Transcript Preparation for Project Thesis.ppt

Research Methods for
Diploma Students
1
Preparation for Project
Thesis
Week 1
2
Overview of workshop
The reason why you are part of this
very important workshop is solely for
the objective of ensuring you are able
to pass your modules.
The workshop is designed to allow
students to achieve better results by
learning the right research skills to
write your module papers.
Aim of this workshop
To help you understand the concept
and practice of academic research
To explain some of the pitfalls that
you may encounter in your research
Formulate a proposal
Understand the different forms of
research
To give advice on effective writing
and production of a dissertation
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Objectives
At the end of this short term semester
(10 week) you will be able to:
Have a clear understanding of the
characteristics of a dissertation
Develop a dissertation proposal
Plan your research
Undertake a meaningful literature search
and judge the value of what you have
researched and read
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Workshop learning outcomes
To be able to understand and apply primary and
secondary research methodologies
To be able to apply the correct research
approaches in quantitative and qualitative
concepts
To be able to perform basic Harvard Referencing
skills
To be able to understand project writing based on
Literary Analysis Papers such as reports, essay
and case studies
What is project paper writing or
Writing-to-Learn project?
Critical analysis problems and issues
Testing student’s critical thinking ability to examine closely the connection
between the parts and the whole of a particular subject and their ability to
investigate and articulate the way ideas connect to or contrast with one another
including raising questions and concerns
Gather information
Testing student’s ability to summarize and synthesize information about a
particular subject via careful reading and attention to details
Provide arguments
Testing student’s ability to articulate a claim about a particular subject with
appropriate evidence to support such a claim with proper citation and referencing
Recommend solutions
Testing students to offer innovative ideas to discover and formulate solutions to
solve problems
Reflect on learning
Testing student’s ability to look at experiences retrospectively and articulate what
has been learned from them.
What is academic research?
 Defining and redefining problems around
theories
 Formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions
 Collecting, organising and evaluating data
 Making deductions and reaching conclusions
 Carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
It is the pursuit of truth with
the help of study,
observation, comparison
and experiment.
Steps to Writing-to-Learn projects
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
• Understand the questions asked to determine the
type of assignment(based on the background to the
topic and the current thinking and relevant theories)
• Locating the most appropriate theories, sources of
information and data to support your answers and
discussions
• Developing the paper structure according to the
assignment's format requirement
Types of assignment
Problem/Solution:
an effective two-part structure whereby students first examine
the nature of a specific problem and then describe an effective
solution that carries with it their central claim about the subject.
The writing situation considers a problem to which the student is
proposing a solution. Students can be asked to consider the
costs and benefits of the solution proposed.
Question/Answer:
another two-part structure that is formed around an analysis of a
central question or set of questions that are pertinent to a
subject and then moves into a claim/analysis of possible
answers.
Narrative/Analysis:
a structure building on story techniques in form of a case study
whereby the student details what is happening/has happened
and uses these events to develop an analysis/argument about
the subject.
Cont…
Test possible research projects for
Suitability
Feasibility
Risk
Select an appropriate approach to your
research
Organize your own research
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Basic Steps of a Research
Find a topic  What, When
Formulate questions  What, Why
Define population  How much, When
Select measurement  How
Gather evidence  How
Interpret evidence  Why
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Stages in the Research Process
Find a topic & Define
Problem
Planning a
Research Design
Conclusions
and Report
Planning
a Sample
Processing and
Analysing the Data
Gathering
the Data
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Writing a Proposal:
Developing a Focused Project
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Cont…
Generating Ideas
for a suitable
dissertation –
“What could I do?”
Evaluate your
ideas –
Is it Suitable?
Is it Practical?
Is it too Risky?
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Cont…
Defining the Suitable Name for your
Dissertation
Narrow with Problem Statement
Narrow with Objective
Usually the name of project will polish
when your result come out.
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Cont…
The Big Picture
Your proposal describes your proposed plan of work:
• What you intend to study (scope and research
questions).
• How you intend to study your topic (methodology).
• Why this topic needs to be studied (significance).
• When you will complete this work (timeline).
• (Occasionally) Where you will conduct this work.
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Cont….
Understand that the proposal will be negotiated--be
prepared to revise!
Think of the proposal as an introduction to your
thesis or dissertation.
Remember that the proposal is not a binding
contract.
Remember that your proposal is not meant to limit
ideas, but to help you think practically.
Ask colleagues to form a writing group.
Talk to your advisor!
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Parts of a Proposal
Title
Introduction/Background
Problem Statement
Objective/Research
Questions
Review of Literature
(start with basic
theories)
Methodology
Significance/
Implications
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Suggested model for a paragraph
that includes evidence and your
own ideas
Introduce your point (your own words), and
any theory applicable (make sure you
referenced the theory)
Add the evidence to support your point
(quoted or paraphrased evidence that
needs to be referenced)
Explain how and why this evidence
supports your point and what you think of it
(your own interpretation and critical
thinking)
Explain how the point helps answer the
question (your own argument)