Bell, Bryman, and Harley: Research Project Guide

Table of Contents

1. Preparing yourself to do research
   1. What is involved in a small-scale research project or dissertation?
   2. Start thinking about your research early
   3. Preliminary literature review/discussions to get research ideas
   4. Get to know what is expected of you by your institution
   5. Using your supervisor
   6. Managing time and resources
   7. Research checklist
2. What do I want to research exactly?
3. The research process
4. Writing up your research report

Managing time and resources

Chapter 4, Page 79

All research is constrained by time and resources:

• Work out a timetable, preferably in conjunction with your supervisor and the final deadline for delivering your research
• Detail the stages of your research:
  • E.g. the literature review, data collection (including piloting instruments), data analysis and writing up
  • Some stages are ongoing, e.g. searching the literature for new references will remain throughout your project
• Find out what, if any, resources your institution can put at your disposal for carrying out your research, e.g.:
  • travel costs, photocopying, secretarial assistance, printing, stationery
  • hardware such as digital recorders
  • software, such as SPSS, or NVivo and RefWorks

To see video clips of students talking about their experiences of managing time and resources, click here