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

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

3. Plenty of scope…..
Too much…………?????

4. 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

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

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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

17. 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

18. Simple conceptual framework

19. Framing the research

20. A tool for analysis

21. 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?

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. Critical thinking…….

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

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