AMH 6290 (Research)Course Leader:

Brian WardOffice: 235 Keene-Flint Hall

Office Hours: T 2-3.00pm

R 2.45-4.15 pm

e-mail: wardb@ufl.edu

More info: http://plaza.ufl.edu/wardb/amh6290

Planning & Organizing a Research Project

The Basic Questions

1. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

2. HOW AM I GOING? TO DO IT?2. HOW AM I GOING? TO DO IT?

3. CAN IT BE DONE IN THE TIME AVAILABLE?3. CAN IT BE DONE IN THE TIME AVAILABLE?

Planning & Organizing a Research Project

4 Criteria For A Good Research ProjectDOABLECan it be done? Can I do it?VIABLECan it be done in the time allowed?Are the sources/materials available?ORIGINALIs it worth doing?SUSTAINABLEWill it hold my interest?

Doing A Research Project1.1. 1. Review & evaluate general and specific literature.1. Review & evaluate general and specific literature.2.2. 2. Identify gap/problem/issue/conflict or other trigger 2. Identify gap/problem/issue/conflict or other trigger

for research project in the literature.for research project in the literature. 3.3. 3. Formulate possible solutions/questions/alternative 3. Formulate possible solutions/questions/alternative

interpretations on which to base the research project.interpretations on which to base the research project. 4.4. 4. Undertake substantive research.4. Undertake substantive research.5.5. 5. Sort and analyse research materials.5. Sort and analyse research materials.6.6. 6. Interpret findings & results in the context of the 6. Interpret findings & results in the context of the

initial questions/focus of the project.initial questions/focus of the project. 7.7. 7. Assess the implications of your findings for the field 7. Assess the implications of your findings for the field

of knowledge/subject area.of knowledge/subject area. 8.8. 8. Summarise conclusions (empirical – theoretical – 8. Summarise conclusions (empirical – theoretical –

methodological).methodological).9.9. 9. Write the paper/thesis.9. Write the paper/thesis.

Organizing A Research Project

The Linear ModelThe Linear Model

LiteratureLiterature

Research TriggerResearch Trigger

MethodologyMethodology

Substantive ResearchSubstantive Research

AnalysisAnalysis

InterpretationInterpretation

ResultsResults

ConclusionsConclusions

WritingWriting

Organizing A Research Project, 2

The Modified Linear Model

Literature

writing up

Trigger

writing up

Methodology

writing up

etc., etc.

Time Management, 1

A Typical Model

15% Literature Evaluation15% Literature Evaluation

10% Methodology10% Methodology

40% Substantive Research40% Substantive Research

10% Analysis10% Analysis

25% Writing up25% Writing up

Time Management, 2

Monitoring Progress

1. SET DAILY/WEEKLY/MONTHLY TASKS SET DAILY/WEEKLY/MONTHLY TASKS

2.   PRIORITISE TASKS2.   PRIORITISE TASKS

3.   REVIEW WEEKLY/MONTHLY 3.   REVIEW WEEKLY/MONTHLY ACHIEVEMENTSACHIEVEMENTS

Crises with Research Projects, 1

The Common Problemsa)   Drifting From The Topica)   Drifting From The Topic

b) Difficulties With Methodologyb) Difficulties With Methodologyc)   Difficulties With Substantive Researchc)   Difficulties With Substantive Researchd) Problems With Findings & Interpretationd) Problems With Findings & Interpretation

e)   Writer’s Blocke)   Writer’s Block

Some Solutionsa)   Regularly Review Progressa)   Regularly Review Progress

b) Acknowledge Existence of a Problemb) Acknowledge Existence of a Problemc)   Get Helpc)   Get Help

Crises with Research Projects, 2

CURING WRITER’S BLOCKCURING WRITER’S BLOCKORGANIZATION & STYLEORGANIZATION & STYLE1. Planning carefully vs Writing ‘free-style’ and editing 1. Planning carefully vs Writing ‘free-style’ and editing

carefullycarefully2. Style pointers for a coherent thesis/essay:2. Style pointers for a coherent thesis/essay:a)   forecastinga)   forecastingb) signpostingb) signpostingc)   linkingc)   linking3. Write and re-write many drafts & show them to 3. Write and re-write many drafts & show them to

colleagues.colleagues.4. TALK to Peers and Supervisors4. TALK to Peers and Supervisors

Completing a Research Project, 1

Basic Structures of Research Papers

1.   Chronological

2. Thematic

3.   Hybrid

Completing a Research Project, 2

What To Include In All Good Research Papers

1.   Why has the research been done?

2.   How has the research been undertaken?

3.   What was found?

4.   What do the findings mean?

5.   What are the implications for the field of knowledge/subject area?

Completing a Research Project, 3

Presentation Of Papers

1. The importance of multiple drafts & critical reading

2. Outside readers – supervisor and colleagues

3. Spell checks; grammar checks

4. Take time over the apparatus (notes, list of sources, bibliography, etc)