1. Thinking through initial ideas
Research project
Thinking through initial ideas

2. AIMS OF THE SESSION Review your initial research ideas
Look at the format of the research report
Examine the elements of the report Introduction

3. The Research Study can be……
Anything you want it to be
but:
It must be reportable in 4000 words
It must have a link to school practice
It must be interesting enough to sustain your focus

4. Elements of the Research Study
Section A
Research proposal form
Development plan
Presentation of ideas to the rest of the group
Reflection on peer feedback comments
Section B
Research Report
Section C
Presentation of research findings to the rest of the group + accompanying notes + peer feedback

5. Project ideas ?? National issues or high profile topics in education
Area of personal interest / area for development
Review / development of an existing scheme
School area of focus /concern
Planned school development

6. The proposal form

7. Background & preparatory reading
This is an essential stage of the research process as:
It is essential to know what work has been done previously
It will help to identify research possibilities and to slant your research on certain aspects of the chosen topic
This in turn will help you to develop a research methodology
It will help to justify your choice of research topic
Select a few key books/articles initially – then use these as a base for identifying other relevant texts
It saves time in the long run

8. YOUR PROJECT IDEAS

9. Gantt chart Helps to identify and plan milestones & deadlines:
Week
Plan Project
Research background theories & concepts
Talk to school to check feasibility
Complete draft planning proposal + success criteria
Complete Development Plan

10. Starting your Development Plan
Development Plans usually contain:
Key Areas / Outcomes
Details of activities to be undertaken
Outcomes / targets
Criteria for success ….in other words how do you know if it has succeeded?
Priorities
Responsibility…….by whom?
Target dates, including any interim milestones
Cost (if any)

11. Example of a Development Plan
Key development areas / activities
Details of the development/activities/
actions
Outcomes/Targets
By whom
Priority
(H/M/L)
By when
Cost

12. Getting started… Mark Twain
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into smaller manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
Mark Twain

13. Research project
Report structure

14. Format of the project report
Report sections
Title
Executive Summary/Abstract
Contents + page numbers
Introduction
Literature review
Project Methodology
Presentation and analysis of data/results
Conclusions
Recommendations
Evaluation
References & Bibliography
Appendices

15. Approx wordage split Introduction 10% Literature review 25 - 30%
Project Methodology 15%
Presentation and analysis of data/results %
Conclusions & Recommendations 10%
Evaluation %

16. Numbering headings
Give each section a heading to give a basic structure to your report
Use subheadings to divide each section
Number each section and subsection in a logical way
Example:
1.Introduction
1.1 Aims, objectives and hypotheses
1.2 Rationale for the study
1.3 School context and background information
2. Literature Review

17. Levels of headings A Main headings in large print and bold type
B Section headings: in slightly larger font than the text + bold type
C Subheadings
D Other lesser headings

18. introduction
Briefly outlines what the project is about and the context of it
1.1 Aims, objectives and hypotheses
Aim: A statement of the overall purpose of your study
Hypothesis: A statement that you can prove or disprove
Objectives: Breaks the aim down into statements to reflect the different aspect of your study

19. introduction 1.2 Rationale for the study
your reasons for selecting the study
School
National requirements/initiatives
Based on an aspect gained from wider reading
Personal interest/ linked to your role in school
1.3 School context and background information
...including an outline of your role and how that links to your research choice/opportunities

20. LITERATURE REVIEW Why write a literature review?
The literature review is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to your project. It helps you to decide the focus for your research as well as give you better background knowledge on the selected topic
What approach should I take?
You should evaluate what has already been done/written, show the relationships between different work, and show how it relates to your project. It is not supposed to be just a summary of other people's work.

21. LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction: Introduce your research question (what it is, why it is worth examining)
Main body:
Briefly outline the organisation of the chapter
Outline readings under key themes / models/ time periods. Compare and evaluate studies
Conclusion:
Discuss the implications of the studies – what have you learned from reviewing literature and how you intend to build on it.
Link to methodology chapter

22. Examples Look at the examples of Literature Reviews
In small groups analyse each

23. Start work on:
Review project proposal in light of last weeks discussions + produce ver 2.
Include a short personal reflection of how you have used group feedback to amend your research proposal
Completing a draft of your Introduction
Continue to research wider reading for your Literature Review