Research in the Information Age

Lecture #2 Title, abstract and Introduction

An on-line information source provided by Bryn Holmes and Damian Gordon


| Intro | Lit Survey | Lit Review | Methods | Data Collection | Findings | Discussion | Conclusion

 

The use of Information Technology can aid research by aiding in supporting lower-level skills and thus allow researchers to focus on higher-order thinking skills.

Title
Abstract
Introduction

Information & Applications

INTRODUCTION

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

TITLE

Title - kindly write a two part title

My cool idea(s) derived from : An analysis of xxx's ideas.

Make sure your title can answer 'Why?' you are doing your research

Note that this is a reflection of your two part searching that we discussed earlier and should turn up in almost all work for the course. "Generate a research question or series of research questions and then look for the deeper questions. Initial Question: Can software developed elsewhere fit into the Irish Curriculum? Deeper Question: Does software come with a cultural context?"

You can also add a cute or trendy part to your title so as to encourage people's interest.

Holmes B. & Field, M. (1999). The other in the mirror: student perception and identity in on-line Japan. Published in the proceedings of CAL99: Virtuality in Education: What are the future educational contexts? March 29- April 1st, London, England.

Holmes, B. & Jussila, T. (1998). Japanese On-Line Learning Environments: A Virtual Reality Check: Journal of Communication and International Studies 1,1:59-73.

Holmes, B. & Greik, L. (1998). Views of the Mountain from the Valley: a rural community assessment of the Japanese education system. The 43rd International Conference of Eastern Studies. Tokyo: May 22-23.

ABSTRACT

A short summary of the work that will be placed in the front of the disseration or article and is used typically to list the work in a database.

An example of an abstract for a paper entitled: The analysis of writer's think-aloud protocols: Developiung a principled coding scheme for ill-structured tasks by Alain Breuleux from the Laboratory or Applied Cognitive Science. The paper was published in a book Text and Text Processing in 1991.

This paper presents a tactic for encoding think-aloud protocols of writers. This tactici involves well-defined semantic grammars at the level of propositins and frames, and produceds a reliable encoding without over-contraining the task assigned to the subjects. Finally, the tactic leds to teh implementaiton of computer based tools for the automatic or semi-automatic analysis of protocols.

YOUR DOCUMENT'S INTRODUCTION

Introduction to what you are doing - your short introduction (a paragraph) sets the tone for the work and pulls the reader in. I need to know where you are taking me and why I should come. The introduction should point to what are you doing that is novel and original.

  • Begin your own introduction for your research work.

    The following is a form for checking your introduction once it is finished. By keeping the questions and assessment in mind it will help to structure your ideas from the beginning.

    Main Category Assessment Criteria Remarks
    Overall Does the introduction establish the research?  
      Has the contribution to research been clearly laid out?  
      Is there a thesis or problem statement? Can this be tested in the ways outlined?  
      Is the work easy to read and free of spelling and grammatical errors?  
    Nature of Research Is there some indication of where this research fits in the overall field?  
     

    Is the nature of the research explored in a wider-context?

    • Research -based project
    • Development project
    • Evaluation project
    • Industry-based project
    • Problem solving
    		  
     

    Has the research been categorized?

    • Theoretical /Descriptive
    • Exploratory/ Explanatory
    • Causal/ Problem solving
    • Developing/constructing
    		  
    Content

    Is it apparent what content will be covered where in the work?

    		 
      Is the content matter easy to understand? Are definitions and key concepts covered - or at least introduced?  
      Are orthogonal issues stated?  
    Goals Are the goals of the research clear?  
      Do the goals seem realistic? Are the methods by which they will be achieved plain to the reader? Are they of sufficient scope?  
      What methods will be used to carry out the research? Are the methods appropriate for testing the stated hypothesis?  
    Methods used What methods will be used to carry out the research? Are the methods appropriate for testing the stated hypothesis?  
    Evaluation Has the evaluation criteria been stated? Is it possible to achieve the criteria in the time given?  
    Thesis Road map Does the document outline what will come where in the dissertation?  
    Extra info Is there any information that would be better of not included or covered in another section of the work?  
    Limitations Have any limitations of the overall work been discussed?  
 

This page is designed to provide a learning environment for students and lectures of the M.Sc. IT in Education at Trinity College, Dublin. Otherwise, all rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright holder. Such written permission must also be obtained before any part of this work is stored in a retrieval system of any nature.

Contributors of the content of this page include: Bryn Holmes & Damian Gordon so far.

Last updated 11th April 2002. Comments or corrections should be addressed to:  Bryn.Holmes@tcd.ie