Applied Research Methods (ARMs) Approaches to research Recap & reminders…………. Ian D. Rotherham Professor of Environmental Geography, Reader in Tourism & Environmental Change 2016 -2017

Potential topics & subjects???? Previous research? Media? Observations & experience? Policy issues & challenges?

Plenty of scope….. Too much…………?????

Possible approaches to your research …… Stakeholder analysis Desktop survey Scoping study and testing of approach Snowball methodology Critical analysis of literature & sources Triangulation of findings and approaches

Desktop study & scoping exercise Identify key organisations and individuals From literature From desktop From snowball method – personal recommendations From case studies

Snowball approach…… Ask key individuals and contacts to recommend other useful people and sources

Multi-Methods approaches… Mixed Methods Provides different views of the problem Allow for comparisons Gives enhanced confidence in findings

Triangulation Policy makers - government & ministry officers and staff Policy, strategy documentation and governmental reports and monitoring Policy receivers and implementers - farmers in the case study region

Test run the approaches……. Trial run of approaches Chance to test, consider and review Can still use data & information from this first run

Using the literature to inform your approach………. Key theme from the research literature Issues in relation to the case study Questions posed of stakeholders and policies TEXT

Drawing out key research themes and paradigms e.g. Policy formers TEXT e.g. Policy receivers & implementers TEXT

1) To inform your approach, 2) To direct your methodology, 3) To critically analyse your findings

Summary of the critical assessment and analysis of the research findings Key research issue or question (literature & scoping study) Evidence from the stakeholder survey – policy makers (government ministry / agencies) Evidence from the stakeholder survey – policy receivers / implementers (farmers) Evidence from the document search and analysis Critical assessment of the findings  

A Conceptual Framework Why use a Conceptual Framework? Provide boundaries for your research Establish links, relationships & influences Consider flows & fluxes, drivers & barriers, inputs & outputs Guide analysis & weight the inter-relationships

Examples: From very simple To exceedingly complex and supported by in-depth data gathering and maybe computer modelling

Organising ideas and concepts, inputs & outputs, barriers & drivers

Dissertation Structure - reminder Title Acknowledgments Abstract or Summary Introduction and Literature Review Research question(s) and maybe hypothesis or null hypothesis Aims Objectives Methodology Results & Analysis of Results Discussion Conclusions & Recommendations References or Bibliography Appendices

Simple conceptual framework

Framing the research

A tool for analysis

We have covered critical reading & critical writing Issues of Critical Thinking: Importance of asking key questions – and answering questions – being inquisitive Being a scholar, researcher, scientist, professional Common questions: What? Who? Where? When? How? Why?

And then……. 3 vital parts of any serious study: What if? What next? So what? 3 vital parts of any serious study: Description, Analysis, Evaluation

Develop STRUCTURE to your work Examine & explain – parts into the whole Evaluate – assess the success or failure of something, determine value or implications - Leading to CONCLUSIONS Develop STRUCTURE to your work Organising your ideas and thoughts

Developing your arguments From description to analysis and evaluation To Discussion & Conclusions

Critical thinking…….

So….. Where are we now? Ideas? Approaches & methods? Context? Sources & literature? Outcomes?

Issues & queries or concerns? WHAT NEXT???????