Research Methods Conclusion By Dr. S. Turner and Dr A.Louridas What have we learned? Nature of research Features of research Place your research to the continuum depending on the context and purpose of the research Stages needed to be completed while researching Stages of research Formulating and clarifying a topic Writing up Reviewing the literature Analysing data Designing the research Collecting data Purpose of this module • Help you undertake research • • • • • • Need to have clarity on what you are doing Need to know why you are doing it and any implications associated How your research is associated with existing research Have a clear view on the design of the research How you are going to collect data How you are going to analyse data • Consider ethical implications, validity and credibility for all the above What is research • Systematic study to add to the knowledge in an area. • Creative • Asking questions – Why? What? When? How? • Critical thinking Activity 1 • Decide as a group to read a specific newspaper. • Go to this newspaper and each member of the group find an article that includes the word “research”. • Now read each article one by one and find out if they include: • Collection of data without purpose • Data analysis without interpretation and discussion • A way for the reader to respect what he just read Literature review • Critically review literature • No single correct structure • From general level to narrow down relative to your specific research question(s) and objectives. • Most likely to use formally published items (secondary literature) and those not controlled by commercial publishers (grey literature). • Planning your literature search: • • • • Have a clearly defined research question(s) and research objectives Define the parameters of your search Generate search terms and phrases Discuss your ideas as widely as possible. Research Design • The way a research question and objectives can be formulated into a research project • Focus of your research: • • • • • Exploratory Descriptive Explanatory Evaluative or Combination of these • Choice of research strategy or strategies are connected to • Time • Research ethics Primary and Secondary Data • Primary Data • New data collection • Compelling but difficult to get an adequate sample • Size • Quality • Time constraint • Limited Resources • Cost • Secondary Data • Collected for other purpose • Collected by someone else • There are a number of secondary data sources freely available Data methods • Quantitative methods involve • Collection of data • Probability usage for data analysis • Qualitative methods involve • Data analysis of a more liberal approach, never be afraid to go back and re-investigate. •Verification •Triangulation can be a useful tool for qualitative as well as quantitative researchers. •Used with care, it contributes to the completeness and confirmation of findings. Graphs and Tables presentation • • • • • • Have a clear and descriptive title Display clearly the units of measurement used State clearly the sources of data used Explain abbreviations and unusual terminology State the size of the sample on which the values in the graph/table are based In graphs: • • • • Have clear axis labels Bars and their components should follow the same logical sequence Avoid misrepresenting or distorting the data Display a key or legend • In tables • Have clear column and row headings • Make sure that columns and rows are in a logical sequence Activity 2 • Look at the following reports: • https://www.hackmageddon.com/2018-master-table/ • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-breachessurvey-2020/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2020 • To what extent do the use of graphs in these reports follow the guidance of the previous slide? • Explain why do you think this is? Writing your report next year Writing is a way to clarify your thoughts Writing is a creative process, thus you need the right conditions Aim for a clear and simple writing style in order for your report to be easy and enjoyable reading experience. Proofread it yourself and let a third person proofread it to avoid spelling and grammatical errors Your study report should have a clear structure that empowers you to develop a clear storyline Do not think of your first draft as your last • Be prepared to rewrite your report several times The structure that you chose should be based: • Research Strategy • Readers • Your reader to find all the information readily accessible A reflective section will allow you to comment on your experience, discuss your learning and improve your research practice Activity 3 • Draft a plan for how you are going to write your project report based on your research proposal that you have done so far • Share it and compare your plans • Explain the reasons for any differences between the plans Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. (Carl Sagan) If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. (Isaac Newton) Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi)