Your Research Project: How to Manage it

More and more people are going through higher education, and huge numbers are now working towards Masters level. Increasingly at undergraduate level there is an emphasis on project and research work, and nothing is more important to the student that their final project. Unfortunately many students don't know how to manage the project and struggle with this crucial part of their degree. This book guides the student through the process of transition from passive learner to active researcher. Covering everything from selecting and refining a research topic, time and project management, to the actual report and the viva. It is ideal for all final year undergraduates and students on Masters degrees. It will also help reduce the load on supervisors, as a large proportion of the supervision process involves taking the student slowly through the steps of how to manage themselves.

List of illustrations

viii

Preface

ix

Acknowledgements

xi

Overview of the book

1

(136)

1 You - the project manager

3

(8)

Introduction

3

(1)

Your change in role

3

(1)

The dual role (of Worker and Manager)

4

(3)

Other roles to avoid

7

(3)

Summary

10

(1)

2 Personal time management

11

(25)

Introduction

11

(1)

Reactive time management

12

(1)

Proactive time management

12

(1)

Methods of time management

13

(6)

When to work, and for how long?

19

(4)

Tools of time management

23

(11)

Paper or computer

34

(1)

Summary

35

(1)

3 Your project's aims and objectives

36

(16)

Introduction

36

(1)

Selecting a project

36

(2)

Setting the overall focus

38

(2)

Techniques for generating ideas

40

(3)

Title, aims and objectives

43

(5)

Turning objectives into tasks

48

(2)

The project proposal

50

(1)

Summary

50

(2)

4 The literature survey

52

(14)

Introduction

52

(1)

The importance of setting your work in context

52

(1)

What has been done?

53

(1)

Different types of information source

54

(6)

Learning from other people

60

(1)

Writing the literature survey

61

(4)

Summary

65

(1)

5 Working towards success

66

(16)

Introduction

66

(1)

Project storyboarding

66

(4)

Criteria for success

70

(1)

Establishing key deliverables

71

(1)

From objectives to work packages

72

(3)

Planning time in your project

75

(1)

Storyboard or time-chart

76

(5)

Summary

81

(1)

6 Communicating with others

82

(23)

Introduction

82

(1)

Other people have different priorities

82

(1)

The supervision process

83

(4)

Structuring your communications

87

(5)

Different forms of communication

92

(3)

Asking people for help

95

(3)

Presenting your ideas to others

98

(6)

Summary

104

(1)

7 Common problems

105

(15)

Introduction

105

(1)

Getting stuck

105

(5)

Losing focus

110

(4)

Losing motivation

114

(2)

Someone else has done it already

116

(1)

Running out of time

117

(1)

Summary

118

(2)

8 The final report

120

(11)

Introduction

120

(1)

Report-writing as an ongoing process

120

(2)

Scoping your writing time

122

(2)

Contents as a springboard for writing

124

(1)

Establishing the readership

125

(2)

House styles

127

(1)

Revealing information to the reader

127

(1)

Appendices

128

(1)

Submitting electronic information

128

(2)

Summary

130

(1)

9 The viva voce examination

131

(6)

Introduction

131

(1)

Purpose of the viva

131

(2)

Preparation for the viva

133

(1)

Presentation time within the viva

134

(2)

Summary

136

(1)

10 Publishing your results

137

(6)

Introduction

137

(1)

Why publish?

137

(1)

Should you publish?

138

(1)

Which publication?

139

(1)

Conference publication

140

(1)

Journal and book publication

140

(1)

Summary

141

(2)

Bibliography

143

(2)

Index

145

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Your Research Project: How to Manage it

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials