Research Project II

Learn to monitor, analyse and evaluate a common research processes. 

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Lesson Structure

There are 6 lessons in this course:

1. Identifying research issues
   • The nature of research
   • Finding research ideas
   • Experience
   • Literature
   • Requests for research
   • Curiosity and imagination
   • Considering all options
   • Formulating a research project
   • Is the research topic feasible
   • Terminology
   • Types of questions: descriptive, rational, causal
   • Units of analysis
   • Validity
   • Conclusion validity
   • Internal validity
   • Construct validity
   • External validity
   • Fallacies
   • Variables
   • Structure of a research project
   • Components of a research project
   • Nature of a relationship
   • Patterns in relationships
   • Timing of research
   • Ethics in research
2. Acquisition of technical information
   • Literature review
   • Research methods
   • Methods of collecting information
   • Experimental methods
   • Correlation methods
   • Questionnaires, surveys, tests
   • Interviews
   • Document reviews
   • Focus groups
   • Case Studies
3. Specialised research techniques
   • Specialised research
4. Research planning and designing
   • Introduction
   • The scientific method
   • Testing hypotheses
   • Common mistakes when applying the scientific method
   • Hypotheses, models, theories and laws
5. Statistics
   • Types of data: quantitative vs qualitative
   • Overview of statistics for research
   • Sources of statistics
   • Statistical data (Plural sense)
   • Statistical Method (Singular sense)
6. Conducting research
   • Analyzing and interpreting information
   • Start with research goals
   • Analysis of quantitative information
   • Analysis of qualitative information
   • Interpreting information
   • Example of a report
   • Pitfalls to avoid
   • Evaluation
   • Evaluation strategies
   • Types of evaluation
   • Evaluation questions and methods

What You Will Do

• Learn to evidence of your ability to collect, collate and interpret data and prepare reports in ways relevant to the work environment;
• Develop the ability to monitor and evaluate one’s own work in order to develop a responsible attitude to workplace performance and quality assurance;
• Develop an awareness of areas where there is a valid need for research which are relevant to area of study;
• Develop an ability to explain research methods, including experimental techniques, commonly used in the learner's area of study;
• Understand of the basic statistical methods used for research;
• Develop an ability to locate, collect and evaluate information for a specific research purpose
• Improve your ability to prepare a research report in a format which conforms to normal industry procedures.

DON'T TAKE SHORT CUTS

You will benefit much more from your learning if you approach research as self-motivated learning. In other words, do not use research just to find references for a report, but to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.

Research should demonstrate that you have read widely, and considered different perspectives from established experts, experimentation and/or observation. Research can be used to support an argument, especially where it might be controversial. By referring to your research, you demonstrate your ability to locate and select relevant information and to use it appropriately. This is a valuable academic skill.

With business writing, research might be needed to provide you with the information you need to fully understand a client’s problem or surrounding issues, and to give relevant, timely advice. If you are writing a report in the hope of initiating change or attitudes, research can provide solid reinforcement for your information and add credibility to your document. It also shows the reader that you are aware of different perspectives, current trends and attitudes, and complicating factors, which gives your opinions more weight and authority. . 

Preliminary research may be required to give you a general understanding of the topic, key terms and concepts, key issues, and good sources for more in-depth research. To do preliminary research:

• Scan tables of content, headings, indexes of books and journals.
• Note key words or expert names that you come across in several readings.
• Read first and last paragraphs to get an idea of important idea.
• Record all relevant sources so that you can find them. Include the title, author’s name, date of publication, page numbers, and for internet sources, the URL (the address in the ‘location’ box at the top of the page), and the date you looked at it.
• Under each source, make a brief note of the relevant information it provides.
  
  

Researching for a formal study program is expected in higher education.  The important step here is deciding on the usefulness and credibility of the sources.  It is important to ensure that the methodology and reporting are appropriate.  Research may be marred by failing to obtain consent from individuals, failure to adhere to ethical standards, statistical errors or restricted opportunities.  With all research it is important to present both sides of an argument and to obtain collaborative evidence from existing research. 

AVOID PLAIGARISM

Research, and the subsequent technical writing, often depends upon the use of secondary sources of information.  Courtesy and professional integrity require acknowledgment of that information. Unless you are performing primary research, i.e. obtaining information via questionnaires or taking measurements, most information is gathered through reading previously published work.  This gathered material is the material developed by others through their own primary research or by using others’ primary research to come to some stated conclusion.  All secondary sources of information used or information used to support your stated conclusion MUST be referenced.  

Where information is not referenced it is the same as stealing someone else’s idea.  As stealing of others’ possessions is a crime in most countries, so is the stealing of someone’s ideas.  

If material is found to be plagiarised or stolen from others research without referencing, the materials will be brought forward to the head of the school for individual management.  This will delay the assessment process for the student(s) and may result in more severe punishment.

DON'T ASSUME RESEARCH SKILLS JUST HAPPEN NATURALLY

There are protocols, methods and techniques that are important to any research project. If you do not learn and apply those things; it is easy for others to challenge your research.

That is why it is important to learn research skills formally