Final Year Projects/Dissertations: the Student Perspective

Professor Alan Eardley School of Computing Staffordshire University

The Literature Review

Literature review or literature search?
Some people use the terms interchangeably More accurately, a review is in outline form and can form a part of a proposal etc. and search has more depth and is part of FYP/dissertation

Why do you need to do a literature review?

To place your work into an established context To develop your understanding of the subject area To give you analysis and development material and tools

How to do a literature review

Define and identify what your research is about
The research question(s) or hypothesis(es) The research domains (topics)

Search on key words that are central to domains Top down search - general familiarity first, then increase depth as understanding increases
What are the important publications? What are the significant theories/examples/models? Who are the movers and shakers in your area? How has the subject developed?

Relate the domains to one another

Getting the most from the literature: the four C words

Dont just quote add value with your own: Comments say what you think about what you are quoting and what you understand it to mean Comparisons contrast different viewpoints and theories to show you understand them Categorise - able to relate and classify things to simplify and organise complex material Criticise show that you have developed an opinion and an informed point of view

And another C word

Draw conclusions that inform your work Show that your work relates to and is relevant to other work Avoid reinventing the wheel
Question: when was the wheel last reinvented?

Show that you will use the information gained

To understand the problem more keenly To develop better solutions and improvements

A last C word
Citation styles and referencing standards Understand which is required Harvard or APA? Learn how to cite sources correctly
Journals, conference proceedings, electronic sources Use of paraphrasing and direct quotes How much to quote? Use of footnotes and endnotes Reference list or bibliography?

Follow guidelines and agree with your supervisor! The best way to learn to cite (and to write) is to read many academic publications

Always remember, when researching

You are adding a brick to the wall of knowledge You are standing on the shoulders of giants
Who said this?

It is quite possible that others will cite your work

Would you want them to plagiarise your work? So, dont plagiarise the work of others

Reading without understanding is like eating without digesting

Developing the research

Secondary and primary research one informs the other
Which is which? Which comes first?

Research should tell a story of link and flow

Links (between domains/topics) Flow between secondary and primary research

The chapters in your report or dissertation should be like a chain

Research methods
The basic tools of primary research Convince the reader that you know what you are doing by choosing the right tools Well chosen research methods help you to:
Manage your project/dissertation Write up your research in a clear and precise way

Butthe methods need to be carefully chosen and well justified

Dont just follow a routine or formula

Your research design

Focuses on research question, problem or advantage
then

Chooses an appropriate research approach

then

Includes suitable research methods to carry out tasks

then

Selects and justifies suitable research techniques for - Data collection - Data analysis

Your research design (continued)

Which research approach should you take?
Quantitative or qualitative? How have you defined the research project?

Which methods support your approach?

What are you trying to find out? There are alternatives to surveys!

What research techniques fit your method?

How will you capture and analyse the data? You dont have to use questionnaires!

Your research design (continued)

The process of research design Define the flavour of your project
Background, research question, aim and objectives

In the cases of approach, methods, techniques

Identify a shortlist of possibles Use criteria to select the most appropriate from list Justify your selection in the report/dissertation

Show that you have considered this carefully

Monitor the effectiveness of your research and be prepared to show that you have learned

Critical reflection
Be prepared to be critical of your own work As it develops in the narrative make your thought processes clear in the text
By owning up to your mistakes and side tracks And by showing that you are learning from them!

At the end of the report/dissertation the all-important conclusions chapter

Revisit your aims/objectives/deliverables have you succeeded? Comment on the effectiveness of your methods Emphasise and criticise your outcomes

Most of all show you have benefited from the project as a learning experience
What would you do differently? What else would you (or someone else) do next?

Differences between L6 and L7

A Bachelors degree
A thorough demonstration of knowledge of your subject area A test of competence to show that you can do things correctly Basic professional standards

A Masters degree
More critical and penetrating knowledge of your subject Doing things with what you already know More advanced professional standing

Masterness implies more

More analytical, more innovative, more original

Differences between L6 and L7(cont.)

Higher level use of research methods
More emphasis on originality/contribution Greater proportion of primary research

More penetration and criticality in the literature search

Even more added value (see previous slides)

More academic discussion/narrative

Analysis, synthesis, originality

Avoiding plagiarism
Presenting someone elses work as if it is your own Can be done purposely (academic dishonesty) Can be done accidentally (poor research practice, inadequate or careless referencing) Plenty of advice is available you can avoid both Correct referencing/citation Careful and thorough writing The chances of being detected are high With or without Turnitin

Using Turnitin
Saves time, draws attention to suspect work Only a guide, needs care in interpretation Which is most likely to be plagiarised work? A 50% overall score made up of two items with 20% similarity and ten of 2% A 50% overall score made up of fifty items of 1% similarity Language has repeated clich or jargon phrases Can be excluded More restricted vocabulary tends to more repetition Avoid repeating yourself in writing Make it easy for the assessor to interpret the report Its an indication of good writing anyway!

Joint publications and research

Can Masters students and their supervisors get their research published? Yes! Definitely Will it benefit them? Yes. Positively And whats in it for APU? Reputation as a university (its what Universities do) Increased academic standing internationally More attractive to staff as a long-term career More attractive to top students as a place to study

Questions and discussion?

w.a.eardley@staffs.ac.uk Alan.eardley1