e-Research Methods Part time

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically assess research carried out by others, evaluate its usefulness for your own practice and use it as a starting point for your research.
• Differentiate the value of information from different types of study designs and different sources

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Organise your own activities to achieve a desired outcome within a limited amount of time
• Direct your own learning
• Identify the appropriate use of quantitative and qualitative methods
• Search, store, retrieve and integrate citations within your own reports
• Find and summarise relevant information and develop an evidence based approach to research
• Exercise initiative and personal responsibility

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Identify the value of different sources of data in drawing conclusions from published literature and justify your conclusions
• Identify the practical issues involved in carrying out research
• Discuss the value, nature, uses and limitations of a range of research methods

Introduction

• Defining your learning goals
• Understanding the culture of research
• Defining your prior experience
• Exploring the University and the Faculty

Getting started as a researcher

• The aim of postgraduate research
• What is research?
• Research paradigms and philosophy
• How does data become knowledge?
• What does research involve?
• Working with your supervisor
• What happens to your research?

Literature review

• How effective are you at searching the literature?
• Forms of literature
• Resources to search: reliability and quality
• Terms for searching
• Approaches to your literature review
• Critical analysis of the literature
• Accurate referencing
• Managing your references

Choosing your research topic

• Concepts of research
• Originality and critical analysis
• Strategies and models
• Research processes
• Checklists
• Research design
• Research questions and titles
• Health and safety

Project management

• Effective organisation & time management
• Setting targets & goals
• Revising your plan
• What to do if something goes wrong
• Role of the supervisor
• Motivating yourself
• Taking responsibility for your progress

Collecting data

• Selecting data collection methods
• Ethical research
• Data protection, human subjects & privacy
• Following policies (e.g. animal experiments)
• Selecting analysis methods
• Working in groups/teams
• Equal opportunities legislation applied to research
• Law applying to research carried out abroad

Data analysis

• Qualitative vs quantitative research
• Questionnaires & sampling
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Action research
• Participant observation
• Textual analysis
• Descriptive statistics,
• Sampling
• Keeping records

Data handling on computers

Analysis tools

Modelling

Writing your research proposal

• Planning
• Structure
• Writing clearly
• Using the feedback on your draft
• When to write
• Displaying data in graphics & charts

The module can be accessed on line at: www.erm.ecs.soton.ac.uk/index.htm

The module will be taught using a mixture of web-based materials accessed via a VLE, online support from your tutor, directed reading and self study sessions.

Learning is primarily activity driven and methods include keeping a reflective log, online quizzes for formative assessment, directed reading, reflective questioning, data analysis exercises, analysis of own practice and personal research.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.