Rough guide to research methods

[LoopyLoopsChupaChups]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a good rough guide to research methods? I'm trying to refine my research proposal for my PhD (Education) and have been asked to include more detail re research methods. I've had no research methods training yet, and don't have a clue what to say!

Any help appreciated. :)

What methods will you be using? The best thing would be to read some more specific literature on the exact methods that you will use rather than a 'rough guide'.

That's the thing! I don't know. I need something general on research design before I can decise what research methods I will use.

I know it will be both qualitative and quantitative, and will use a mixture of manipulation of existing data and compiling surveys, as well as interviewing subjects, but I need to know about data sets and design.

I'm a third year psychology student and use a book called research methods in psychology by Glynis Breakwell which I find good. Not sure if it will be too specific to psychology though.

Social research Methods by Bryman is very good and we recommend it to our undergraduate students. Oh and good luck!

Don't bother with a generic guide.

Do a literature search for a set of journal articles that address a similar research question and see what methods they use. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these studies.

Thank you everyone, some great advice. I'll certainly look at those mentioned, and Sarky's idea is a great one, thank you. :)

I have read that Bryman one, and agree it is a good overview, but also that as Sarky said, you would surely be better looking at something more specific to your research question for a PhD proposal?

How much help are you getting from you future supervisor? Sounds like not much...
Or are you still at the application stage?

Still at the application stage. Two people have agreed to be my (joint) supervisors, application pending. Both have been useful with regards to writing the research proposal, and have made helpful points in terms of refining it, but one in particular is very keen that I set out my planned methods, and I really haven't got a clue. This would all be covered in the masters programme (if I got the 1+3 ESRC funding or equivalent, so I'm confused really about how much I should know now, and how to access the info before being trained! (Does that make sense?)

The aim of the proposal is to make sure that you are capable of coming up with a sensible question, method etc. IME very few phds actually follow the course laid out in the proposal.

I'd also advise you read relevant papers by your supervisors. They are obviously more likely to approve of a research strategy that is relatively close to their previous work. And you want to make sure you are asking to do something they feel able to supervise .

Good luck:)

Thanks Sarky. :)

The thing is, the question and methods are quite clear in my mind, but the terminology expected in the proposal is outside of my experience so far. I think I need to read quite a lot in order to get to grips with a whole new language of terminology! (Time is pressing on...)

Thanks so much for your help.

Oh, another quick question - deadline is beginning of May. When do you think I need my final draft ready to show to the supervisors?

Deadline for what?

Is is going to the esrc or does a departmental committee have control?

Just realised thus doesn't matter... You should ask your supervisors when they want it by. Depends how much help they plan on giving and on their schedule.

Guidelines for ESRC funding have changed this year, and I understand that the university have a certain amount of places, so the deadline is for applicants to be brought before a committee of the various competing schools. (AFAIK)

Yes of course, that makes sense and will give me a workable deadline.

Time is really hard at the moment - I am a SAHM for 21 month old DD, 6 months pregnant, standing for election as district councillor, which happens to fall the same week as this deadline! I hadn't appreciated how much time the application itself would take. Obviously, if I get funding I will be able to afford childcare, but until then...

Yup. That is how it works here too.

Be aware that these decisions are influenced by many factors that are completely out of your control.

Good luck.

hey loopy good luck!
i am just writing up my EdD so a taught doctorate in education.
hope to finish in the summer.
These are the books i have been using (brum - good edn dept)
Robson (2002) real world research - old but very good
Cohen, Manion and Morrison - latest edn due out this year - this is a good basic text worth buying if you can afford it.
edwards, a and Talbot, R the hard-pressed researcher again a bit old but good basic stuff
Denscombe, M i've got 'ground rules for social research' (2010) but there's another one too about small scale research projects. not as good as robson and cohen, manion, morrison though - both recommended on my course.
have quite a few other books but mainly on analysis rather than design due to where i am at the moment.
however, i agree with others, you'll probably change the methods anyway, and you will learn loads from the taught input on your course. i'd perhaps look in one text and previous articles in the area and make an attempt.

should add loopy there is a doctorate support thread somewhere - not sure i've posted but lurk occasionally - it's good to see someone making progress

i have some more specific books on qualitative research but at the moment i don't think that's what you're asking for, but do ask if you think you need them.

Thank you Concordia, that's really useful. It is Brum that I'm applying for actually, so that's a real help to know they are good!

I'll have a good look at finding some of those books tomorrow. Thank you so much. :) A friend is lending me a copy of the much recommended De Vaus book, so that should be a start. So little time!