Designing and Conducting Practice-Based Research Projects

Dr. Lyle Skains conducts practice-based research in Creative Digital Writing and Science Communication, exploring the processes of writing, reading/playing, publishing digital and transmedia narratives, and how these can be used for health and science communication. She has published a key resource on practice-based research in the Journal of Media Practice and Education.

• List of FiguresList of TablesAcknowledgementsList of Abbreviations Chapter 1. IntroductionWhy this bookWho this book is for How to use this book Key elements of the book Recommended approachPART I: PRACTICE AND KNOWLEDGEChapter 2. Practice-Related Research: What Is It, Who Does It, and Why? A brief history of research Practice-related research: Definitions and approaches Practice-as-research Practice-and-research Practice-led research Practice-based research Practice-based research knowledge Explicit Tacit (or Implicit) Theoretical Dialectical Contextual Conceptual Conclusion Exercise: Brainstorming a project Brainstorming methodsChapter 3. Critical and Contextual Research: Your Artistic Domain and Field Understanding and contextualizing research Special contexts of creative research Evaluating research resources Primary sources Secondary sources Popular sources Reliability checklist Search strategies Decolonizing research Knowing your domain: Annotated bibliographies and literature reviewsAnnotated bibliography Literature review Points to include How to set it out What to avoid Tips & tricks: Taking and organizing research notes Tips & tricks: Reading academic texts with minimal weeping Why bother? What’s the point of SQ3R? S is for scan Q is for question R1 is for readR2 is for reciteR3 is for review Conclusion Exercise: Annotated bibliographyChapter 4. PBR-Relevant Methods Empirical research Social science methods Reflection Auto-ethnomethodology Surveys Interviews and focus groups Qualitative analysis Critical analysis Textual analysis/close readings Media-specific analysis Literary analysis Multimodal analysis Discourse analysis Interdisciplinary approaches Conclusion Exercise: Determining relevant research methods Planned project methodology Optional ethnographic methodologyPART II: DOING YOUR RESEARCH PROJECTChapter 5. Designing Your Research Project An integrated approach to practice-based research Establish the research problem Conduct background research Conduct empirical research Continue contextual research Analyze the creative artefact and research logs Form argument/discussion Write the exegesis Planning your project Formulating your research question Troubleshooting: If you’re still stumped on a research question Determining your research methodology PBR area: Creator/practice/artefact Analysis methods Ethnographic methods Creating a workplan Tips and tricks: Keeping to your workplan Tips and tricks: Creating a task list Writing a research proposal Proposal length Parts of the proposal Tips and tricks: Research proposals Conclusion Exercise: Define your research question Exercise: Outlining your methodology Exercise: Creating a project workplanChapter 6. Conducting your research Collect your data Knowing when to move on from background research Creative practice Troubleshooting: Creative blocks Keeping a research log The role of exploration and serendipity Continuing your contextual research Project management Time management Stage 1: Determining your available time Stage 2: Developing a study strategy Stage 3: Defeating procrastination Document managementResource management Reference resources Resources are people, too Troubleshooting: Managing your supervisory relationship Analysis Tips and tricks: Recognizing research insights Conclusion Exercise: Keeping your research focused Project aims and objectives Aims Objectives Background and rationale Methodology Current state of project Expected outline of project Timetable of work to completion ;Other notesChapter 7. Writing your exegesis Forming your argument Outlining your thesis What a practice-based thesis looks like The abstract The introduction: Six actions Action 1: Subject Action 2: Purpose Action 3: Argument Action 4: Background and context Action 5: Justification and importance Action 6: Forecast the content and structure Additional consideration: Methodology The body Body patterns of arrangement Body paragraphs The conclusion Action 1: Make an obvious transition Action 2: Restate your main argument/thesis Action 3: Summarize your key points/sub-arguments Action 4: Restress the importance/significance of your argumentAction 5: Look to the future Back matter Writing the exegesis Integrating analysis into your thesis discussion Description vs. analysis Support for analysis Writing effectively Including research and quotations When to reference Integrating in-text citations How to paraphrase properly Conclusion Exercise: Outline your exegesisChapter 8. ConclusionBibliographyAppendices: Resources A. Useful research tools Notetaking Word processor/composing programsReference managersProject management appsTime management appsFocus appsB. Glossary C. Further ReadingIndex