The Thesis Toolbox: Research Design for Academic Writing

The Thesis ToolboxKim Nicholas

LUCSUS, Lund University 19 February 2014

[email protected]@KA_Nicholas

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Outline for today

1. Thesis: What and Why?2. Thesis: How?

1. Practical: Toolbox2. Theoretical: Epistemology and ontology

(oooh!!)3. Time management & motivation

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Outline for today




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What’s a Thesis?

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What’s a Thesis?

1. Ask a Question2. Answer it!

It’s simple, but not easy

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What’s a Thesis?

1. Ask a Question2. Answer it!

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Why Write a Thesis?

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How to Write a Thesis

…In practice and theory

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Outline for today




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What is research design?

• Make sure evidence gathered allows you to answer the research question unambiguously

• Research design = a ‘logical’ problem– don’t jump straight to methods and data

• Seek compelling evidence (be sceptical)– anticipate & test alternative hypotheses– design research to try and falsify theory

based on: Chapter 1, de Vaus (2001). Research Design in Social Research.

Slide from Dr. Charlie Wilson, Tyndall Centre/UEA

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret

Summarize Conclusion

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

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Topic

• A place, group of people, technology, theory, author, buzzword, community of scholars…

• Too general to be researchable

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Topic Question

Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services

(other RQs…)

Kyle Clark LUMES MSc thesis, 2011; Clark and Nicholas, 2013, Landscape Ecology

Urban Food Forestry*

Clark and Nicholas, 2013, Landscape Ecology

* ‘‘the intentional and strategic use of woody perennial food-producingspecies in urban edible landscapes to improve the sustainability and resilience of urban communities.’’

http://urbanfoodforestry.org/

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

19Image: SPL/Barcroft Media

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Research Questions Aren’t Easy

• “Research is figuring out how to ask and answer good questions.”

- Chris Field

(When you really get this down, they give you a PhD! …Only takes 5-7 years )

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Where do questions come from?

GEO-5, “Review of Data Needs”

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A Good Research Question Is…

• NOVEL (no one knows the answer yet!)• RELEVANT (addresses sustainability challenges

and solutions)• ANSWERABLE (given the constraints you face)• VALID (constructs of concepts are valid)• CONNECTED (related to current issue in

theory, practice, or research)

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Assessing potential research questions

Research Questions Characteristics Worksheet http://faculty.virginia.edu/capstone/research/

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Topic Question

Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services

What is the potential capacity of urban food forestry to meet food needs?

(other RQs…)


Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

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Construct• Phenomenon of interest;

what we care about. • Exist only within our

minds• Therefore, cannot be

observed directly -> not researchable!

3D image of mouse brain! Chung et al., 2013, Nature

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Construct• Examples:

– Power– Equity– Efficiency – Biodiversity – Land use change– Food security – Climate change – Sustainability– Intelligence– Happiness– Justice– Awareness– Preferences– Behavior– Education– Health– …

Image: ebsconsultants.com

3D image of mouse brain! Chung et al., 2013, Nature

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From constructs…

Chung et al., 2013, Nature

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Operationalize

Chung et al., 2013, Nature

From constructs…

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From constructs to variables

Operationalize

Chung et al., 2013, NaturePhoto: Block Publishing

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Topic Question Operationalizing…

Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services


“capacity of UFF”-> tons of apples produced

Food Needs -> calories demanded

(other RQs…)


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Exhaustive+ Mutually exclusive+ Defined + Measurable+ Observable+ Valid theory___________

Operationalization

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Exhaustive+ Mutually exclusive+ Defined + Measurable+ Observable+ Valid theory___________

VARIABLES

Operationalization

Researchable!

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Variables

• Something we measure (categorize), control, or manipulate in research

• “Something that may or does vary”• A trait that can change in value from case to

case, or within a case over time

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Variables

Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services



What trees to plant?Available land for planting trees

Density of plantingYield per ha


Very Food Insecure calorie needs

Total population fruit needs

Tons to calories

(other RQs…)


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Defining a variableWhat does it mean to be a “beer drinker”?

Image: artsvegas.com

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Does our definition pass the test?

Precise+ Defined + Measurable+ Observable+ Valid theory___________

VARIABLES

Researchable!

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Research Terminology

• Construct: Phenomenon of interest• Variables: a trait that captures variation in

concept • Measure: actual item over which scores will be

measured • Data: the actual numbers

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Planetary Boundaries operationalize sustainability

Rockström et al., 2009, Nature

Construct Variables Measure Data“Safe operating space”

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

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Case selection and description

• What are you studying? • Selection of the unit of analysis (plots,

countries, people, groups)- criteria for inclusion/exclusion.

• Who, what, when, where? (“why” was established in the Intro & by RQs)

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Variables How to collect data?

How to analyze data?

Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services



What trees to plant?

Lit review

Available land for planting trees

GIS mapping

Density of planting

Lit review

Yield per ha Lit review



How many people, how many calories


How many people, how much fruit

Tons to calories Lit review

(other RQs…)


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Align RQs, variables, methods, analysis

How many to plantXHow much yield per ha= Tons of apples

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

3 planting * 3 yield scenarios


VFI

defi

cit m

et (i

nner

)

Urban trees could provide substantial food


VFI

defi

cit m

et (i

nner

)

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Food security,

cities, ecosystem

services



What trees to plant?

Lit review Suitable species

Available land for planting trees

GIS mapping Classifying & quantifying open land

Density of planting

Lit review Scenarios

Yield per ha Lit review Scenarios



How many people, how many calories

Calculations from lit data


How many people, how much fruit

Calculations from lit data

Tons to calories Lit review Calories per gram conversion

(other RQs…)


Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


WRITING & DRAWING

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Topic Research Question

Operationalizing



(other RQs…)

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Outline for today




52Khagram, Nicholas et al., 2010, Environmental Conservation

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Big Picture Research Paradigms

Darker shadings indicate greater affinities

Khagram, Nicholas et al., 2010, Environmental Conservation

Research Design

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Topic

Question

Variables

Refine

Operationalize

CollectData

ResultsAnalyze

Methods

DiscussionInterpret


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Outline for today




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First Things First

http://www.themodernnomad.com/2012/rocks-pebbles-sand/

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Role of supervisor

http://phdskills.blogspot.se/, “Manage your PhD Supervisor”

http://phdskills.blogspot.se/

http://phdskills.blogspot.se/

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E.B. White, via http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/

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Benefits of writing regularly• 6 year study of 32

people• 16 regular writers

(30 minutes/day, consistently)

• 16 binge writers

Boice, Advice for New Faculty

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Why does it feel like you know less now than when you started?

Bianchi et al., 2010, Nature

64Robert Evans

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Eleni Kalorkoti

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Stephie Ginger

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Owen Davey

Thanks!Kim Nicholas

LUCSUS, Lund University 19 February 2014

[email protected]@KA_Nicholas

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• http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/

• The Illustrated Guide to a PhD

http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/

