Starting Starting

Academic ResearchAcademic Research

Introduction to ResearchIntroduction to Research

Starting researchStarting research Identify and select a research question, in Identify and select a research question, in

the disciplinary field of media studies, the disciplinary field of media studies, suitable for explorationsuitable for exploration…… Start thinking about your own Start thinking about your own research question research question nownow. . It does not have to be perfect.It does not have to be perfect.

““Research questions are crucial.Research questions are crucial. No research questions or poorly No research questions or poorly formulated research questions formulated research questions will lead to poor research… No will lead to poor research… No or poor research questions will or poor research questions will cause you problems.”cause you problems.”

Alan Bryman (2004, 31)Alan Bryman (2004, 31)

Starting researchStarting research

Some people will just have a Some people will just have a themetheme..

Some people will have a specific question.Some people will have a specific question.

Is it a Is it a research research question?question?

… … What is research?What is research?

Defining ‘research’Defining ‘research’

““All social research sets out All social research sets out

with specific purposes with specific purposes

from a particular tradition from a particular tradition

and aims to and aims to

persuade readers of persuade readers of

the significance of the significance of

its claims.” its claims.”

(Clough and Nutbrown 2007, 15)(Clough and Nutbrown 2007, 15)

Defining researchDefining research Research…Research…

Answers a specific question.Answers a specific question.

Is logical, systematic and methodical.Is logical, systematic and methodical.

Changes an understanding, person or situation.Changes an understanding, person or situation.

AcademicAcademic research also… research also…

Contributes to an academic discipline. Contributes to an academic discipline.

Makes a claim to knowledge that succeeds or fails by a Makes a claim to knowledge that succeeds or fails by a process of critical scrutiny from other scholars.process of critical scrutiny from other scholars.

Goldilocks testGoldilocks test Is the research question clear question?Is the research question clear question?

Can it be accurate?Can it be accurate? Not speculative? Not speculative?

What is its coverage?What is its coverage? Is it appropriate? Is it appropriate?

Is it feasible?Is it feasible? Can the issue be decided with a limited investigation? Can the issue be decided with a limited investigation?

Does it motivate the researcher and supervisor?Does it motivate the researcher and supervisor? How?How?

Is it relevant to the academic field?Is it relevant to the academic field? How does it How does it contribute?contribute?

Does it change the world?Does it change the world? Will it Will it persuadepersuade, not just describe?, not just describe?

Can it be objective?Can it be objective? Does that matter?Does that matter?

Will it be ethical?Will it be ethical? What are the issues? What are the issues?

Anatomy of researchAnatomy of research

Research strategy, practice and writing are all Research strategy, practice and writing are all related to each other.related to each other.

They They feed intofeed into each other: each other:

Strategy Strategy > > Practice Practice > > Writing Writing

What sort of things are included within all this?What sort of things are included within all this?

Anatomy of researchAnatomy of researchStrategy includesStrategy includes Practice includesPractice includes Writing includesWriting includes

DisciplineDiscipline Question isolationQuestion isolation Introduction Introduction SpecialismSpecialism

Secondary research:Secondary research:Literature reviewLiterature reviewLiterature reviewLiterature review

>> > >Methodology:Methodology: Primary research:Primary research: Methodology Methodology

sectionsection PhilosophyPhilosophy Data gatheringData gathering Presenting findingsPresenting findings DesignDesign Data interpretationData interpretation MethodsMethods EthicsEthics Constructing Constructing ConclusionConclusion

argumentargument

… … A new term to use:A new term to use: the OBJECT OF STUDY the OBJECT OF STUDY is is the thing being studied.the thing being studied.

Broad distinctionsBroad distinctions 1. 1. Secondary and primary research:Secondary and primary research:

these are complementary parts of these are complementary parts of everyevery original original research process. research process.

Secondary researchSecondary research means gathering and means gathering and building understanding from other people’s studies.building understanding from other people’s studies.

vv

Primary researchPrimary research means using what means using what you have found to mount your own original you have found to mount your own original investigation.investigation.

Broad distinctionsBroad distinctions 2. 2. Quantitative and qualitative research:Quantitative and qualitative research:

Two distinct types of approach to research defined by Two distinct types of approach to research defined by the the datadata they wish to collect. they wish to collect.

Quantitative researchQuantitative research Qualitative researchQualitative research deals with numbers.deals with numbers. deals with language deals with language

and meanings.and meanings.

Broad distinctionsBroad distinctions

33. . Empirical and non-empirical studies:Empirical and non-empirical studies:

This distinction is based upon the This distinction is based upon the objectobject of study. of study.

Empirical studiesEmpirical studies are those that have are those that have an object in the an object in the “real world”“real world” rather than looking purely at theory. rather than looking purely at theory.

Further aims for ME5121Further aims for ME5121 Identify and justify a Identify and justify a conceptual frameworkconceptual framework for the for the

proposed research.proposed research.

Outline and justify appropriate and practical Outline and justify appropriate and practical research research strategiesstrategies to explore the question. to explore the question.

Justify the selection and use of a range of Justify the selection and use of a range of appropriate appropriate literatureliterature related to the selected question. related to the selected question.

Demonstrate the ability to Demonstrate the ability to describe and critically analyse describe and critically analyse research case studiesresearch case studies and approaches. and approaches.

… … Convey these things in appropriate spoken and written Convey these things in appropriate spoken and written communicationcommunication..

ME5121 AssessmentsME5121 Assessments1

Assignment for Friday 30Assignment for Friday 30thth October: October:Focus on one empirical study and…Focus on one empirical study and… Isolate the research question.Isolate the research question. Primary and secondary research.Primary and secondary research. Quantitative or qualitative.Quantitative or qualitative. Methodology and methods.Methodology and methods.

Research Proposal for Friday 8Research Proposal for Friday 8thth January: January:Create a research proposal with…Create a research proposal with… Research question.Research question. Objectives.Objectives. Methods.Methods. Literature review.Literature review. Bibliography.Bibliography.

Exam after week 24 analysing case study.Exam after week 24 analysing case study.

Since all the assessments are related we are, in effect, starting them all at once.

Please print out the handbook so you get a good idea of what each assessment requires.

ReviewReview Starting research - creating a question.Starting research - creating a question.

Refining a question - the Goldilocks test.Refining a question - the Goldilocks test.

Anatomy - Strategy > Practice > Writing.Anatomy - Strategy > Practice > Writing.

Broad distinctions:Broad distinctions: Secondary and primary research.Secondary and primary research. Quantitative and qualitative research.Quantitative and qualitative research. Empirical and non-empirical research.Empirical and non-empirical research.

BibliographyBibliography

Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Project. Maidenhead: Open University Project. Maidenhead: Open University Press.Press.

Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Clough, P. and Nutbrown, C. (2007) A Clough, P. and Nutbrown, C. (2007) A Student’s Guide to Methodology. London: Student’s Guide to Methodology. London: Sage.Sage.