- Info
Research Methods Study Book
This module study book should be consulted AFTER You have read the material under 'Dissertation - Start Here'.
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Read the material 'Dissertation Start Here'.
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Contents
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Exercises
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Further Information
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An Introduction to Methodology
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This study book provides an overview of the debates
on research methodology and method. When reading the study book you are
expected to read the accompanying textbook. These key readings are reproduced under licence from the Publisher McGraw Hill. Copyright McGraw Hill. We also recommend the following textbook and online resources.
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Topics 1 & 2: Research & Conceptualising Social Science Knowledge
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This
exercise is discursive in nature. First you should read the Amanda
Coffey article.
There are five
questions in total, all based on the article. The feedback you receive
will not include a score or mark for each answer but it will show the
question again, plus your answer and the 'model'/ correct answer we
have supplied.
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Read: Coffey, A.J. (1994) 'Timing is everything: graduate
accountants, time and organizational commitment', Sociology, 28 (4):
943-956.
Please be aware that the copyright for the paper remains with the publisher - Sage Publications.
Attempt Exercise.
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You may find this video helpful when considering the material presented for you. View video.
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Topics 3 & 4 The Role of Existing Literature & Research Questions
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There is further information on how to undertake a theoretical or library based dissertation. Click here.
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Topic 5- Qualitative & Quantitative Methods
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Exercise 1: This exercise requires you to evaluate each of the
methods covered in the notes for Topic 5, listing what you think are
their strengths and their weaknesses. As with the Topic 2 exercise, no
marks will be given or overall scores, but feedback will be provided
for each question on completion of the test based on our own 'model'
answers.
Exercise 2: This exercise has been designed to allow you to
develop skills associated with designing appropriate questions for
interviews and questionnaires. The idea is that you classify each
question as either closed or open, and then suggest what might be wrong
with it. Again, no marks are available, but feedback is provided on
completion.
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Topic 6 - Research Planning (Download File)
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The helpful document was devised by
Chrishan De Mer to assist in the planning and monitoring of the
dissertation process. Chrishan felt that it may be helpful to other
students. "How it works:
Column C (Contents) maps into your TOC and has all the main sections of the final report.
Column D (Estimated word count) apportions or estimates each section is terms of word count – useful as a sanity check.
Column E (Actual word count) has the actual number of words obtained from “word count” in MS Word.
Column F (Weights) assigns a percentage of completion for each section of the report. The total of this column would be 100%.
Column G (Percent complete) is how much progress you have made on each section, which earns part of the assigned weight.
Column H (Earned value) is column F multiplied by G, which is the actual part of work completed for a given section.
The value highlighted in orange at the bottom is the actual progress made.
Use the section on the top right to set yourself progress goals (say fortnightly) in terms of completion.
This helps me both to keep track of progress and also obtain a sense of
accomplishment (not easy on a final report!) as more sections are
written."
Note: The word count for the dissertation is 15,000 words (this excludes the references and appendices)
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Issues of Politics & Research
Narratives
of challenging research: stirring tales of politics and practice. By:
Burman, Erica. International Journal of Social Research Methodology,
Apr2003, Vol. 6 Issue 2, p101
Negotiating with communities: The Politics and
ethics of research. By: Manderson, Lenore; Wilson, Ruth P.. Human
Organization, Summer98, Vol. 57 Issue 2, p215, 2p
COMMONALITY, DIFFERENCE AND THE DYNAMICS OF
DISCLOSURE IN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWING. By: Song, Miri; Parker, David.
Sociology, May95, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p241-256
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Topic 7 - Quantitative Data Analysis
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Additional Resources (click here to view the materials below):
Help with Bar Charts
Help with Pie Charts
Help with Presenting Numerical Data
Help with Using Averages
Help with Using Percentages
Statistical Analysis
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Topic 8 - Analysing Qualitative Data
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The following external resource may also be helpful:
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/pract_res.html
For students considering a case study approach please consult the following resource:
http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-2/tellis1.html
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Topic 9. Writing Up Your Dissertation
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RefWorks bibliographic software is web-based and
therefore can be used from anywhere in the world. RefWorks users can
import references from text files or online databases into their own
database, so saving time in referencing the main text and compiling the
bibliography of written work as a result. Changes can also be made to
both, and the user can search their personal database to retrieve a
particular reference using author name, descriptor of content or
periodical. You may find this package useful for your dissertation or
indeed other assignments.
A Quick Guide and Tutorial for RefWorks are available at http://www.refworks.com. One of the ULMC tutors has taken the Tutorial and it is relativel straightforward to follow.
If you are interested in trying this package, the first thing you will need to do is set up a RefWorks account. Go to http://www.refworks.com/refworks
and choose login using your Group Code (the link that appears at the
bottom of the box in the centre of the screen). Enter the group code
RWULeicester and it should then recognize you are a member of the
University of Leicester. Then sign up for an individual account by
clicking on the link at the top of the box in the centre of the screen.
Please note that, when you are asked to select an output style
for your in-text references and bibliography, you should select Harvard
- British Standard.
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