Bestselling author Stella Cottrell taps into her tried and tested formula for learning and brings students the essential guide to producing top-quality dissertations and project reports. The book breaks down this process into manageable chunks and covers everything from preparation and planning through to conducting research and writing up the finished article. Packed with dozens of hands-on activities and quotes from real students, this book demystifies dissertations and project reports and helps ensure that the process is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. The second edition has been updated to provide guidance on working effectively with AI tools as part of the research process. It also features additional material on delivering presentations and preparing for an oral exam. Recognising that the process of completing a research project can be stressful, the second edition contains a brand new chapter on self-care and managing wellbeing. This is an invaluable resource for students of all levels embarking on a dissertation, project report or other piece of extended writing. Its interdisciplinary approach means it is the ideal companion for students, regardless of the subject they are studying.

Autorentext
Stella Cottrell was formerly Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leeds, UK, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the University of East London, UK.

Inhalt

Introduction

Part 1. Preparation and planning
1.'Where do I start?'
2.What skills will I need?
3.What makes a good dissertation or research project?
4.Project manage your dissertation
5.Managing yourself for the task
6.Self-care: managing wellbeing and stress
7.Using time effectively
8.Working with your supervisor

Part 2. Developing your proposal
9.Understanding the assignment brief
10.Ethical considerations
11.Using AI tools for research assignments
12.Choosing your topic and title
13.Literature search and review
14.Principles of good research
15.Methodological approaches
16.Writing your research proposal

Part 3. Conducting your research
17.The evidence base
18.Working with participants
19.Experiments
20.Observations
21.Surveys and questions
22.Interviews
23.Case studies
24.Interpreting your findings

Part 4. Writing up and presenting your findings
25.Your writing strategy
26.Getting the structure right
27.Fine-tuning your writing
28.Making a presentation
29.Preparing for an oral exam