Research
Research and Information Skills
The Library provides information, training courses and seminars about its resources and services. Training with a subject or faculty-specific focus can also be developed for groups. Check with your Faculty Liaison Librarian.
How to solve Research Problems
Sometimes you spend a lot of time researching your subject, but cannot devise a 'thesis' or a proposal. You are doing a lot of preparatory work, reading or gathering information, but you are unable to focus your ideas or come up with a topic you think will be original or fruitful.
How to Plan a Research Project
The length of a research project will depend on the level of your studies. At third year undergraduate level it might be between 3000 and 8,000 words. This might involve gathering information or making a brief investigation. An MA dissertation on the other hand is usually a longer piece of detailed academic analysis. This might be 15,000 words long or even more. A PhD thesis must be a piece of original research. Typical theses might be between 50,000 and 80,000 words long - or more.
Research
Synonyms for the word research include: investigate, study, explore, delve into, examine, make enquiries, follow a line of investigation, seek, look into. All of them suggest that you take an active part in finding out specific information that will enable you to deepen your understanding of a particular topic or field.
Whether you are researching literature, conducting an experiment, or interviewing a sample group, you will use a variety of methods [hyperlink to a brief explanation of methods] to collect the information you have identified as relevant.
Basic Steps in the Research Process
This list of steps is a guideline for you to use. Not everyone will do these steps in the same order and you may go back and forth between them.
Conducting Research on the Internet
The Internet provides access to a wealth of information on countless topics contributed by people throughout the world.
An Educators' Guide to Credibility and Web Evaluation
The Internet is a relatively new medium, with the first site being posted in 1991. Therefore, people often either approach the Internet with skepticism, or without questioning the material at all.
Analysing data and thinking about findings
Once you have collected your data, you then need to think about your findings and how you can interpret them.
Choosing appropriate research methodologies and methods
It is vital you pick approach research methodologies and methods for your thesis - your research afterall is what your whole dissertation will rest on.
First stages of research
You have been successful as an undergraduate and you have enjoyed your studying, so why not go on to postgraduate study?
