AEF801
RESEARCH METHODS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
To Index (Last Updated: 25.09.05)
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
This course Aims to develop students core
research
and project management skills: by providing students with a broad
understanding
of research processes, the nature of research problems and issues, and
of systematic and logical approaches to research; and by equiping
students
with essential skills, techniques and approaches common to a wide range
of research activities.
The Objectives are that, by the end of the
module,
students should be able to:
- distinguish, with reasons, between good and
poor
research
reports;
- identify elements, organisation and processes
which
contribute
to the production of sound and coherent research reports;
- produce feasible and competent research
proposals
and plans;
- present these plans and be able to defend them.
By the end of the module students should have developed all of
their
core skills as follows: written communication (via report writing);
interpersonal
communication (via working in allocated groups and liaisons with
supervisors
and third parties); oral presentation (via presentations); teamwork
(via
working in groups); planning and organising (via the 20 credit module
running
over two semesters and at a pace dictated by the group); problem
solving
(via exposure to real world problems with data and third parties);
initiative
(via students being in control of their own projects); adaptability
(via
exposure to real world problems with data and third parties); numeracy
(via data collection and analysis); and computer literacy (via the use
of word processors, statistical, bibliographic and presentation
software).
Critical literature (and source)
review
is a key element of any research. We start by carefully
considering
what it is we already know and thus what it is we need to find out
about
through research. The course begins with a critical review of some
literature.
Since 'real' research projects often involve working in groups and
preparing
written reports and oral presentations, group work is introduced at
this
stage, with each group being responsible for its own internal division
of labour in preparation of the review (of a pre-specified topic).
Project proposals (development of
feasible
and practical research outlines adressing major questions involved in
the
topic) are treated here as the next step in the research process. Again
group work on pre-specified topics is used at this stage, and oral as
well
as written presentation is required. Practice prior to assessment of
this
important stage is incorporated in the programme.
The immediate focus of the course is
preparation
for the dissertation.(See here for
more guidance on DISSERTATIONS) Accordingly, students are
required to
develop
their own research proposals (using, as appropriate, topics suggested
by
staff) and subsequently developing research plans from these proposals.
Individual reports
will assist students in developing project plans for their
dissertations
and provide feedback at an early
stage of their dissertation work. Gantt charts, peer review and
liaisons
with staff members all encourage (self) reflection on the processes and
skills developed, while the outcomes of the dissertation itself provide
the major final assessement of skills and training provided.
Methods and Timing of Assessment: There
is no formal written examination for this course. Students work in
allocated
groups on a specific topic in semester 1 (see Exercise below). Group
performance
can be assessed by a written and oral reports. Individual student marks
can be derived by scaling the mark awarded to the group by a weighting
factor obtained by peer review (supplemented by relevant staff members'
notes), to be agreed with students at the outset of the course.
Individual
performance is spearately assessed using the project proposal for the
student's own dissertation. The timing
of these assessments is detailed below (Index). However, both
timing and weights are subject to review and final ratification by the
class and course leader during the course.
All written work will be presented in word-processed form, and
students are encouraged to incorporate data presentation within these
reports
as appropriate. Oral presentations provide opportunities to
develop
power-point or similar skills.
Modus Operandi: The
course
is run largely on a seminar/workshop basis, within a timetabled slot of
2 hours per week (typically Mondays
3.00pm to 5.00pm, in
Room LT3, Bedson Teaching Centre). However, the first four weeks of
the 1st semester are devoted to a Library Skills short
course, organised seperately from the main curriculum. Students
are asked to prepare for these seminars and workshops by following up
on
the assignments and reading suggested by the staff responsible for each
session.
The Course Outline is
as follows,
with links to additional information as available.
INDEX: Please
follow up on the links
indicated
here (except to individual staff members) before each class
-
you
will find it helps!
NOTE ALSO: Staff
suggestions
for Dissertation Topics
CLASS TIME (Semester 1): Mondays, 3.00pm - 5.00pm, Room LT3, Bedson
Teaching Centre unless
otherwise noted
Week Beginning |
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT / WORKSHOP |
TUTORS |
25th. Sept |
MSc. Induction Week: |
|
MRN/DRH |
3rd. October to 24th
October inc.: |
Robinson
Library & Research Resources Induction
Notice
the Place
|
|
Mrs. Moira Bent, Liason
Librarian,
Robinson Library. |
3rd
October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm
|
Robinson
Library, Room 204
|
Introduction: Library resources
and services, the catalogue and Research Information at Newcastle
(ResIN)
|
|
10th
October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
Robinson
Library, Room 204 |
ResIN 1: Databases and
electronic journals
|
|
17th
October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
Robinson
Library, Room 204 |
Endnote - a reference
organisation software package |
24th October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm
|
Robinson
Library, Room 204
|
ResIN 2: Searching the web, grey literature, specialised
resources
|
|
|
Distribution
of previous MSc dissertations
|
Task:
assessment of quality of past dissertations (to be done
in groups
- due 7th November) |
|
31st
October
|
Introduction
to
Research
Methods |
|
|
7th November
|
What is Research
Best Practice?
|
Group workshop discussion of Research Issues |
MRN |
14th November
|
Project Planning & Implementation (notes forthcoming) |
Group Discussions |
MRN |
21st November
|
Review and Discussion of Research Proposal development under TASK |
Group Discussions (read Exercise
as well as the background material in the link opposite before
this
session) |
|
28th November
|
Quantitative
Research: Overview |
Group Discussions |
|
5th
December
|
Qualitative
Research: Overview see
here for the power point file |
Group
Discussions |
MB
- an alternate?
|
12th December
|
Can we actually do social
science research?
[Read about the Nature
of Explanation
before
this session] |
Group Discussions: Some methodological considerations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK BEGINNING: |
Christmas Vacation |
Happy Christmas to all readers and
workers. |
|
9th January
|
Group
work on Socrates Project Proposal Exercise |
No
Formal Class: Written
Genus/Socrates project proposals with appropriate support due by
Friday13th. January (10%) - max 6 pages A4 text (figures, charts,
tables,
reference lists etc. can be added) |
|
16th January
|
Preparation
of Dissertation
Proposals |
Staff
suggestions for
dissertation projects
circulated] |
|
23rd January
|
Preparation of Dissertation
Proposals |
|
|
30th January
|
Qualitative Methods: Interviews: Principles and a
case
study from the Agri-food industry in Eastern Europe |
|
Dr.
Mat Gorton |
6th February
|
Qualitative Methods: Focus Groups: Principles and
a case
study |
|
|
13th February
|
Qualitative Methods: Participative Approaches:
Principles
and a case study |
|
Dr. Chris Ray
|
20th February
|
Qualitative Methods: Analytical
techniques |
|
Ms.
Mary Brennan |
27th February
|
Questionnaire Design: Principles |
|
Dr.
Mitchell Ness & Mr.
Guy Garrod |
6th March
|
Questionnaire Design:
Practice 1 |
|
Dr.
Mitchell Ness & Mr.
Guy Garrod |
13th March
|
Questionnaire Design:
Practice 2 |
|
Dr.
Mitchell Ness & Mr.
Guy Garrod |
20th March
|
Quantitative
Research:
Analysis Principles & Practice (a Case Study) |
|
DRH |
|
Easter Vacation |
Happy Easter to all our readers |
|
|
Easter Vacation |
Happy Easter to all our
readers |
|
24th April
|
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation |
|
|
1st May
|
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation |
|
|
8th May
|
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation
|
|
|
15th May
|
Dissertation Proposal & Plan
Preparation |
|
|
21st. May to 9th. June (4 wks.) |
Final Examination & Assessment period |
Written
Dissertation Proposals &
Plans due 12.00pm Friday 9th. June (90%), absolute max. 6,000 words,
excluding
references, tables and figures
[No formal University exam. for this course]
|
|
Monday 12th June - Friday 8th September (12 weeks) |
Preparation of Dissertations |
|
|
September 8th. |
Submission of Completed MSc. Dissertation (Submission Form Here as Word Document)
|
Good Luck! |
|
Some General References:
- Adams, G.R. and Schaneveldt, J.D. (1985), Understanding Research
Methods,
Longman
- Frankfort-Nachmias, C. and Nachmias, D., (1992), Research Methods
in
the
Social Sciences, Edward Arnold. - an academic textbook of research
methods,
US based.
- Gay, L.R and Diehl, P.L., (1992), Research Methods for Business
and
Management,
Maxwell MacMillan
- Howard, K. and Sharp, J.A. (1993), The Management of a student
research
project, Gower, - a Òhow to do itÓ guide
- Proctor, T. (1997) Essential of Marketing Research Pittman
Publishing
- Robson, C. (1993), Real World Research: A Resource for Social
Scientists
and Practitioner-Researchers, Blackwell. - a formal practitioners
textbook
on research methods, US based
Some Specialist Texts:
- Berg, B. (1995) Qualatative Research Methods for the Social
Sciences,
Allyn
and Bacon
- Campbell, D.T. and Stanley, J.C., 1966, Experimental and
Quasi-Experimental
Designs for Research, Reprinted from Handbook of Research on Teaching,
1963, American Educational Research Association.
- Oppenheim, A.M., 1994, Questionnaire Design, Interviews and
Attitude
Measurement,
Pitman Webb,
- S.J., Campbell, D.T., Schwartz, R.D., Sechrest, L. and Grove,
J.B.
1981,
Unobtrusive Measures: Nonreactive Measurement in the Social Sciences,
Houghton
Mifflin
Additional references will be provided in class
GROUP PROJECT PROPOSAL
EXERCISE:
MODUS OPERANDI - HOW THIS EXERCISE IS EXPECTED TO WORK:
Working in groups of your own
choosing, (or, if necessary and more
acceptable, as individuals) you are asked to prepare an outline
Proposal
for submission according to the tender procedures outlined below. These
will be judged by the Commissioning agent (DRH) as cooperative efforts
and rewarded accordingly. Tender groups will be given the opportunity
of
discriminating individual rewards from the team average if they so
wish,
according to procedures to be negotiated between the Commissioning
agent
(DRH) and the team members.
Guidance: You are NOT expected to spend time doing
any of this research at this stage. You ARE asked to think about and
discuss
the ways in which you might approach one (or more) of these issues and
about how such approaches might meet the sponsors requirements. The
purpose
of this exercise is to give you an opportunity to think about the
processes
of research in connection with a specific problem area, and to practice
(in outline form) the specification and planning of a research project.
GENETIC MODIFICATION - SIN
OR
SAVIOUR?
CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS
In a pathbreaking collaboration, Mansinto (the world-leading
company in biotechnology) and Greenfriends (the multinational
charity
devoted to protection of the planet, its environments and people,
especially
from themselves) have pooled resources and launched a joint appeal to
fund
genuine, disinterested and objective research into the strengths,
weaknesses,
opportunities and threats of genetic engineering and modification.
This call is devoted to the social science of genetic modification.
A companion call (Genetic Modification - science or alchemy?) is
focused
on the natural and physical science aspects of the issue. The
collaborators
have established an independent and international trust (Genius),
under United Nations auspices, to manage the research portfolios under
this programme. Any and all correspondence related to this initiative
will
be addressed to Genius.
Socrates (the Social Science Commission of Genius) suggests
that
the following topics might provide the core of the social science
portfolio
in its initial stages, though welcomes constructive and thoughtful
contributions
from the research community in developing its research agenda.
- consumer perceptions of genetic modification and biotechnology;
- consumer attributions of motives and behaviours of biotechnology
companies
and food producers;
- elector perceptions and attributions, and consequent demands for
national
and international regulation of biotechnology;
- personalities, attitudes and beliefs as conditioners of
perceptions of
genetic modification and biotechnology;
- effects of context and circumstances on attitudes to
biotechnology and
genetic modification;
- information, education and communication aspects of biotechnology
and
genetic
modification;
- roles of markets and states in governance of biotechnology
development
and application;
- role of genetic modification in sustainable development, resource
use
and
management;
- management and marketing issues in the use of genetically
modified foods
Socrates also suggests that exploration of the social science of
genetic
modification might usefully be categorised under three functional
headings:
- environmental consequences and interactions;
- food health and safety issues;
- business performance and competition regulation issues, including
the
allocation,
appropriation and protection of intellectual property rights.
Socrates wishes to commission a limited number of complimentary
research
projects exploring these conflicts and potential synergies, in the form
of scoping studies. Appropriate research proposals from
academic
and market research organisations are now invited.
Any correspondence between names in
this
document and the real world is purely coincidental. The issues,
however,
are real.
Socrates/Genius: Further
Particulars
and Details of tender procedures.
Tenders should include:
- a Proposal -
- what you intend to do,
- why this approach makes sense
- what you think will be learned as a result
- who will find these results useful and why
- some Supporting arguments
- what sort of literature, data and information sources are
available
to establish what we already know about this issue
- what sort of gaps in knowledge and understanding we think
exist and
need filling
- where we might look to see if these gaps are real, or just
gaps in our
own knowledge
- the scope and importance of the issue - its context - how
important
is it and to whom?
There will be an open discussion of the issues and topics identified in
this call for tender to be held in the Commission offices at a time to
be notified, at which interested
parties are invited
to
participate in further refinement and elaboration of the invitation,
under
the guidance of the Socrates Commission.
Participants are requested to prepare for this meeting by exploring
the literature and their current understandings of the issues prior to
this seminar. Following this seminar, and preparation of the review
above,
interested parties are invited to tender a specific research proposal
of
the following form.
Outline Proposals, of no more than 8 pages of A4 text, excluding
diagrams and tables, should indicate for the proposed research study:
- the scope and nature of the study and its relationships with the
general
issues;
- the objectives and expected final output of the study in relation
to
existing
knowledge and understanding;
- justification for the methodologies and research perspectives to
be
followed
in the study;
- the potential for integration with other research perspectives
and
approaches;
- justification of the approximate duration, resource use and cost
(which
should be within 1 year, and £80k) and appropriate milestones in
the research plan.
Your written proposal is due in the Commission's offices (SAFRD General
Office) by 12.00pm, Friday 16th. December 2005 .
A useful starting point for web-based material and links is the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biotechnology
resource page. You might well begin with Gordon
Conway's speach to Monsanto's directors. You can also visit
Rural
Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) for an alternative
view.
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