Prof. A. Taleb-Bendiab Room 605 [email protected] A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods,

Prof. A. Taleb-BendiabRoom 605

[email protected]://www.cms.livjm.ac.uk/taleb/lectures/cmssem003

A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods, Code: CMSSEM003, Lecture: A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods, Code: CMSSEM003, Lecture: Supplementary to Lecture Supplementary to Lecture 5, Page: 5, Page: 11

Student Project Design and Idea Student Project Design and Idea GenerationGeneration

Liverpool John Moores UniversitySchool of Computing and Mathematical Sciences

A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods, Code: CMSSEM003, Lecture: A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods, Code: CMSSEM003, Lecture: Supplementary to Supplementary to Lecture5, Page: Lecture5, Page: 22

InIn This Session … This Session …

An overview of project development process (Detailed study can be found here)

Introduction to this talk How to generate and develop suitable topic Recognise time and resource constraints Is it an achievable piece of research? Overview of planning process for the work Development of research proposal Get you started on thinking about and planning

this process Involves a working relationship with supervisor


Overview of a Student Project Work Overview of a Student Project Work StructureStructure

Do MSc Project

Select a topic

Make aplan

Gather &analyse data

Perform literaturesearch

Write up

Decideobjectives

DevelopWork Struct.

Produceestimates

Planresources

Create Ganttchart

Source Ref: to be addedSource Ref: to be added


Project Management ModelProject Management Model A general model including:

Define

Why are you doing this project?

Who is involved? What are the objectives and constraints?

What are the alternatives? Write it down, discuss and agree

Plan Establish objective Formulate basic strategy, Develop work breakdown structure, Resource requirements planning including;

– HR, resources, schedules, budget, etc.

Implement

Control

Complete


Research DesignResearch Design

General sequence of steps in research design Identify the research problem Determine the purpose of research Develop the theoretical framework Define the research questions and/or hypotheses Define the scope of the study Decide on methodology Define expected outcomes Writing up

J Hussey & R Hussey, Business Research (Palgrave, 1997), Ch. 5.


Identifying the topic #1Identifying the topic #1 Why this topic?

is it topical, timely? is there a clear need for work in this area? if so, who needs it, who will use it? how will the world be a better place?

Where does expertise lie? who can you talk to? what can you read to find out more? does this confirm the need for the research?

Is the proposed research novel? How does the project relate to other work?

does it follow on sequentially from something? (eg extension of previous project) does it apply similar approach to another project? does it fill a gap in knowledge? draw a “mind map” of the subject


Generating a Research Idea #1Generating a Research Idea #1 Following questions can help to define a research

focus including; What does the research seek to find out? What questions does it

aim to answer, or what hypothesis does it seek to test? What areas of knowledge, subjects and disciplines will the

research need to draw on? What do we know already that is relevant? Where shall we need

to add new knowledge or know how? What are the likely sources for the required information? What are the potentially useful ways of doing the research - the

methodological options? What limits must we set to the breadth and depth of the inquiry? What obligations do we have to fulfil to the institution in which we

are doing the research?

E Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 2.


Generating a Research Idea #2Generating a Research Idea #2

finding your research subject brainstorming ways of refining the topic

analogy - import ideas and procedures from a similar area morphological analysis - methodical breakdown of key

dimensions of general area of interest mind maps - use network diagram to extend out from central

concept relevance trees - use hierarchical diagram to develop fine

categories within research area

importance of literature review to increase your knowledge of research area and

methodologies to scope, justify and decide feasibility of your proposed work to develop critical appraisal and ability to synthesize

consider purpose, conduct, findings, strengths and weaknesses of the studies you read


Defining Research problems/questionsDefining Research problems/questions

J Hussey & R Hussey, Business Research (Palgrave, 1997), Ch. 5.

1. read literature, identify gaps

2. generate list of interesting questions

3. questions alreadyanswered in literature?

4. test feasibility

5. eliminateimpractical questions

6. does suitableproblem exist?

to next stage inresearch design

N

N

Y

Y

1. state purpose of research

2. formulate specific questions or hypotheses

4. surveyrelevant literature

5. have questions been answered already?

to next stage inresearch design

N

Y

3. are they interestingor important?

N

Y

identifying a research problem developing research questions


An Example -- Mind MapAn Example -- Mind Map

E Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 2.

organizational policy- strategic objectives- corporate planninghow organizations make

decisions on informationproducts information

resourcemanagement

technology forinformation products- DTP- databases- electronic publishing- document management

monitoring and evaluationof information products

trainingmanagement of information products- writing - design - editing- typesetting - production - budget

organizationalinformation products- how they are used- medium of production

people involved ininformation products- decision makers- professional specialists

‘the role of information products andinformation presentation in organizations’


Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

The topic must be interesting to you! do you really care about the answer? will you be able to sustain your enthusiasm? is the topic “off the shelf” or your own? much harder work if you find it boring!

What skills will it require of you? review, survey, experiment, analysis …?

Transfer of ownership and responsibility from supervisor to you


Types of research projectTypes of research project

Experimental study eg investigate properties of material ….

Survey eg interviews of people’s attitudes on …..

Modelling eg apply existing model to …

Software development eg writing software to implement …..

Literature review eg synthesise / compare previous work on ….


Structure of proposalStructure of proposal Aims and objectives of research Introduction, background

overview of what is known, need for this work Methods to be used

eg sources of data, lab experiments, surveys … anticipated nature of results

Programme of work key stages, estimated duration, milestones … Gantt chart or similar? deliverables

List of references Tip: Always useful to look at (good) examples

but not to follow slavishly


TutorialTutorial

• Activity Network Diagram Exercise• See tutorial sheet.


Next Session …Next Session …

To be added


Example Mind Map #1Example Mind Map #1

Source: XSource: X


Example Mind Map #2Example Mind Map #2

Source: XSource: X

Documents

Prof. A. Taleb-Bendiab Room 605 [email protected] A. Taleb-Bendiab, Module: Research Methods,