a topic can be researched. It describes how to transform a research question into testable hypotheses and common mistakes to avoid such as questions being too broad, subjective, controversial, familiar, or technical.
This document provides an overview of a workshop on writing for academic publication. It discusses various techniques for getting started with writing, such as brainstorming, outlining, and writing to prompts or limits. It also covers defining the audience and purpose, choosing an appropriate publishing outlet, and elements of an academic article like the title, abstract, introduction and literature review. Later sections address drafting, revising, and submitting articles for publication. The goal is to help participants learn strategies for successful academic writing.
The document provides guidance on writing a successful research paper in 10 steps: 1) understand the genre, 2) choose a topic, 3) narrow the scope, 4) develop a thesis or research question, 5) conduct research, 6) create an outline, 7) write a first draft, 8) revise the draft, 9) proofread, and 10) submit the paper. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the assignment, finding a topic you're passionate about, doing thorough research, developing a strong thesis or research question, and revising. The key aspects are motivation, understanding sources and source evaluation, creating an outline after research, and focusing revision on higher-order concerns than proofreading.
Slides from the Alden Library workshop on using the citation manager Zotero for Your Literature Review. The presentation includes advice on organizing your materials with Zotero tools, managing PDFs and extracting annotations from a PDF file with Zotfile (a Zotero add-on) and strategies for creating citations with Zotero depending on how you do your writing.
The document provides guidance on selecting a research topic for a paper or project. It recommends brainstorming potential topics, researching background information, focusing the topic into a clear research question, developing keywords, and defining the topic as a thesis statement. Key steps include exploring interests and current events, limiting broad topics, researching more about the topic, and considering who, what, when, where and why questions related to the topic. Example topics and research questions are given to illustrate the process.
The document provides guidance on how to identify research gaps when conducting a literature review for a PhD dissertation. It outlines several methods for finding gaps, including identifying your main research question, reviewing existing literature on the topic, and looking for problems or areas that have not been sufficiently addressed. The document emphasizes reading literature for inspiration, using digital tools to explore popular topics, and discussing ideas with your research advisor. The goal is to find an unexplored area that interests you and has potential for further original research.
This document discusses selecting a research topic and organizing the research process. It emphasizes focusing the topic narrowly, ensuring adequate time and resources are available, and framing the topic as a series of questions. The objective is to have students thoughtfully select a topic they are interested in and can adequately research within the constraints of the assignment. Students should discuss potential topics with their professor or librarian to identify appropriate resources and scope. Organizing the research from the outset through narrowing the topic, assessing time and resources, and questioning what they aim to learn will save students time and improve their results.
A research paper requires investigating and evaluating primary and secondary sources to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on an issue, rather than simply informing readers of what others have said about a topic. It involves a process of research, critical thinking, and source evaluation to ask a question worth answering, find supporting evidence and reasons, and make a case for an answer through revision. The document provides guidance on the goals, types (argumentative vs analytical), questions, purpose, audience, and brainstorming process for an effective research paper.
This document provides guidance on identifying research gaps for a PhD dissertation literature review. It defines a research gap as an unexplored area that has potential for further study. It recommends identifying a motivating research question, reviewing literature keywords, and analyzing what issues have not been sufficiently addressed. Methods to find gaps include checking journal websites, using digital tools to analyze popular topics, and noting questions that arise while reading literature. Studying questions in-depth and discussing them with advisors can help prevent duplicating existing work and find gaps suitable for an original dissertation topic. Maintaining records of questions and gaps found is also suggested. The document stresses the importance of selecting a gap that genuinely interests the researcher and can be feasibly studied within time and resource
Sources of Research Questions and Formulation of Hypothesis Psychology Pedia
This document discusses developing good research questions and formulating hypotheses. It provides guidelines for creating clear, focused research questions, including making them relevant, manageable, substantial and original. It also discusses sources of research questions, such as observations, preliminary research, and literature. The document outlines steps for developing a research question, including choosing a topic, evaluating potential questions, and considering the audience. It then covers characteristics of a good hypothesis, such as being testable, parsimonious, and related to existing theory. The hypothesis should be stated as a one-sentence prediction to be tested through research.
This document outlines the requirements for an academic research essay assignment that is due on November 13th and must be 7-10 pages double spaced. Students must choose an intriguing problem related to their research topic and find an unexpected perspective or solution to argue in their paper. They are asked to formulate a research question to guide their exploration, conduct research from various academic sources, write an exploratory essay about their process, and compile an annotated bibliography. The final paper must be an argumentative research essay that logically supports a thesis with well-researched evidence from academic sources. Students must submit multiple drafts, sources, and feedback to complete the assignment.
presentation to MA Book Art students at Camberwell - part of a seminar to explore context for research writing around the final essay in relationship to practice
Updated tools for learning searching literature2Paula Nottingham
This document provides guidance on searching and reviewing literature for a practitioner inquiry project. It discusses reviewing available published and unpublished documents on the topic to understand different perspectives. When choosing sources, it's important to consider the level of criticality and where the knowledge is coming from. The document also discusses reading literature critically and capturing an author's position, as well as tips for effective searching, such as using specific search terms, Boolean operators, and databases available through the university library.
Running Head FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY 1 F.docxwlynn1
Running Head: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY
1
FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY
2Chapter 3A Selecting a Problem and Reviewing the Research
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS CHAPTER:
· • How to select a research problem
· • Defining and sorting out idea after idea until one fits your interests
· • The importance of personal experience in selecting a problem
· • The steps in reviewing the literature
· • Different sources of information and how to use them
· • How to use journals, abstracts, and indices
· • The difference between primary and secondary resources
· • Using a synthesis of literature
· • How scholarly journals work
· • Using the Internet to complete your literature review
So here you are, in the early part of a course that focuses on research methods, and now you have to come up with a problem that you are supposed to be interested in! You are probably so anxious about learning the material contained in your professor’s lectures and what is in this volume that you barely have time to think about anything else.
If you stop for a moment and let your mind explore some of the issues in the behavioral and social sciences that have piqued your interest, you will surely find something that you want to know more about. That is what the research process is all about—finding out more about something that is, in part, already known.
Once you select an area of interest, you are only part of the way there. Next comes the statement of this interest in the form of a research question followed by a formal hypothesis. Then it is on to reviewing the literature, a sort of fancy phrase that sounds like you will be very busy! A literature review involves library time online or actually there, note taking, and organizational skills (and of course writing), but it provides a perspective on your question that you cannot get without knowing what other work has been done as well as what new work needs to be done.
But hold on a minute! How is someone supposed to have a broad enough understanding of the field and spew forth well-formed hypotheses before the literature is reviewed and then become familiar with what is out there? As poet John Ciardi wrote, therein “lies the rub.”
The traditional philosophers and historians of science would have us believe that the sequence of events leading up to a review of what has been done before (as revealed in the literature) is as shown in Figure 3A.1a. This sequence of steps is fine in theory, but as you will discover, the actual process does not go exactly in the manner shown in the figure.
The research question and research hypothesis are more an outgrowth of an interaction between the scientist’s original idea and an ongoing, thorough review of the literature (good scientists are always reading), as you can see in Figure 3A.1b. This means that once you formulate a hypothesis, it is not carved in stone but can be altered to fit what the review of the literature may reflect, as well as any change in ideas you ma.
The document provides an overview of researching and defining a research problem. It discusses problem finding versus problem solving, formulating a research problem, sources of research problems, and conducting a literature survey. The key steps in finding a problem are to identify an area of interest, gather information to find gaps, and formulate a hypothesis. A prepared mind is needed to identify potential research problems from observations. The literature survey helps identify gaps and inconsistencies to define a research problem.
The document provides guidance on conducting research and writing a research paper. It discusses selecting and narrowing a research topic, developing a tentative bibliography, gathering data through methods like surveys and interviews, organizing and presenting findings, and writing the paper. Key steps covered include formulating questions about the topic, conducting a preliminary search in an encyclopedia, creating a survey questionnaire, tabulating and graphing survey results, planning and conducting interviews, and analyzing interview responses.
This document provides guidance on selecting a research topic. It outlines 8 steps: 1) brainstorm ideas, 2) read general background information, 3) focus the topic to make it manageable, 4) make a list of keywords, 5) be flexible as the topic may change during research, 6) define the topic as a focused research question, 7) research and read more about the topic, and 8) formulate a thesis statement. Following these steps will help a researcher develop an appropriate topic that can be thoroughly researched within the scope of the assigned paper or project.
The document provides instructions for a collaborative research project on gender studies. It outlines the assignment requirements, including choosing a topic related to gender from a film clip, formulating a research question, researching the topic by finding 5 scholarly sources per person, and creating an annotated bibliography with bibliographic entries and summaries of the sources. Students are to analyze and argue a position, rather than just stating facts, on their chosen topic as it relates to the film clip.
ThesisWhy you chose this topicDoes it pertain to your field.docxrandymartin91030
Thesis
Why you chose this topic?
Does it pertain to your field of study?
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Informative Essay -
Research Paper Proposal
Informative Essay
Include information to educate the reader about the topic you wish to write a research paper on;
“Why should people care?”
Create a sound thesis statement;
Reasons why the topic is important;
You should have an introduction, body, and a sound conclusion;
Define any agencies or terms that are pertinent to your topic.
Assisted Suicide
Autism
2nd Amendment/ Gun Rights
Legalization of Marijuana
Death Penalty
Same Sex Marriage
U.S. Prison Rates
Animal Rights / Testing
Vegans/Vegetarianism
Mental Illness / PTSD
Abortion
Climate Change
Things NOT to Write on
Expository Writing
Research Paper
A research paper is an analytical or persuasive essay that presents and argues a thesis (evaluates a position)
What a research paper is not
A simple collection of facts on a topic
A summary of information from one or more sources
Research Paper:
From an Interest to a Topic
In choosing a topic start with what interests you most deeply
Start by listing two or three interests you might like to explore/questions that you have wondered about
Examples
If you are undertaking a research project in a specific field, skim a recent textbook, talk to other students, or consult one of your teachers
Examples
You might try to identify an interest based on work you are doing or will do in a different course
Types of topics to avoid
If you are still stuck you can find help on the internet or in your library
Standard Guides in Various Fields
Dictionaries: briefly define concepts and sometimes offer a bibliography
Encyclopedias: give more extensive overviews and usually a bibliography
Bibliographies and Indexes list past and current publications in the field
Finding dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies in particular fields:
Go to Pfau Library Home Page
Under Search For heading click on the Encyclopedias/Dictionaries link
Under Search Online Databases heading select bibliographies and type your discipline into the search bar.
Scan headings for topics that catch your interest
Once you identify a general area of interest, use the internet to find out more about the topic so that you can narrow it.
At first you may not know enough about a general interest to turn it into a focused topic.
If so, you have to do some reading to know what to think about it.
Don’t read randomly: start with entries in a general encyclopedia, then look at entries in a specialized encyclopedia or dictionary, then browse through journals and websites until you have a grip on the general shape of your topic.
Previous Topics
Gender Discrimination and China’s One Child Policy
The Role of Attachmen.
Factors to consider before choosing school project topicsResearchWap
1. When choosing a project topic, pick something that has enough available information by doing a preliminary search.
2. School projects involve researching a topic and presenting findings through writing or multimedia. This requires finding, evaluating, and incorporating other researchers' work, not just your own knowledge.
3. Defining a focused research question is key to choosing a good topic. Brainstorm topics of interest and use keywords to search databases and websites for background information to help formulate a research question and thesis statement.
The document provides guidance on developing a research topic through several steps:
1) Formulate a broad research theme by considering topics of interest and relevance to your field of study. Possible sources of inspiration include literature, current issues, and subject guides.
2) Develop a specific research question by refining your theme using techniques like the "5W method" and organizing concepts visually in diagrams. The research question should allow for elaboration rather than a simple yes/no answer.
3) Further narrow or expand your research topic if needed by taking notes on viewpoints, developments, keywords and evaluating questions based on interest level and scope. The goal is to define a clear topic that can be studied in depth.
Since Islam originated and has developed in an Arab culture, other cultures which have adopted Islam have tended to be influenced by Arab customs. Thus Arab Muslim societies and other Muslims have cultural affinities, though every society has preserved its distinguishing characteristics. Islamic culture inherited an Arab culture born in the desert, simple but by no means simplistic. It has an oral tradition based on the transmission of culture through poetry and narrative. However, it has been the written record that has had the greatest impact on civilization. Islam civilization is based on the value of education, which both the Qur'an and the Prophet stressed.
One of the distinctive features of the Islamic tradition is its rapid expansion into a large and diverse civilization, soon becoming divided into several centers of political authority. Although the Prophet’s activities were mostly limited to the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, after his death the first four “Rightly Guided” caliphs sent armies to conquer Syria, Egypt, Iraq and parts of Persia, which were then within the declining Byzantine and Persian empires.
Carthage was a Phoenician state that included, during the 7th–3rd centuries BC, its wider sphere of influence known as the Carthaginian Empire. The empire extended over much of the coast of Northwest Africa as well as encompassing substantial parts of coastal Iberia and the islands of the western Mediterranean Sea.
The Kingdom of Carthage was the major power in the western Mediterranean from its establishment by the semi-legendary Queen Dido in 814 B.C. until its fall following its struggles against the rising Roman Republic. Carthage was one of the great trading powers of the Mediterranean and had relatively few rivals until its fall from grace, namely the Etruscans and the Greek city-states of Sicily and Cyrenaica. Much of Carthage's foreign policy depended on maintaining its mercantile dominance and expanding its control over island territories with which it could base its powerful navies and trade fleet.
The Phoenicians were a seafaring civilization that originated in the Levant region in the 2nd millennium BC and were based out of city-states along the coast of modern day Lebanon. They established vast trading networks across the Mediterranean and founded colonies to expand trade. The Phoenicians were skilled shipbuilders and navigators who traded goods like timber, glass, dye, and metals. They developed innovations like the Phoenician alphabet, which influenced other cultures like the Greeks. Over time the Phoenicians came under rule of various empires as their trade power declined. Their civilization was eventually absorbed by others like the Greeks and Romans.
With the coming of the new millenuim, the entire world has entered the globalized age, which is characterized by the US global power leading the world after the fall of the ex- USSR. The emergence of globaization rose several questions about the role of the US: Is it acting in favor preserving the world cultures, or trying to model the world according to the US Western and liberal values? This; in fact, has paved the way to rise of such theories, expliaing that the US has enetered a new phase of conflict which is basically cutural in order to survive and promote its cultural values.
The Bush era has seen remarkable change in the US foreign policy. After 9/ 11 attacks, President Bush (the son) initiated the Bush Doctrine and started his war on terror which had such implications as the invasion of Afghanistan in 2011, and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Computer-mediated communication (CMC) refers to human communication via computers and includes many different forms of synchronous, asynchronous or real-time interaction that humans have with each other using computers as tools to exchange text, images, audio and video.
The Bill Clinton Era the 1990s and the new millenniumBoutkhil Guemide
The Presidency of Bill Clinton has been an important era in the history of the US. Clinton is best known of his economic policies; namely, Clintonomics which produced a huge surplus of the budget. In foreign policy, Clinton is best known of the Engagement and Enlargement which relied on building of a new world order based on both Democracy and Freemarket economy.
Globally, educational systems are adopting new technologies to integrate ICT in the teaching and learning process, to prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need in their subject matter. In this way the teaching profession is evolving from teacher-centered to student-centered learning environments. ICT integration is understood as the usage of technology seamlessly for educational processes like transacting curricular content and students working on technology to do authentic tasks. Nowadays ICT facilitate not only the delivery of lessons but also the learning process itself. This includes computer based technologies, digital imaging, the internet, file servers, data storage devices, network infrastructure, desktops, laptops and broadcasting technologies namely radio and television, and telephone which are used as instructional tools at schools.
Globally, educational systems are adopting new technologies to integrate ICT in the teaching and learning process, to prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need in their subject matter. In this way the teaching profession is evolving from teacher- centered to student- centered learning environments. ICT integration is understood as the usage of technology seamlessly for educational processes like transacting curricular content and students working on technology to do authentic tasks.
Nowadays ICT facilitate not only the delivery of lessons but also the learning process itself. This includes computer based technologies, digital imaging, the internet, file servers, data storage devices, network infrastructure, desktops, laptops and broadcasting technologies namely radio and television, and telephone which are used as instructional tools at schools.
The US presence in the Middle East can be explained to the fact that it always defends its interets in the region. For, that reason, the US uses divergent means and methods to achieve its ends.
The lecture analyzes the phenomenon of Globalization, the technological revolution, the over exploitation of ICTs, and the rise of Information Society.
Reagan's 1980 election resulted from a dramatic conservative shift to the right in American politics, including a loss of confidence in liberal, New Deal, and Great Society programs and priorities that had dominated the national agenda since the 1930s.
Domestically, the Reagan administration enacted a major tax cut, sought to cut non-military spending, and eliminated federal regulations. The administration's economic policies, known as "Reaganomics", were inspired by supply-side economics. The combination of tax cuts and an increase in defense spending led to budget deficits, and the federal debt increased significantly during Reagan's tenure. Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (which simplified the tax code by reducing rates and removing several tax breaks) and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Reagan also appointed more federal judges than any other president, including four Supreme Court Justices.
Reagan's foreign policy stance was resolutely anti-communist; its plan of action, known as the Reagan Doctrine, sought to roll back the global influence of the Soviet Union in an attempt to end the Cold War. Under this doctrine, the Reagan administration initiated a massive buildup of the United States military; promoted new technologies such as missile defense systems; and, in 1983, undertook an invasion of Grenada, the first major overseas action by U.S. troops since the end of the Vietnam War. The administration also created controversy by granting aid to paramilitary forces seeking to overthrow leftist governments, particularly in war-torn Central America and Afghanistan. Specifically, the Reagan administration engaged in covert arms sales to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua that were fighting to overthrow their nation's socialist government; the resulting scandal led to the conviction or resignation of several administration officials. During Reagan's second term, he sought closer relations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and the two leaders signed a major arms control agreement known as the INF Treaty.
The document discusses various aspects of writing research reports. It emphasizes that writing is essential for communicating research findings and should start early in the research process. The writing process involves drafting, revising, editing, and re-working sections as new information is learned. Researchers must properly cite sources to avoid plagiarism and ensure grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct when finalizing their written reports.
This document provides guidelines for formatting references and citations in APA style. It discusses citing references in text using an author-date citation system and listing references alphabetically on a separate references page. Each reference cited in text must appear in the references list, and vice versa. The references list should include bibliographic information about each source to allow readers to locate the source, such as author, date, title, publisher. Specific formatting guidelines are provided for different types of sources including books, articles, websites, and more.
The document provides guidance on writing argumentative essays. It defines key terms used in argumentation such as proponent, opponent, and counterargument. It explains that the goals of an argumentative essay are to present an opinion on a controversial topic, explain and support the opinion with evidence, and address counterarguments. A sample essay introduction is presented, defining the topic of advertising and stating the thesis that advertisements manipulate viewers. Guidelines are given for writing pro and con paragraphs, including using examples, facts, explanations, and authorities to support or weaken arguments. The conclusion restates the main points and warns of the harmful effects of advertisements.
This document provides guidance on writing a biographical narrative essay. It discusses choosing a subject to write about and researching their life, including important dates and accomplishments. It emphasizes starting the essay in an engaging way to capture the reader's interest. The document also suggests considering how a subject's personality was shaped by their childhood or key events in their life. Finally, it offers tips on organizing, drafting, and revising the essay to effectively communicate the subject's life and impact.
This document provides guidance on writing a history essay. It explains that a history essay makes an argument about past events and aims to convince the reader of a point of view through evidence. The introduction should establish the topic, provide context, and state the thesis. Body paragraphs support and develop the thesis using facts and interpretation of sources. Different types of history essay questions require different approaches, such as explaining causes for "why" questions or making judgments for "assess" questions. Strong organization, a clear argument, and interpretation of evidence are keys to a successful history essay.
This document provides guidance on how to write a classification essay. It explains that a classification essay divides a topic into organized categories. The essay should have an introduction that states the categories, body paragraphs discussing each category in detail and providing examples, and a conclusion that restates the thesis. Some common ways to categorize include by degree, parts, types, characteristics, and chronology. The categories must follow a single organizing principle and be equally supported by examples.
Writing a cause-effect essay requires analyzing the relationships between causes and effects. The document provides guidelines for writing a successful cause-effect essay, including (1) avoiding logical errors when analyzing causes and effects, (2) qualifying assertions with words like "often" and "likely", and (3) writing a clear and limited thesis. Organizational patterns include multiple causes with a single effect, a single cause with multiple effects, multiple causes with multiple effects, and an alternating chain of causes and effects. Transitions and an objective third-person voice should be used.
This document provides information and guidance on writing a comparison/contrast essay. It defines what a comparison/contrast essay is and explains that the goal is to point out similarities and differences between two or more topics. The document discusses the two main organizational patterns for these essays - subject by subject, where each topic is discussed separately, and point by point, where each key point is discussed together for all topics. It provides examples of how to outline essays using these structures and suggests transition words that can be used to help compare and contrast topics. Finally, it offers guidance on writing an effective thesis statement that clearly defines what will be compared or contrasted.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
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There are 4 phases of wound healing: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This document also describes the mechanism of wound healing. Factors that affect healing include infection, uncontrolled diabetes, poor nutrition, age, anemia, the presence of foreign bodies, etc.
Complications of wound healing like infection, hyperpigmentation of scar, contractures, and keloid formation.
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
"Learn about all the ways Walmart supports nonprofit organizations.
You will hear from Liz Willett, the Head of Nonprofits, and hear about what Walmart is doing to help nonprofits, including Walmart Business and Spark Good. Walmart Business+ is a new offer for nonprofits that offers discounts and also streamlines nonprofits order and expense tracking, saving time and money.
The webinar may also give some examples on how nonprofits can best leverage Walmart Business+.
The event will cover the following::
Walmart Business + (https://business.walmart.com/plus) is a new shopping experience for nonprofits, schools, and local business customers that connects an exclusive online shopping experience to stores. Benefits include free delivery and shipping, a 'Spend Analytics” feature, special discounts, deals and tax-exempt shopping.
Special TechSoup offer for a free 180 days membership, and up to $150 in discounts on eligible orders.
Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
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2. What is a Research Paper?
Whatever type of information that you are looking for,
you will need to know how to gather, sort, and track
the facts and opinions available to you,
That’s why you should know how to do a research
paper,
It is a useful and efficient method for gathering and
presenting reliable information that each one is
frequently assigned in colleges and high schools,
The research paper is characterized as:
3. Arguing and presenting a thesis: the writer
presents and proposes his thesis/ point of view,
Analytical and persuasive: the writer evaluates
his position,
The writer tries to convince readers that his
argument is valid or at least deserves serious
consideration,
The writer must be creative in using facts,
details, examples, and opinions to support a
point,
The writer has to be original and inventive in
deciding which facts best support a the thesis
and which are superfluous,
4. Choosing Your Topic for Your Research Paper
Writing a research paper is a big job. However,
you can make it easier by breaking it into smaller
parts. The place to start is by answering the
question, “What’s it all about?”
5. Choosing your research topic is probably the most
important single decision you have to make in doing
research,
It is a critical step in the success of your research
project; It can be also one of the more difficult steps,
The topic of your research paper indicates:
The nature of research/ or investigation you are
conducting,
The particular discipline you are working in,
6. How to Choose a Topic for Your Research Paper
Each problem is solved within a set of constraints,
These constraints include: resources, time, and
knowledge.,
As such, I compare choosing your dissertation topic and
adviser to planning an engineering project.
You choose, if you have a choice, your dissertation topic
and your adviser within constraints imposed by your
department, university, and field.
Before becoming femiliar with writing your research paper,
you should selesct your topic,
But, how your topic should look like? How should it be?
Assignment: “Write a research paper on a topic related to
the American Revolution.”
You are not expected to find out everything about the
American Revolution, of course.
Rather, your teacher expects you to think about what
you’ve already learned about this large, general topic and
then focus on some specific part of it in your paper.
7. The size of your topic:
Think of choosing your research topic in terms
of the Goldilocks strategy: You want to select a
topic which is not too big, and not too small, but
just the right one.
An important skill involving choosing a topic is to
be able to pick onf the right size: not too big, not
too small, but do-able within the time, space,
and resources available,
8. Average Expected Word Length for Papers
Paragraph 50 to 150 words
Short paper 150 to 350 words
Medium-sized paper 350 to 800 words
Dissertation 1,500 to 2,500 words
Thesis 3,000 words or more
9. Which Topics Work (and Which Ones Don’t):
What Interests You:
Choosing an easy topic may backfire, however, if the topic
does not interest you all that much.
Remember: you will be living with this assignment for
several days, or even weeks.
If you are stuck with a topic that makes your eyes glaze
over, try discussing the topic with others who may help you
find a more interesting angle.
You also might try thinking about what makes this topic
interesting to other people.
As you find out more, you may discover something there
that interests you after all.
10. What You Can Handle:
Some topics are hard to handle because they are too
large, or broad.
“The American Revolution” is an example of such a topic.
Seasoned scholars have written volumes on this subject,
but no single person can cover every aspect of this major
event in just one paper.
Instead, focus on narrowing down your topic to answer
favorite questions you may have about the topic, such as
“The Causes of the American Revolution” or “The Battle of
Lexington and Concord.”
Another example of a topic that is too broad is “Plants.”
The study of plants—also called botany—is a whole branch
of science in itself.
Pick a narrower topic such as “Carnivorous Plants” or
“Plants of the Arctic.”
11. Tackle the Topic:
You cannot get ideas unless you know what to think about,
In school, the "what to think about" is generally called the
topic,
Topics do not contain verbs: They are nouns or groups of
nouns, sometimes interspersed with pronouns,
conjunctions, and prepositions.
A topic can be very general:
• South Carolina
• Mars
• highways
• hydrocarbons
• Windows computer
• The word “I” in James Joyce’s Ulysses
12. You can often create an aspect of a general topic merely
by adding another noun to it,
Assignment: “Write about Massachusetts”
Some acceptable topics:
• Massachusetts trees
• Massachusetts’ government
• volcanoes in Massachusetts
• books about Massachusetts
• inventors from Massachusetts
• Acceptable topic:
Massachusetts: From a British Colony to an American
Nation
13. Assignment: “Write about programs for the Windows computer”
Some acceptable topics:
• future programs for the Windows computer
• word processing programs for the Windows computer
• programs specifically designed for the Windows computer
Assignment: Write about the word “I” in James Joyce’s Ulysses
Some acceptable topics:
the word “I” in the first chapter of Ulysses
the word “I” as used by Molly Bloom in Ulysses
14. What You Can Find Enough Information About:
These may include, for example, a word processor or
computer, access to a typist and, perhaps most
importantly, a good library, and access to the Internet,
Suppose you have identified a topic that you find
interesting,
Before you say, “This is it!” ask yourself the question, “Can
I find enough information on this topic?”
Even though that topic could be the basis of a great paper,
the only information available might be the article you read
and one highly technical report written by a group of space
scientists,
Another pitfall is that you might choose a topic that’s
interesting to so few individuals that only a few experts
have written about it,
Also, you need to set the resources you will probably need
15. The time you have available:
Similar considerations relate to the time you have available
for your research study,
For a small-scale research study: a few hundred hours in
total,
You need to make the best use of this time possible,
You will also have to limit the extent of any data collection
you undertake:
Therefore, many interviews or questionnaires you can get
completed, or, more importantly, usefully analyzed, within a
given amount of time.
The limitations on your time highlight the importance of
planning ahead, scheduling and piloting your work.
16. What to do if you cannot think of a topic:
It may be that you are to do a piece of research, but you
just can’t think of what to do,
This is quite a common problem: It is associated with your
confidence, or lack of it, in undertaking a research project,
Ask your supervisor, friends, or colleagues :
You can usefully ask almost anybody for ideas; non-
specialists and those who aren’t involved, as well as
experts,
Your supervisor may have a good deal of advice to offer,
and might welcome you researching a topic of interest to
them.
Or, they may put you in touch with a colleague in a similar
position.
Your friends and colleagues might have suggestions for
research which could help you in some way.
Talking about your ideas to people who aren’t involved with
17. Look at previous research work:
This is another obvious suggestion,
“I was desperate for an idea, any idea, so I began by
asking around. Surely someone out there in practice would
have an exciting question that they felt must be asked but not
the knowledge or resources to pursue? . . . When it became
obvious that no one was going to present a research question
to me on a plate I began my search in earnest. I read a lot
and went through back copies of journals. I particularly chose
the Journal of Advanced Nursing and the International
Journal of Nursing Studies to look through because these
were very general in their content, were academic in nature
and very often researchers would mention ‘implications for
further research’ at the end of their paper. After leafing
through several journals I came across an article about
creativity and nursing”. (Miles 1994: 18–19)
18. There are almost certainly many examples of similar kinds
of research projects which you could look at,
You might consider replicating one of these: using the
same methods to analyze the same problem, but in a
different area or institution.
19. First check your class notes:
Does one small side issue keep showing up?
E. g., Are there several references in your economics notes to
clever illegal schemes?
Make the topic of your paper on inflation "Clever Illegal
Schemes in Inflationary Times."
Are there lots of notes in your modern poetry notebook that
refer to classical mythology?
The teacher said these things because he was interested in
them and you may have taken the notes on these side issues
because they interested you, too.
listen to the lectures:
The same rule of thumb can be applied,
20. Physics assignment: Write about quantum energy
Your topic: The Discoverer of the Quantum Particle
Does the French teacher talk a lot about French culture?
French assignment: Write about the French Alps
Your topic: Folk Songs in the French Alps
21. Narrowing Your Research Topic
Avoid topics that are too broad,
You need a few strategies for narrowing a general topic
down to size that you can manage,
By following these steps for finding a topic, you will be able
to find one on which you can gather plenty of information,
that you find interesting, and that is neither too broad nor
too narrow,
22. An Idea Web:
You may have made an idea web before and referred to it as a
“cluster” or an “idea map”
It is one kind of graphic organizer,
An idea web can be an extremely efficient tool for finding a topic
that interests you,
It works on the assumption that one idea leads to another,
To make an idea web, you need a blank sheet of paper,
Begin by drawing a circle in the middle of your paper,
Then, in the circle, write the first topic you can think of, even if it
is not a topic you are actually considering,
As other related topics come to your mind, write them in smaller
circles surrounding the original circle,
Draw lines leading from the original circle to the smaller circles,
The ideas in the small circles can lead to yet more ideas, which
you can write in even smaller circles,
Eventually, you will write an idea in a little circle out near one of
the corners of your paper,
23.
24. Brainstorming:
Sitting down with a group and talk until you have come up
with an idea for a project you are working on, whether it is
to plan a trip or organize a party: brainstorming,
Brainstorming a topic for a research paper works the same
way,
Except that you do it by yourself, and you use a pencil and
paper,
Start by writing down the first topic that comes into your
head, then the second, the one after that,
Try to free your mind and let the ideas come,
It does not matter if some of your ideas are completely
ridiculous,
There is an excellent chance that all the ideas that do not
work will eventually lead to, at least, one idea that does.
25. Make a Pyramid Chart:
A pyramid diagram is a graphic organizer that can help you
narrow a topic,
Get a sheet of notebook paper, and in the center of the top line,
write
down your general topic,
To continue with the same example, write "Plants” at the center
of the top line,
On the next line, beneath the general topic, write two topics that
are smaller than the general topic;
leave a small amount of space between each topic,
You might write “Desert Plants” and “Rain Forest Plants”,
On the third line, write two even smaller topics beneath each of
the topics on the second line,
Under “Desert Plants,” you might write “Cacti” and “Trees of the
Desert”,
Beneath “Rain Forest Plants,” you might write “Plants That Live
in Trees” and “Plants of the Forest Floor.”
26.
27. Target Diagram:
A target diagram is especially useful if you want to write
down more than just two ideas for each preceding idea,
It allows your thoughts to flow a little more freely, and
gradually you can see the direction that interests you most,
Draw a circle in the center of a sheet of paper,
Around that circle, draw several larger circles so that your
blank diagram looks like a target,
In the central circle, write your general topic,
Then, in the outer circles, start writing narrower and
narrower topics until you reach one that seems just narrow
enough,
28.
29. Choosing a Topic
How does one choose a topic?
Selecting a good research topic for your research paper is the first and
one of the important steps towards research paper writing.
If you must choose from a list of topics, it is still important to choose one
that interests you,
The success of your research paper and the degree its contribution to
your career development will depend on the goodness of your research
topic,
Whatever topic you choose, it needs to be:
• INTERESTING: both to you and to your reader,
• RESEARCHABLE: it should be such a good idea that lots of people have
addressed this topic,
• Based on RESEARCH, not just OPINION: why Britney Spears is the best
singer ever is not an acceptable topic,
• IMPORTANT: not necessarily important enough to change the world, but
important in the sense that your reader should think the topic is worthy of
being,
30. The characteristics of a good thesis topic
resses to a defined gap in knowledge
nal, and relevant
defined, focused, and narrow
her very ambitious nor very simple
esting to student, supervisor, research community
suited to caliber/ commitment
be completed using available resources: time, subjects/ material, too
31. How to choose your supervisor
The supervisory process is a complex pedagogical relationship,
The role of your supervisor is to facilitate your academic development
and will change over time as you grow in expertise and confidence,
Your relationship is more likely to succeed if you are clear about what you
expect from your supervisor,
The relationship you develop with your supervisor will be decisive,
He should, however, assist you in crafting your work and help you to plan,
providing input and ideas based on their experience.
Your supervisor is there to guide you in producing your best research
paper,
You should also ensure that your supervisor does not take over or show
little interest in your work,
Agreeing aims and schedules at the beginning of the relationship and
maintaining regular, well-planned meetings can help avoid these pitfalls,
32. What is a supervisor?
‘Supervisor’ is the term most commonly used within universities
and colleges for academics who have personal responsibility for
overseeing the progress of individual students’ research
projects.
Supervisors should have some knowledge of the specialist
areas in which their students are researching, plus a general
understanding of the research process and the various
strategies possible.
They should have an inside knowledge of the rules and
regulations, both written and unwritten, affecting your research
project.
They should have some skill in conducting the kind of in-depth
relationships required for successful supervision.
And they should help to keep you focused on your research.
33. Finding a suitable supervisor
First you need to locate an institution that you feel best
supports your area of research and then find a supervisor
in that area,
Explore the research activities of potential supervisors,
taking time to read their published work to find out if you
are comfortable with their methodology,
34. Regardless of the constraints you face in the assignment of
your adviser, you should think about the following questions
while considering an adviser and a dissertation topic:
Does the adviser have expertise and interest in the
topic?
Which theoretical/conceptual approaches or research
methods does the faculty member use?
Is the adviser available?
Does the adviser have a sense of humor (although not a
necessary trait, it will make your dissertation process a
little more enjoyable)?
Will the adviser have funding to support you?
35. The Choosing a Topic and an Adviser Matrix
Joann Moody;
The Choosing a Topic and an Adviser Matrix;
Your involvement in the topic;
The involvement of a potential adviser;
Involvement: motivation, knowledge of subject matter,
knowledge of theories and methodologies, interest, and
current research on the topic,
Joann Moody develops a two-dimensional matrix and
included a host of criteria in the word involvement,
36.
37. Quadrant I: The Mentoring Model
The Mentoring Model: very desirable,
Mentor: a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential senior sponsor
or supporter,
Mentoring: when the adviser is very involved in the topic and can inform you
on issues related to literature reviews, data or sources, theoretical/conceptual
approaches, methodologies, networking with others in the field, and
opportunities for presenting and publishing,
Your adviser could play an active role in your scholarship or research,
He probably is more invested in your research and will presumably be more
available to you,
Your involvement in the topic is very high,
For whatever reasons, this topic motivates and interests you,
The Mentoring Model represents the best option you could ever conceive,
If you find yourself in this situation, you should be grateful and consider
yourself very fortunate,
38. Quadrant II: The Coaching Model
The Coaching Model: if your interest in a topic is more important to
you than is the involvement of your adviser,
The adviser could coach you through the practices in your field and
assist you in navigating the requirements of your department,
Your adviser could not speak to the latest developments in the field,
identify areas where the field needs contributions, or introduce you to
the network of scholars involved in the conversation,
The Coaching Model is popular or advantageous if you are starting
your dissertation work with a considerable amount of research or
scholarship experience,
You may find yourself choosing the Coaching Model if developing
expertise in a particular topic trumps developing research skills.
In any of these situations, your level of knowledge and involvement
with the subject matter are probably greater than your adviser’s.
You would rely on your adviser for direction while conducting the
research and writing the dissertation.
39. Quadrant III: The Apprenticeship Model
The Apprenticeship Model: you seek out a dissertation adviser based on his
research expertise or reputation as an excellent dissertation adviser.
You work on a project related to his program of research.
You sacrifice your current interests in exchange for developing research
skills, scholarly experiences, and a strong network.
After you have developed this expertise, you can pursue your topic of interest
later in your career.
In this sense, you are apprenticing with a researcher and learning all the
skills and knowledge you can before you go off on your own.
This option is advantageous if you plan on an academic or a research career.
So very often, what started off as an apprenticeship relationship develops
into a mentoring relationship, such as occurred in my case.
40. Quadrant IV: The Unadvisable Option
This is the quadrant where you have limited interest in the topic
and your adviser has little involvement,
Do not even consider this option,
You will spend long days and nights, caffeinated beverage in
hand, working on your dissertation,
Sometimes your interest in your dissertation topic is the only
thing that will keep you going;
Choose another quadrant,
41. What to look for in your supervisor
Choosing an appropriate supervisor is just as important as
choosing an appropriate topic! Keep the following things in
mind when choosing your supervisor(s):
Academic credibility
Reputation
Good research record
Knowledge of the methodology you are going to employ
Compatibility
Availability
Knowledge of the field you are investigating
42. Actors Involved, their Roles
and Relationships
The roles of the participants in your project can be
characterized as follows:
● The student, who identifies, approaches and solves a
problem;
● The supervisor, who guides you in your work;
● The examiner, who critically assesses your work;
But, how these three actors in the research paper are
related ?
43.
44. The Student
Without your initiative and commitment, the work will not
be progressing satisfactorily, and the project comes to a
halt;
Supervisors have the right to expect a high level of
commitment from their students, who in turn should
respond positively to advice and guidance;
In so doing, students develop an increasing level of
independence when it comes to solving complex
problems;
Your supervisor is your best friend when doing a project;
The supervisor is there to help you, pointing out both the
good aspects in your work and the less ones, in order to
help you improve;
You are both involved in a project which may increase
45. The Responsibilities of the Student
As a student you should:
● Plan and discuss with your supervisor the topic of the project
and the timetable, including a schedule of meetings where
appropriate feedback can be given;
● Maintain progress according to the agreed schedule, and
continuously report your progress to the supervisor;
● Keep systematic records of work completed;
● Make sure to submit written material to your supervisor in time
to allow for discussion and comments before proceeding to the
next stage of the project;
● Decide on a date, together with your supervisor, when the
project should be finished and the report submitted to the
department or university;
46. ● Write up and submit the report within the time
limit, and in accordance with local submission
guidelines;
● Address and respond to criticism, guidance,
and suggestions given by the supervisor, which
may include undertaking any study required by
the supervisor,
● Inform your supervisor of any problems or
difficulties, e.g. any personal circumstances
which prevent you from working on your project;
47. The Supervisor
The supervisor is a person who is there to guide you, both in the
subject area and in scientific thinking;
The supervisor is normally skilled in carrying out projects in the
particular subject area, and knowledgeable about the methods
relevant to and accepted in that subject area;
Your supervisor should help you choose and define the
boundaries of the topic to be studied in the project;
The supervisor helps you ensure that your project can be
completed successfully and on time; This includes setting the
project boundaries in such a way that it is of a reasonable size
with respect to the allocated time;
The supervisor will help you ensure that there are appropriate
literature or data sources available in the area;
48. The Responsibilities of a Supervisor
The supervisor should:
● Inform you of the instructions of your particular department or
university for carrying out a thesis project;
● Discuss dates when your work should be handed in, presented
or discussed;
● Provide guidelines for how to report the project;
● Give guidance concerning the nature of research, the standard
expected, relevant literature and sources in the area, and what
research methods are considered good practice in the area;
● Inform you of relevant regulations and issues, legal as well as
ethical, e.g. copyright issues, plagiarism;
● Explore your academic background to identify any areas in
which further training is required;
49. ● Help you ensure that your project can be completed,
including preparation of a report, within the allocated
project time;
● Meet you regularly and discuss the progress in the
project;
● Request that you hand in written reports within an
agreed time;
● Inform you of any inadequacy with respect to
progress or the quality of the work of failure to reach
an acceptable standard;