Your Research Project: How to Manage it

by Hunt; Andy

• ISBN13: 9780415344074
• ISBN10: 0415344077
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	viii
Preface	ix
Acknowledgements	xi
Overview of the book	1	(142)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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