Research Matters

Topic outline

• 
  

  General

  Research Matters contains resources and materials used in DUT Research Workshops, and offers participants a forum for discussion on workshop topics.   Registered workshop members may reply to messages or start their own discussion threads on any research-related topic.

  • Discussion forum
  • News forum
  • Research Matters chat room
• 
  

  Research Writing: Theses/dissertations

  Resources and materials from the workshop on Research Writing: Theses/ Dissertations are posted in this section.

  • COMPOSING A THESIS File
  • STAGES OF THE THESIS WRITING PROCESS File
  • TRADITIONAL THESIS STRUCTURE File
  • SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST File
  • Postgraduate supervision: the role of the (language) editor File
  • Pages from Dietz et al. File
  • How not to write a PhD File
  • Feedback sheet for workshop File
  • Alternative ways of structuring a thesis URL
• 
  

  Workshop for Health Faculty Sciences, Nov 2011

  Resources and materials for the Supervision Workshop for Health Faculty Sciences are posted in this section (i.e. additional to those from the workshop on Research Writing: Theses/dissertations).

  • Online supervision File
  • Teaching/research nexus File
• 
  

  1. Introductory Presentation on Research Capacity Development Programmes for 2012

  Resources and materials from the Introductory Presentation on Research Capacity Development Programmes for 2012 have been uploaded below, including the weekly Workshop Programme for 2012, the booking sheet, and the handout on "The Knowledge Cycle".

  • The Knowledge Cycle File
  • 2012 Research Capacity Building Programme updated September 2012 File
  • 2012 Research Capacity Building Programme Booking Sheet updated September 2012 File
• 
  

  2. The Research Process

  Resources and materials from Workshop 2: The Research Process (3 Feb 2012) are already available in other sections and in the online course, the Higher Degrees Research Module. The slide presentation has been uploaded in .pdf format.

  • Slides on The Research Process File
• 
  

  3. The Supervision Process

  Resources and materials for Workshop 3: The Supervision Process (10 Feb 2012) are posted in this section (i.e. any additional to those from the workshops above).

  • Slides on The Supervision Process File
  • Supervisors' "Roadmap" File
• 
  

  4. Mobilising Reading Resources

  Slides for Workshop 4: Mobilising Reading Resources (17 Feb 2012) are posted in this section; some general readings were made available on drop box (see posting in the Social Forum).

  • Slides on Mobilising Reading Resources File
• 
  

  5. Research Reading Skills Part 1

  Resources and materials already online were used for Workshop 5: Research Reading Skills Part 1 (24 Feb 2012), as can be seen in the slides posted below. A current literature database with DUT logins and passwords has been added.

  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 1 File
  • Generic databases File
• 
  

  6. EndNote Part 1

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 6: EndNote Part 1 (2 Mar 2012) are posted in this section. This workshop was designed to assist users to find, open and save an EndNote library, and to enter reference details of books and journal articles.

  • Slides on EndNote Part 1 File
  • Thesis Biblio Example File
  • Thesis Biblio Example.Data (zip) File
  • DUT Adapted Feb 2012 reference style File
  • How to copy a style to EndNote X5 File
  • Example: Chapter 4 Methodology File
• 
  

  7. Research Reading Skills Part 2

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 7: Research Reading Skills Part 2 (9 Mar 2012) are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 2 File
  • Bhaskar unplugged Page
  • Mis-reading of a journal text Page
• 
  

  8. EndNote Part 2

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 8: EndNote Part 2 (16 Mar 2012) are posted in this section. This workshop was designed to assist users to manage text using EndNote and to manage an EndNote Library.

  • Slides on EndNote Part 2 File
  • Direct Export Providers File
  • Text sample to insert references File
• 
  

  9. Using Citation and Referencing Conventions

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 9: Using Citation and Referencing Conventions (23 Mar 2012) are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Using Citation and Referencing Conventions File
  • Appendix A File
  • Overuse of verbatim citations File
• 
  

  10. Editing and Proof-reading

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 10: Editing and Proof-reading (13 Apr 2012) are posted in this section. Some may have been used earlier, but are repeated here for ease of access.

  • Slides on Editing and Proof-reading File
  • Van Aswegen File
  • Editing and proof-reading checklist File
  • Checklist for final thesis copy File
  • Manual of Style URL
  • Bibliography exercise File
• 
  

  11. Plagiarism

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 11: Plagiarism (11 May 2012) have been posted in this section. Note that the opinions reflected in the various documents are not necessarily those of the workshop presenter or DUT, but have been provided to represent different views and to stimulate discussion.

  • Slides on Plagiarism File
  • DUT Plagiarism policy and procedure for staff and students File
  • Alberta Library - Why students plagiarize File
  • Book review - A handbook for deterring plagiarism in Higher Education File
  • Distinguishing between plagiarism and a teaching opportunity File
  • Ethical and legal issues for writing researchers in an age of media convergence File
  • Guilty in whose eyes? University students' perceptions of cheating and plagiarism in academic work and assessment File
  • In other (people's) words: plagiarism by university students - literature and lessons File
  • “It wasn't me, was it?” Plagiarism and the web File
  • Minimising plagiarism File
  • Oh, what a tangled web we've woven! Helping students evaluate sources File
  • Pandora’s box: academic perceptions of student plagiarism in writing File
  • Penn State - Why students plagiarise File
  • Plagiarism in the Internet Age File
  • Student online plagiarism: how do we respond? File
  • Turnitin White Paper - Plagiarism and the web File
  • Understanding Internet plagiarism File
  • University of Technology Sydney - Why students plagiarise File
  • Why do students plagiarise? File
  • List of plagiarism controversies URL
  • 5th International Plagiarism Conference URL
  • Webcast on why students plagiarise URL
• 
  

  12. Writing a Literature Review

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 12: Writing a Literature Review (18 May 2012) are posted in this section. Note that the slides contain hyperlinks to some of the materials posted in other sections.

  • Slides on Writing a Literature Review File
  • Writing Tutor Program File
• 
  

  13. Carrying out Empirical Work Part 1: Paradigms

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 13. Carrying out Empirical Work Part 1: Paradigms are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Paradigms File
  • Arndt - On making marketing science more scientific File
  • Aylesworth - Postmodernism File
  • Cupchik - Constructivist realism - an ontology that encompasses positivist and constructivist approaches to the social sciences File
  • Extract from Schubert 1986 File
  • Guba - Competing paradigms in qualitative research File
  • Klages - Postmodernism File
  • Krauss - Research paradigms and meaning making File
  • Rosenberg - Why a philosophy of social science File
  • Scott - Critical realism and empirical research File
  • Terrell - Mixed-methods research methodologies File
  • Paradigm URL
  • Major research paradigms URL
• 
  

  14. Carrying out Empirical Work Part 2: Methodology

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 14. Carrying out Empirical Work Part 2: Methodology are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Methodology File
  • Survey: Attitudes towards thinking and learning
  • Hard copy of survey questions File
  • Creswell - Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods File
  • Hughes - Qualitative and quantitative approaches File
  • Padgett - Qualitative and mixed methods in social work knowledge development File
  • Example: Combining quantitative and qualitative methods File
  • Example: Descriptive and inferential statistics File
  • Example: Using NVIVO File
• 
  

  Public Management and Economics Workshop held on 7th & 8thJune 2012

  Some of the materials for the Department of Public Management and Economics Workshop held on 7^th & 8^thJune 2012 are posted in this section, as well as PowerPoint slides in .pdf format. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PG FORMS AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENT GUIDE ARE UPDATED EACH YEAR.

  • Slides on Key Issues Concerning PG4 N.B. CHECK JULY 2012 UPDATES TO PG4a & b. File
  • Please see updated copy of Postgraduate Students' Guide 2012 on staff and student portal File
  • IREC requirements File
  • Please see updated copy of PG1 Notification of Proposed Research Topic and Supervisor on staff and student portal File
  • Please see updated copy of PG4a Research Proposal and Ratification of Research Proposal by the Higher Degrees Committee on staff and student portal File
  • PG4b Research Ethics Checklist File
  • Letter of Information and Consent June 2012 File
• 
  

  16. Presenting Data

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 16. Presenting Data are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Presenting Data File
  • e-book: How to Display Data URL
  • Chapter 12: Designing Visual Communication File
  • Designing Visual Communication File
  • Effect Ordering for Data Displays File
  • Notes on Graphic Communication File
  • Strategies and Tactics for Workplace Research File
• 
  

  17. Writing a Thesis Part 1

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 17. Writing a Thesis Part 1 are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 1 File
  • Masters - A process approach File
  • The process approach to writing File
  • DTech - A realist approach to Writing File
  • Thumbnail sketches of composing File
  • How to write 1000 words a day URL
  • Write an e-book at 100 words a day URL
  • Alternative ways of structuring a thesis URL
• 
  

  18. Writing a Thesis Part 2

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 18. Writing a Thesis Part 2 are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 2 File
  • Traditional thesis structure File
• 
  

  19. Writing a Thesis Part 3

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 19. Writing a Thesis Part 3 are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 3 File
  • Guidelines on writing up a thesis URL
  • Guidelines on minor editing and polishing URL
  • Evaluating a thesis for examination submission URL
• 
  

  20. Writing a Journal Article

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 20. Writing a Journal Article are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing a Journal Article File
  • DoE approved list File
  • IBSS List Updated - 2012 File
  • ISI List Updated – 2012 File
• 
  

  21. Writing a Book

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 21. Writing a Book are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing a Book File
• 
  

  22. eLearning and Research

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 22. eLearning and Research are posted in this section.

  • Slides on eLearning and Research File
  • PG 4a File
• 
  

  24. Preparing a Research Proposal

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 24. Preparing a Research Proposal are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Preparing a Research Proposal File
  • The Higher Degrees Research Module URL
• 
  

  25. Writing up a Research Proposal

  Resources and materials used for Workshop 25. Writing up a Research Proposal are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Writing up a Research Proposal File
  • Form PG 4a: Research Proposal and Ratification of Research Proposal by the Higher Degrees Committee File
  • Form PG 4b: Research Ethics Checklist File
  • 1. Field of Research and Provisional Title Page
  • Express your title as clearly as possible in this forum.
  • 2. Context of the Research Page
  • Copy your section 2. Context of the Research into this forum to obtain feedback.
  • 3. Research Problem and Aims Page
  • Write your Research Problem and Aims in this forum.
  • 4. Literature Review Page
  • Discuss/illustrate problems with the Literature Review in this forum.
  • 5. Research Methodology Page
  • Describe your Research Methodology in this forum.
• 
  

  26. & 27. Typing, Language and Style in Research Writing; Layout and Graphics in Research Writing

  Resources and materials for Workshops 26 and 27,Typing, Language and Style in Research Writing, and Layout and Graphics in Research Writing,  are posted in this section.

  • Slides on Typing, Language and Style in Research Writing, and Layout; Graphics in Research Writing File
  • Thesis 1 File
  • Thesis 2 File
  • Thesis 3 File
  • Thesis 4 File
  • Thesis 5 File
• 
  

  28. Research Reading Skills Part 1 (2013)

  The slides on the 2013 PowerPoint presentation on Research Reading Skills Part 1 are available in .pdf format.

  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 1 (2013) File
• 
  

  29. Research Reading Skills Part 2 (2013)

  The slides on the 2013 PowerPoint presentation on Research Reading Skills Part 2 are available in .pdf format.

  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 2 (2013) File
• 
  

  30. Paradigms (2013)

  The slides on the 2013 PowerPoint presentation on Paradigms are available in .pdf format.

  • Slides on Paradigms File
  • Guba - The alternative paradigm dialog File
• 
  

  31. Writing and Submitting Conference Papers (2013)

  This workshop will look at targeting conferences and ensuring that your paper is accepted.

  • Slides on Writing and Submitting a Conference Paper File
  • Murray - Writing for academic journals File
  • WMSKI 2013 Folder
  • EdMedia 2013 Folder
  • International Conference on Learning 2013 Folder
  • 21st International Conference on Learning URL
• 
  

  32. Oral and Virtual Presentation of Conference Papers (2013)

  This workshop deals with oral and virtual presentation of conference papers.

  • Slides on Oral and Virtual Presentation of Conference Papers File
  • AACE: How to work a conference URL
• 
  

  33. Writing a Thesis Parts 1, 2 & 3 (2013)

  The PowerPoint slides for Writing a Thesis Parts 1, 2 & 3 (2013) are posted in pdf format below.

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 1 (2013) File
  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 2 (2013) File
  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 3 (2013) File
  • Traditional Thesis Structure File
  • Guidelines for thesis preparation File
  • How not to write a PhD File
  • Article on editing File
  • Guidelines on and editing and evaluating a thesis Page
  • Examples of well presented dissertations and theses Folder
  • • Readings on research design
      • Njihia.pdf
      • What is research design?.pdf
• 
  

  34. Research Reading Skills Part 1 (2014)

  The slides on the 2014 PowerPoint presentation on Research Reading Skills Part 1 are available in .pdf format.

  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 1 (2014) File
• 
  

  35. Research Reading Skills Part 2 (2014)

  The slides on the 2014 PowerPoint presentation on Research Reading Skills Part 2 are available in .pdf format.
• 
  

  36. Writing and Submitting Conference Papers (2014)

  This workshop deals with writing and submitting conference papers, and ensuring that they are accepted.  The PowerPoint slides are available in .pdf format at the link below.

  • Slides on Writing and Submitting Conference Papers (2014) File
  • Slides on Oral and Virtual Presentation of Conference Papers (2014) File
  • Slides on Research Reading Skills Part 2 (2014) File
• 
  

  37. Oral and Virtual Presentation of Conference Papers (2014)

  This workshop deals with oral and virtual presentation of conference papers. The PowerPoint slides are available in .pdf format at the link below.
• 
  

  38. Writing a Thesis Part 1 (2014)

  Writing a Thesis Part 1 (2014) looks at the thesis writing process, ways of stimulating creativity when getting initial drafts down, and some traditional (and alternative) ways of structuring a thesis. 

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 1 File
  • Master's research on the writing process File
  • Book chapter: The process approach to writing File
  • Doctoral research on written communication File
  • Thumbnail sketches of composing File
  • How to write1000 words a day URL
  • Write an e-book at 100 words a day URL
• 
  

  39. Writing a Thesis Part 2 (2014)

  Structuring a thesis is crucial to how clearly it communicates and therefore to its eventual success. Writing a Thesis Part 2 (2014) looks at structural issues and problems which arise as the thesis content is generated, including the issue of decimal numbering (or not).

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 2 (2014) File
  • Traditional thesis structure File
  • Alternative ways of structuring a thesis URL
  • Buist 2013 - Conflicts of interest in the reporting of biomedical research in mainstream newspapers in Canada File
  • Reddy 2014 - A learning object repository for computer assisted language learning File
  • Somlenze 2014 - The use of graphic design materials as a resource to address the issue of literacy acquisition File
• 
  

  40. Writing a Thesis Part 3 (2014)

  Writing a Thesis Part 3 (2014) looks at the “endgame” of writing a thesis, where it is crucial to tie up all the loose ends, finalise the reading, and ensure that the examination copy is printed on time and formatted correctly.

  • Slides on Writing a Thesis Part 3 (2014) File
  • PG Forms used in the postgraduate examination process Folder
  • Guidelines on writing up a thesis URL
  • Guidelines on minor editing and polishing URL
  • Evaluating a thesis for examination submission URL
  • How not to write a PhD File