E-tivity 1 - Instructors' Commentary

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Do curso por University of London

Estudo dos Métodos Investigatívos

1292 classificações

University of London

Estudo dos Métodos Investigatívos

1292 classificações

This MOOC is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. It places the student experience at the centre of our endeavours by engaging learners in a range of robust and challenging discussions and exercises befitting SOAS, University of London's status as a research-intensive university and its rich research heritage. The course will appeal to those of you who require an understanding of research approaches and skills, and importantly an ability to deploy them in your studies or in your professional lives. In particular, this course will aid those of you who have to conduct research as part of your postgraduate studies but do not perhaps have access to research methods courses, or for those of you who feel you would like additional support for self-improvement. No prior knowledge or experience in research is required to take this course and as such, the course is for everyone. This MOOC draws on a wealth of existing course material developed to support research training across SOAS, University of London and particularly drawing from the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD). In 2015, the course was nominated for the prestigious Guardian University Award for its innovative approach to online learning. Participation in or completion of this online course will not confer academic credit for University of London programmes

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E-tivity 1: What Is Research and What Makes a Good Research Question?

PURPOSE: To focus upon formulating a research question. TASK: Please compose a brief question pertaining to your proposed research - whatever the subject - and post it under the 'My Project' tab in the peer review exercise below. Be brief insofar as it would fit on one metaphorical or literal 'Post-It' note. Also watch our interview videos below. RESPONSE: Having reflected on the videos, review other students' questions. Feeding back is an important part of the research process, so please spend some time providing considered feedback for three or more colleagues here. OUTCOME: You will have given considered thought to composing a research question and provided feedback to others on theirs.

E-tivity 1 - Instructors' Commentary3:55

Rob Denny says...1:03

Sandra Halperin says...3:58

Michael Hutt says...2:21

Myrrh Domingo says...1:42

Conheça os instrutores

Dr J. Simon Rofe, SOAS, University of London
Senior Lecturer in Diplomacy and International Studies, Global Diplomacy Programme Director, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy,
SOAS, University of London
Dr Yenn Lee
Doctoral Training Advisor
SOAS, University of London

[MUSIC].

Welcome, my name is Dr. Simon Rofe.

I'm the co-instructor of the MOOC Understanding Research Method.

Each week we're going to be providing a commentary

to a series of video interviews that we've conducted.

These interviews will be conducted with a range of people

involved in academic enterprise, from

undergraduates through to senior professors.

We can learn something from each of them.

We asked similar set of questions to each of the interviewees.

And to start with, we're going to talk about the question: what is research?

And what constitutes research, good research questions?

>> What we found particularly interesting while

listening to all of our contributors is

that they all seem to have different

definitions of doing research and being a researcher.

But at the same time they collectively point to a certain themes.

One of them is that research is not just about reading a lot

of books and finding a lot of, gathering a lot of, existing information.

It is instead adding, maybe small and specific,

yet original, contribution to that existing body of knowledge.

So, research is about you posing a question which has to be, which

has to have to have relevance to the world that we are living in.

And why looking for the answer, or an answer,

you have to be, as systematic as you can be.

So, Simon, if I had asked the same

question to you, how would you have answered?

>> Well, it certainly is a challenging question.

I think the thing that strikes me most

about understanding research is the balance between what's achievable.

And also, the contribution is going to make.

So, research must have a, a finite end at some point.

And I think that's something to recognize at the outset, which people often don't.

So, thinking about those remarks that I've made, and also

the content of the videos that you're going to watch.

Please do take the time to look through the different, videos,

as many as you can during the course of the week.

And post your comments on the discussion forum.

We look forward to hearing from you.

[MUSIC].

>> What is a good research?

I would say is starting off of a question.

And ending with a question.

>> What makes it social science as opposed to journalism, or something

like that, would be the fact that we collect it in a

way which is as systematic as you can possibly be, hopefully, and

we try and say something a little bit beyond the data itself.

>> There are plenty of questions that

we might think are definitively answered because there's

a, a consensus about the answer to the

extent that it seems to be commonly understood.

What the answer of a particular question is.

Of course you can always find that the answer needs to be rethought in

light of trends that change or contemporary events or processes.

>> So, it's thinking time, it's writing time, it's reading, and it's the

combination of those things as a kind of method to explore a problem.

>> I think it's a balance between, being really narrow and then being broad.

because if it's already too broad, then you're not,

yeah, you're going to have some problems with researching that.

And, if it's already too narrow, like, you

don't have enough sources to do a good research.

>> For me, research is, as I suppose it is for,

for, for most academics and for yourself, it, it's obviously systematic enquiry.

To try to understand something.

To try and gain insight in, into something.

Or indeed, to try and solve a problem.

So it is important to keep in mind

that good research questions develop throughout the project actually.

You can even keep modifying them.

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