COP3: Lecture 1

Context of Practice Lecture 1 - Organising your Research Project and COP3 Aims Taken by Richard Miles 30th September 2014

So what better way to start our last year off then with a lecture! And about our dissertation. Although what may seem like a rough way to start the lecture given was actually very insightful and I gained a lot of knowledge from it and it was very interesting to listen to. We got told obviously about what was expected off us over the last year at Leeds College of Art, but we got a really nice checklist of how to complete our COP3 module to the best of our ability.

Doing your Research Project by Judith Bell is apparently a nice book that will be helpful over the next 15 weeks, because yes, we only have 15 weeks to write our 6000-9000 word essay and have a practical piece to go with it. 

Planning the Project
So in order to remain calm and collected we then went through a number of different ways in which we can make our 400 hours of work a success, which was so helpful looking over it now!

- Write  down all your questions you want to investigate about the topic; ideally answerable questions.

- Consider each on their merits and focus on two (Primary and Secondary).

- Write an 'first thoughts' sheet for each question and think about ideas and preconceptions.
- What is the purpose of the study? Is your question researchable? You should be ambitious but it need to be something you can complete in 15 weeks!

- Then you will have a working title that can be subtly changed. Everything that you do should come back to that working title - you need to be able to answer it!

Project Outline
- Consider timing (15 weeks).
- Consider holidays/work/life.
- Think about your working title and the different component parts that need researching.

- Allocate timing.

- Draw up a project outline based on the above.

- Allow generous time for initial reading and writing up.

- Factor in tutorials.

- Consult with your supervisor about this.

Literature Search
- Reading takes longer than you think

- How much reading can you do in 100 hours? (As this should be the ratio of reading to writing).
- Start by trying to find all key texts on your chosen topic.
- Focus your reading based on an initial assessment of this survey
- Find key texts and plan time to read these

- Find secondary sources/criticisms of key texts (Triangulation).

- Use journals (www.jstor.com) 

Referencing

- Start by compiling a bibliography at the beginning of the project

- Reference as you go

- Include all the details (name, date, place, publisher, page)

After the lecture I then looked at my project that I was going to be undertaking and decided to work my way through these questions. I then also looked back at the power point and realised that their was some bits that we had missed and I thought it would have really been useful to look over it, which I went and did.

Questionnaires 
- Is a questionnaire the best way of investigating your topic?
- If so, begin to word questions and discuss
- Avoid ambiguity, imprecision or assumption.
- Also avoid double, leading, presuming or offensive questions
- Question Type?
- Think about format / appearance
- Always pilot your questionnaire
- Decide on sample size
- Specify a return deadline (factor this into your project outline)
- Record responses as soon as complete

Interview
- Is an interview the best way of investigating your topic?
- If so, begin to word questions and discuss with your supervisor
- Structured or unstructured interview?
- How will you analyse questions?
- Watch for bias
- Plan the interview / prepare the room
- Introduce yourself
- Tape record the interview (permission required)
- Agree the accuracy of notes with interviewee

Observation
- Is observation the best way of investigating your topic?
- Decide exactly what you need to know?
- Participant / Non-participant observation
- Request permission to observe
- Prepare and plan observation carefully
- Devise a suitable grid, checklist or chart.
- Analyse and interpret the data, eliminating bias
- Thank the people observed

And finally and most importantly, the Checklist
Don’t procrastinate
Plan research methods carefully
Select the most appropriate research methods for the project
Document all stages of the process carefully
Produce a detailed project outline, with timings, and stick to it
Get the most from your supervision