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- lockdown writing routines – a.k.a a cheer for the humble pear
- use a structured abstract to help write and revise
- meeting your readers’ expectations – a revision strategy
- a first draft in five minutes a day?
- writing for publication – finding an angle and an argument
- reading groups/journal clubs are a good idea
- help your inner ‘Creator’ and ‘Editor’ get along
- writing argument – it’s not (always) a contest
- academic writing choices – learning from blogging
- revise – by connecting academic reading with academic writing
- 2020 reflection – on book writing during the pandemic
- working up a first draft: a twelve step strategy
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Top Posts & Pages
- aims and objectives - what's the difference?
- I'm writing a journal article - what literatures do I choose?
- writing a bio-note
- concluding the journal article
- I can't find anything written on my topic... really?
- the literature review - how old are the sources?
- why is writing a literature review such hard work? part one
- a first draft in five minutes a day?
- blank and blind spots in empirical research
- connecting chapters/chapter introductions
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Category Archives: research question
theory fright – part two
Theory is explanation. Last post I suggested that this understanding might help to reduce fear of theory. This week, another piece in the fright reduction puzzle. Something else that might help reduce fear of theory is the understanding that not every … Continue reading
bad research questions
Writing a research question is hard. And it takes time. Often much more time that you might think. The research question is really important as it underpins your research design. And your design allows you to find an answer or … Continue reading
Posted in academic writing, research design, research question
Tagged bad research questions, Pat Thomson, research question
5 Comments
PhD stuck points
There are some points in the PhD process where the going gets pretty tough. Stuck points, where it’s hard work. Where it’s difficult to move on. Now don’t get me wrong. These points don’t cause grief to everyone. I’m not … Continue reading
refining your research topic – starting the phd
Where do research topics come from? The research topic you have at the start of your PhD may come from work you did in your Masters. It may come from a professional or policy context, perhaps your own professional work … Continue reading
#readingforwriting: being specific in qualitative research
Every now and then patter offers a close-up of research writing. This near-sighted exercise is intended to illustrate how ‘reading for the writing’ can be helpful. This particular ‘reading for writing’ post looks at writing qualitative methods in a journal … Continue reading
starting the PhD – don’t panic
I was sitting in my office the other day talking with a beginning PhDer. A nearly-finished doctor popped her head around the door. I asked her what advice she would give someone just starting out on their doctorate, and her … Continue reading
Posted in data, doctoral research, literature review, panic, questions, research question, thesis
Tagged data analysis, literature review, Pat Thomson, PhD, research question, thesis text
12 Comments
thinking about research questions
I’ve been asked a few times to post about research questions. My response up to now has been that there is already a lot out there on the topic and I’m not sure what I could add. But of course … Continue reading
Posted in research, research design, research question
Tagged Bruce Ballenger, Pat Thomson, research questions
5 Comments
a different approach to research questions: a useful holiday read
We don’t talk enough about research questions. Well, that’s according to the authors of a book I’ve just read. They are Mats Alvesson and Jorgen Sandberg, and the book is Constructing research questions: Doing interesting research (Sage 2013). Alvesson and … Continue reading
getting research questions wrong – then right
It’s the time of year when beginning doctoral researchers start to think about formulating their research proposals. In addition to reading a lot – to locate their study and find useful ideas and approaches – they also have to come … Continue reading
Posted in Paul Trowler, PhD, research question
Tagged Pat Thomson, Paul Trowler, PhD, research questions
10 Comments
