100 Activities for Teaching Research Methods

INTRODUCTION SECTION 1: FINDING AND USING SOURCES OF INFORMATION Activity 1: Distinguishing between Primary and Secondary Sources Activity 2: Finding and Using Primary Sources Activity 3: Improving Observation Skills Activity 4: Assessing Prior Experience and Learning Activity 5: Reflecting on Your Enquiry Skills Activity 6: Using the Internet for Background Research Activity 7: Evaluating Sources Activity 8: Recognizing Statistics, Facts, Arguments and Opinions Activity 9: Discovering Questionable Statistics Published Online Activity 10: Managing Critiques and Reviews Activity 11: Critiquing Quantitative Research Papers Activity 12: Critiquing Qualitative Research Papers Activity 13: Evaluating Science in the Media Activity 14: Recognizing Media and Political Bias Activity 15: Recognizing Research(er) Bias SECTION 2: PLANNING A RESEARCH PROJECT Activity 16: Choosing a Research Topic Activity 17: Producing Aims and Objectives Activity 18: Developing a Research Question Activity 19: Designing a Research Project Activity 20: Choosing Research Methods Activity 21: Using Multiple or Mixed Approaches Activity 22: Knowing About Probability Samples Activity 23: Knowing About Non-Probability (Purposive) Samples Activity 24: Choosing Sample Size Activity 25: Avoiding Sampling Problems Activity 26: Justifying Your Research Topic Activity 27: Defending Methodology Activity 28: Costing a Research Project Activity 29: Producing and Justifying Your Budget Activity 30: Producing a Research Proposal Activity 31: Obtaining Funding Activity 32: Working Collaboratively With Others SECTION 3: CONDUCTING RESEARCH Activity 33: Understanding the Process of Science Activity 34: Knowing About Real-World Scientific Research Activity 35: Avoiding Mistakes in Experiments Activity 36: Undertaking Ethnographic Work Activity 37: Conducting Interviews Activity 38: Constructing Questions Activity 39: Producing an Interview Schedule Activity 40: Running a Focus Group Activity 41: Establishing Rapport Activity 42: Listening to Interviewees Activity 43: Understanding Group Dynamics Activity 44: Recording Techniques Activity 45: Using Observation Techniques Activity 46: Using Visual Methods Activity 47: Designing Questionnaires Activity 48: Administering Questionnaires Activity 49: Improving Response Rates Activity 50: Using the Internet as a Tool for Research SECTION 4: USING AND ANALYSING DATA Activity 51: Reading Scientific Material Activity 52: Improving Data Search Techniques Activity 53: Storing and Using Data Activity 54: Making Use of Statistics Activity 55: Choosing Software for Statistical Analysis Activity 56: Finding and Using Datasets Activity 57: Analysing Quantitative Data Activity 58: Operationalizing and Classifying Activity 59: Ensuring Validity and Reliability in Quantitative Research Activity 60: Understanding Data Management Activity 61: Analysing Qualitative Data Activity 62: Analysing Visual Data Activity 63: Coding and Categorizing Qualitative Data Activity 64: Evaluating Qualitative Analyses Activity 65: Drawing Conclusions from Qualitative Data Activity 66: Knowing About Data Protection SECTION 5: DISSEMINATING RESULTS Activity 67: Presenting to a Lay Audience Activity 68: Dealing With the Media Activity 69: Presenting Conference Papers Activity 70: Writing Journal Papers Activity 71: Disseminating via Social Media Activity 72: Publishing Online Activity 73: Writing an Impact Statement Activity 75: Planning and Writing a Dissertation Activity 74: Overcoming Writer's Block SECTION 6: ACTING ETHICALLY Activity 76: Recognizing Ethical Issues Activity 77: Understanding Legal Requirements Activity 78: Avoiding Plagiarism Activity 79: Producing a Code of Ethics Activity 80: Understanding Issues of Informed Consent Activity 81: Treating Participants with Respect Activity 82: Avoiding Conflict of Interest Activity 83: Understanding Biased Financial Relationships Activity 84: Recognizing and Managing the Funding Effect Activity 85: Knowing about the Ethical Approval Process Activity 86: Collaborating and Co-Operating Ethically Activity 87: Conducting Research that Involves Risk Activity 88: Conducting Research with Vulnerable People Activity 89: Conducting Research with Children SECTION 7: DEVELOPING DEEPER RESEARCH SKILLS Activity 90: Knowing About Epistemology and Ontology Activity 91: Asking Epistemological Questions Activity 92: Understanding Methodology Activity 93: Asking Methodological Questions Activity 94: Locating Epistemological and Methodological Standpoint Activity 95: Understanding Theoretical Perspective Activity 96: Reasoning Inductively and Deductively Activity 97: Recognizing Problems with Reasoning Activity 98: Hypothesizing and Theorizing Activity 99: Generating Theory Inductively and Deductively Activity 100: Identifying Effective Theory