You can do the thinking I am going to give you four scenarios and I would like you to design an online research project to investigate each. You have a small materials/technical support budget and either a three year PhD or a years study leave plus some finishing off time to undertake the project.

Project One Gardening You are interested in exploring the social and cultural impact of having green fingers. In particular you want to look at what motivates people to become keen gardeners and what effect it has on their lives.

Project Two Arctic substations You are interested in the culture and social organisation that exists in arctic substations. In particular you are wondering how people sustain social and sexual relationships whilst posted on a substation.

Project Three Second Life You are interested in the online environment that exists within second life. In particular you are interested in the decisions that people make about the physical appearance of their avatars. What factors influence these choices.

Project four The excise of power You are interested in the relationship that exists between the elected members in local government and the paid officers. In particular you are looking for whether a consistent ideological tendency exists within the paid officers.

You should try and think through How you are going to recruit participants? What method(s) you are going to use? What technology is available? What ethical issues exist? How are you going to document/analyse your research.