Your Research JourneyLB 306 Dr Lance Dann and Rob Greens

What is Research?

It is a disciplined enquiry into a

subject

STAGE 1

You have a hunch

Something is nagging you

Something you are dissatisfied with

You’ve noticed a new trend and no one else

You have a desire to figure something out.

Why do this research?

Is it appropriate?

Is there a need for it?

Is it something that you have the skills to carry out?

Do you really want to do it?

STAGE 2

Talk to your supervisor.

Carry out initial search for information around your idea

Has it been covered before?

Is too far out and no one has written about it?

Do you need other opinions?

STAGE 3

The Literature Review

Take advantage of what has been written before

Summarise and critique ideas.

Develop tools to use in your research.

Spots gaps or points you’d like fill

This will help you locate your position

Work out where you stand in the history of a discussion

Prepare you for the next crucial stage

Stage 4

IDENTIFY YOUR QUESTION

This is the spine of your research

It is the critical yardstick against which everything is tested.

It has to be a critical question.

It has to be strong enough to support all stages of your research.

BAD QUESTIONS

Has the role of the father in the sitcom changed in the last 20 years?

Does music in Horror films effect the audience’s emotional response?

How have Jewish comedians become part of the mainstream of US TV?

Will the Internet kill the Radio Star?

Stage 5

What is your methodology?

How are you going to test your question?

This is where your practice comes in.

You are going to try and make something that allow you to examine and enquire into your topic.

Theoretical researchers have a habit of seeing the world as being billiard ball smooth

The real world isn’t like that.

Practice is “mediated”

Practice is “contingent”

Practitioners are “pragmatic”.

Your practice is like an experiment

You are testing out you’re the reality of your ideas.

You will record the findings.

They might not be what you want or expect.

That doesn’t make it a failure.

Stage 6

Gather information

Examine data

Test out your findings

View things critically.

Synthesise information.

Stage 7

Conclusion

Put it all together

What did you find?

What does this mean?

What could be done next?

Remember

“Use your methodology to discipline your passion, not to deaden it.”