Section outline

  • Introduction and learning objectives

    Over the last few weeks, you should have conducted some scoping research and reading around your dissertation topic, this include the work you have been doing for your ARM1 assessment. In this session we will discuss how to bring the scoping research together and develop a preliminary research aim and research question. By the end of the work shop you will be able to:

    • Describe a what a research aim and a research question is.
    • Demonstrate how to develop a research aim and question from a period of scoping research.
    • Plan how you will develop your dissertation aim and question and write this process up in your ARM1 assignment.

    Pre-workshop preparation

    At the end of the last dissertation workshop we started thinking about how to narrow down a topic. Ahead of this workshop, we want you to begin that process by starting to read a little around your chosen topic. We ask that you find at least two sources relevant to your chosen topic, and complete the worksheet below ahead of the workshop. 

    NOTE: This activity will also help you develop your annotated bibliography and your research proposal assignments for ARM1. If you start this now, you will have less work to do later.

    Workshop materials and activities

    The workshop slides can be found below when made available. 

    Below are the three exercises we attempted in the workshop. Please repeat them in your own time to help you come up with a set of tasks and a schedule to help you develop the 'Introduction and background/rationale' and 'Research aims, question and objectives' sections of your ARM1 proposal. 

    Remember, a well-researched aim and question will lead to a logical and feasible methodological approach.  Try to work through these tasks in pairs. Giving and receiving feedback on your work is an excellent way to learn.

    Useful materials and resources

    • The assessment information for ARM1
    • The ‘Accessing Support’ area of the QM Library Services Academic Skills pages
    • The 'Background to Issue, Rationale and Objectives' section of the dissertation criteria