Research skills

Dr. Rosemary WilsonDept. of Applied Linguistics and Communication

Postgraduate Orientation: October 2011

Think about the following

Which undergraduate research skills do youbring to your postgraduate studies?

• Critical / analytical thinking / reading / writing

• Note-taking• Time management• Identifying and

selecting relevant information

• Finding information in the library

• Using the internet• Referencing skills

Developing your skills for postgraduate study

Undergraduate level

• Finding information in the library and using the Internet

• Note-taking• Identifying and selecting

relevant information• Critical/analytical

thinking/reading/writing• Referencing skills• Time management

Postgraduate level• Using journals and data-bases• Organising information

electronically• Selecting and designing your

own project• Structuring and writing an

extended argument• Referencing a wide range of

sources• Organisational skills

Discipline-specific research skills

Quantitative approaches• Research ethics• Questionnaire design• Statistical analysis• Use of statistical software

packages• Mathematical modelling• Computer modelling

etc.

Qualitative approaches• Research ethics• Questionnaire design• Interviewing & transcription• Observation & field notes• Ethnography & field notes• Use of software packages

e.g. NVIVO• Documentary analysis

etc.

(Inter)personal and academic skills

Taking the initiative: • asking questions• finding out what is expected: ‘Nobody told me’….• asking for help• contacting your supervisor

Developing your own academic interests:• at master’s level think about topics covered in the modules

that particularly interest you and that you would like to investigate further

• at MPhil/PhD level, keep in mind that there is only one of you

Becker, L. (2004) How to Manage your Postgraduate Course (Palgrave)

Wisker, G. (2007) The Postgraduate Research Handbook (Palgrave)

http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studentlife/postgraduate/index.asp

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/phd-support

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/research-ethics

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/research-projects

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/research-skills

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/internet