How to write a

research project
 What is the purpose of this Contents
booklet? Making your research S.M.A.R.T. 4
Research allows you to discover new ideas How to start your research project 5
and expand your understanding of different
Key issues in project management 8
subject areas. It will form an essential part of
your education, especially as you advance Key issues in time management 11
through university. If you’ve never done any
research work, being asked to complete a Potential pitfalls in research projects and 14
research project for the first time might seem how to avoid them
fairly intimidating. It doesn’t need to be, Resources 18
though, and this study guide is designed to
make sure that it isn’t.

This booklet is a guide to some of the most

important aspects of research projects.
Whether the project is as small as a research
paper or as big as your final dissertation (or
bigger!), the techniques covered here will give
you the background you need. The examples
covered are not exhaustive, but there should be
plenty of material to get you off to a good start.
Even if you’ve never done any research work
before, if you follow the steps we describe,
you’ll be able to make a good job of your
project, and hand it in on time.

The structure of the booklet is designed to

follow the path that you might take through a
research project: it starts with a description of
a successful research project, then moves on
to suggest methods for getting started before
getting into finer detail on how to organise
your time and find your resources.

2
Along with writing, research is one of the most
important skills you will need to develop. How
good you become at it will determine how
successful you are in your studies. Every research
project you do will be different, but they will also
share some essential common elements. Those
elements are laid out for you in this booklet –
everything from getting started to ensuring you
can get it done. If you follow the suggestions on
the following pages your next research project will
be more successful and easier to manage.

3
Making your research The second reason is because it makes it much
easier for people to engage with the project.
S.M.A.R.T. Remember, you have to be able to explain to
people what your project is, and how your
Before looking at the small print of doing a research is relevant to it. If you’re not sure
research project, it’s worth taking a moment to yourself, there’s no chance you’ll be able to
try to get a picture of what the ideal research explain it adequately to anyone else.
project looks like. The best word to describe it
is S.M.A.R.T. It stands for Specific, Measurable,
Advantageous, Realistic, Time-framed. M easurable is how you keep track of how
the project is coming along. It’s useful to
establish a calendar and milestones for a
These themes will come up over and over again research project. Not only do milestones give
in different forms throughout this booklet. If you goals to work toward, they give you
they seem like very straightforward concepts, something to chart your progress against. If you
it’s because they are – but don’t fall into the set them out on a calendar, you’ll actually be
trap of overlooking or dismissing them. It’s able to see how you’re getting on. This will also
difficult to over-estimate just how important help keep you motivated by reminding you of
they are when it comes to research work. how much progress you’ve made to date.

S pecific refers to many things, but for our

immediate purposes, it’s most relevant to
your research question or topic. Be specific
A dvantageous is what the project ought to
be, to you especially. Your project should
offer you a positive outcome, and ideally, that
about what you’re setting out to do, about your should be more than just the mark you hope to
topic, and about what you hope to achieve – receive for it. So what might make it
and try to do this in the earliest possible stages advantageous? You may have an interest in the
of the project. topic; you might not know much about the topic,
but want to learn more; or you might see the
There are two reasons why this is helpful. The possibility of the project leading to something
first is because it will make managing and interesting, like a job, entrance to another
completing the project much easier. An analogy course of study, or a diploma, for example.
with shopping can help illustrate what this There are many potential advantages that you
means. Imagine you’re about to go to the store might identify, not just good grades, and it’s
to buy some food. What do you emerge with? worth doing so – that’ll help reaching the
Some food, of course, but that could be almost eventual goal of completing the project more
anything – it’s far from specific. Now imagine attractive.
you go to the supermarket to buy bread and
cheese. You go in, you know exactly what you
want to get, you buy it, and you leave. Easy. This
is how specific you should aim to be in framing
R ealistic. Ask yourself some questions to
determine how realistic your goal is: is it
possible for you to complete this project to a
your research project. Try to set out exactly reasonable standard in the time you have? Are
what you’re doing, then do it. It’s much easier there enough resources? Does the project
than trying to figure what you’re doing half-way require you to have any special skills to
through the project. complete it– and do you have them? If the
answer to any of these questions is no, then

4
your project may need to be reframed. It’s How to start your research
important to ask these questions early on,
before any complications arise, otherwise you project
can get caught out. That doesn’t mean your
project shouldn’t be ambitious; it just means No matter how S.M.A.R.T. your goals, your
that you should keep it in perspective. Your project won’t be any good if you can’t get
tutor will be able to help you with this. started. Research projects can be intimidating,
especially if it’s your first one. That said, even
seasoned professionals rely on the occasional
T ime-framed means you can complete the
project in the time allocated. If you have
one week to get it done, you should schedule
trick to get the ball rolling.

your activities and aim to complete it within that Getting started can be the most challenging
week. Likewise for any other length of time you part for many people, but it doesn’t need to be.
care to name. Time-framed refers to more than In fact, it ought to be the easiest. The trick is to
just time management, though. Like ‘Realistic’, be conscious of the things you need to do. If
it’s meant to suggest taking a pragmatic you are, you can make yourself a checklist, and
approach to your research project. Don’t try to simply go through it.
do a month’s work in a week: frame your
project so that it fits the time you have. And So what do you need to take into account?
remember, the more work you hope to do, the Briefly put, these are the things you should
more time you’ll need. Keep this in mind when have on your checklist: 1) Have an idea, 2) turn
you’re planning your project. that idea into a question, and anticipate new
questions, 3) identify resources, 4) establish
what has already been done (literature review),
5) brainstorm around focused topic, 6) organise
ideas, 7) write outline, 8) start filling in the
blanks!

Choosing a topic that That’s all well and good to say, but let’s take a
moment to explore it in a little more detail.
I was interested in was the
catalyst to my research! It 1. Have an idea. This is the most important
step, though it need not be an intimidating
immediately led to other ideas prospect. It’s even possible that your topic
and as it was a subject I was has been assigned to you, in which case you
can proceed directly to #3. If you’re choosing
passionate about, I was even your own topic, though, how do you start?
able to visualise how my Well, what, related to your studies, are you
interested in? That’s the prefect place to
finished project may look. start. Now it may be the case that the thing
you’re interested in is too big for your project,
but if you talk to your tutor, they’ll probably be
able to help you narrow it down.

5
2. Turn the idea into a question. Again, this is 6. Organise ideas. Once you’ve got all of those
easier than it might sound. Ideas can be very ideas down, collect all the similar bits of
big – so big that they’re difficult to information together under up to 5 headings.
communicate. One way to help you get You can subdivide them later, if necessary.
around this is to set out to answer a specific These headings will help you when you come
question. This allows you to talk about your to thinking about writing-up your project. If
idea in a focused way that’s easier to follow. you can start with similar things in one place,
For example, your idea might be that because it’ll be much easier to make your argument,
we have the technology, all new houses and much easier for your audience to
should be environmentally responsible. What understand it.
you want to do is to convince other people
that this is the case. So, you might frame your 7. Write your outline. You’re almost ready. Now
idea as a question like this: if we have the that you’ve grouped all the information, you’re
technology to make all new houses ready to give it some structure. Put
responsible, why don’t we? everything together in a clear and easy to
follow order. You might want to do this
3. Identify resources. Now you’re getting into it. chronologically, or geographically, or by
Where are you going to find the information themes – just keep in mind that whatever
to answer this question? This could be the method you choose, it should be obvious to
library, the internet (careful, though, there’s a your eventual reader how it all fits together.
lot of nonsense out there – see page 18!),
books you have at home, and even your own 8. Start filling in the blanks. There’s nothing left
experiments and discoveries. to do now but get started!

4. Establish what’s already been done. You’ve

done some looking around now. This is called
the literature review. Has anyone else looked
at this question or similar questions? What
did they find? Does it support your ideas, or When choosing my own
does it contradict them? You need to record
this information to include in your research topic and question, broader
project, and you need to write down where and more diverse research is
you found it – you’ll probably want to go back
and consult it again, and you’ll certainly have
essential. The hardest thing is
to put it in your bibliography. not to get too fixated on one
5. Brainstorm. Now it’s time to get a better
aspect, as wider research may
picture of your project. Take 10 or 15 reveal more interesting
minutes to write down all the bits of
information you’ve collected. Don’t worry
information.
about putting them in any particular order, or
how important you think they are, just get
them down.

6
Essex students say... Alex – Law
Getting started with a long research project is
Caren – Philosophy and Art History almost like standing at the bank of a wide river
Choosing a topic that I was interested in was of information. I have to get to the other side to
the catalyst to my research! It immediately led finish my assignment. Having stepping stones
to other ideas and as it was a subject I was really helps me get started. These stepping
passionate about, I was even able to visualise stones are key words which relate to my
how my finished project may look. Identifying assignment. When reading the essay question
resources was a little daunting as they were or case, most of the time I can form at least
limited. This took longer than I thought, but some idea of how I would like my answer after
was worth it. Framing my idea as a question I have thought about those key words. In the
worked particularly well for me. I wrote a list of past, I tended not to use online sources in my
questions, all based on the same idea, coursework essays. Google searches rarely did
narrowed it down to the one I felt was most more than scratch the surface, but many
suitable and referred back to it which kept me libraries now have an excellent selection of
focused. My interest in the subject meant I reliable online journals. I prefer to have a first
already had a little background knowledge draft ready as quickly as possible and then
which gave me a starting block to build on. As I improve it gradually by chipping away at it.
was writing the list, I came up with more ideas
and a plan began to develop. Ruxandra – Psychology
If you know what your goal is everything is
much easier. In most cases, the general topic
Emma – Sociology
was given to me by a lecturer who then helped
The first step I usually take, once I have a topic,
me to focus it with my own ideas. I would start
is to carry out an initial topic search on the
with my literature review and after getting my
library database. This provides me with an
lecturer’s advice on a list of books and articles
initial understanding of the material that is
I continued by consulting the library. If you find
available on the topic. Following this, I like to
anything similar to what you want to do but the
take myself off to the library and spend some
hypothesis is different, you needn’t worry. In
time browsing the shelves, sifting through
the words of one of my lecturers: you can
books and seeing what I can find. When
always contradict someone else’s findings,
choosing my own topic and question, broader provided that you have the proof. That’s what
and more diverse research is essential. The makes research fun!
hardest thing is not to get too fixated on one
aspect, as wider research may reveal more
interesting information. Creating a
comprehensive plan is essential to writing a
concise piece of work. If I have fully completed
my research then the planning is usually
straightforward (with a little bit of time, effort
and thought). However, if I’m struggling it is
usually a clear indication that I need to return
to the books.

7
Key issues in project determine what needs to happen right away,
and what can wait for a later stage in the
management project. Do you need to travel anywhere? Are
any of your resources only available at
When you’re thinking about managing the specific times? When you define your
research project you’ll probably find that some activities, these things will become apparent
of the things you’re going to be doing are to you, and you’ll be in a position to plan for
similar to things you were doing when you them accordingly.
were starting your project. The five key aspects
of managing a research project are: 1) Clarify 3. Identify milestones. Despite the name,
aims, 2) define activities, 3) identify milestones, ‘research project’, which sounds like it’s just
4) establish/define priorities, 5) monitor and one thing, research projects are made up of a
evaluate your plan and progress. variety of parts and stages: they’re very rarely
seamless jobs that run from start-to-finish.
1. Clarify aims. What is it that you hope to It’s these different stages that we think about
accomplish with your research project? This is when we talk about milestones.
not meant to be a stupid question – far from
it. Many people start projects without ever But how do you go about identifying what
thinking seriously about what they hope the your milestones are going to be? Well, it’s
end result will be – they just begin reading easier than it might at first appear to be. After
and writing, hoping that magically a brilliant defining the different activities that need to
project will emerge. We don’t recommend this! take place, it might even become obvious
If you’re able to determine specifically what what your milestones are. Perhaps your first
you would like your end result to be early on milestone is gathering your resources; your
in the project, it will make it much easier to second might be to familiarise yourself with
get it finished. That doesn’t necessarily mean all of them and make notes; your third might
that you have to know exactly what you’re be to draft an outline; fourth, write section
doing from the very beginning. Few people do one, and so on.
– that’s the nature of research and discovery.
If you follow the steps laid out above to get Those are all fairly large milestones so it’s
started, though, you’ll probably have a probably sensible to subdivide them a bit –
reasonably clear picture. perhaps even down to a daily level. That
might seem like micromanaging, but what it
2. Define activities. What do you have to do to allows you to do is to give yourself a sense
make sure this project gets finished? What that the project is always moving forward.
needs to happen? Remember the ‘Getting Take the milestone of familiarising yourself
Started’ list above. You might need to do with your research material from the example
some more brainstorming here: write down above: let’s say you have 15 books and
everything from writing-up, to locations of articles to get through. That can be a fairly
research material, and how to get to them. intimidating pile of work, and by extension,
Why is it important to do this? Simply seem a practically unachievable milestone to
because it will allow you to get an idea of reach. So break it down into more
what you need to do in order to make your manageable milestones: 3 books/articles per
project successful. It will also help you week, let’s say. Then it doesn’t seem to be an

8
 impossibly large task and you get a feeling of plan, and then ask yourself whether or not
satisfaction at the end of every week – and you’re there. Perhaps you’ve been really
on a large research project, that really helps! enthusiastic about your project and now
you’re ahead of schedule. That’s great – but
4. Establish and define priorities. What has to don’t use that as an excuse to take too much
happen first, and what can wait until the end? time off the project. It can be difficult to build
Are any of your source materials difficult to that momentum back up again.
get a hold of? If so, perhaps chasing those up
first should be amongst your highest Or maybe you’re behind schedule. If you’re
priorities. Then what? Well, the best way is go disciplined about monitoring your plan, this
milestone by milestone looking at the may not be a big deal. You can just jiggle an
activities you’ve identified. Make a upcoming stage to make sure you get it done
chronological list of when things need to a little quicker, and thereby get yourself back
happen to allow you to move on to the next on track. It may be the case, however, that
stage, then start at the beginning. your original plan was too ambitious. If you’re
good about monitoring your plan from the
Some people think about priorities in these very beginning this will become clear fairly
terms: things you need to do now, things you quickly. At the beginning of the project it’s
will need to do, and things you’d like to do. As fairly easy to reformulate the plan to make
you might expect, that’s the order you want to sure you can still bring the project in on time.
do them in. The things you need to do now are You don’t want to find out that your plan was
urgent. They need to be completed right away too ambitious near your deadline, though.
before you can move on, so once you’ve That could be disastrous.
identified them, they are the place you’ll need
to start. The things you will need to do come
next. These are the things that will become
urgent, but aren’t yet. Do these second. The
things you’d like to do are like rewards. If you
want to make sure you complete your Research needs to be
research project on time, make sure you don’t
let these become your highest priority. See the active – this is how I keep it
time management section for more tips like interesting and exciting.
this.
I always consider why I’m
5. Monitor and evaluate your plan and reading each book and if
progress. Your plan is simply what we’ve
discussed above, but it’s not enough to have
it’s helpful or relevant: if it
one – you need to stick to it. The best plan in isn’t, then I put it down and
the world won’t do you any good if you don’t
try to keep to it and reach the various
move on.
milestones set out in it.

It’s easy enough to monitor a plan: just look

at where you said you were going to be in the

9
Essex students say... Alex – Law and Management
I found defining priorities during my
Caren – Humanities and Comparative Studies assignments to be the most important element
I found defining activities an excellent of managing my workflow. I tend to start
technique for getting a realistic overview of how collecting my resources at a very early stage,
to manage my research. I began by drawing a because my classes are quite big and there are
timetable with information such as where my many people studying the same thing as me. I
research was located and when it was either start with my primary sources, which I usually
open or when I could get there. There were also need to read and reread primary sources until
times allocated to ‘outside research’ which were I’ve assimilated all relevant information. I also
things like questionnaires or visiting museums organise secondary sources as soon as I know
and galleries. That gave my research a structure my research topic because there may not be
and a sense of satisfaction when I crossed off many copies available in the library. The same
each milestone. When setting out my research will also be applicable for my dissertation next
schedule, instead of allowing one day, I would year. Although as this time I am going to
allocate two or three. This was a great stress- answer a question I have set myself, I expect to
buster if life got busy. It meant I could carry on do research beyond the University’s library to
meeting my goals by juggling my timetable for lead the project to successful completion.
that week.
Ruxandra – Science and Engineering
Emma – Social Sciences When it comes to project management, I always
Research needs to be active – this is how I have in mind three main aspects: time,
keep it interesting and exciting. I always resources, and people who may be involved in
consider why I’m reading each book and if it’s my research. Out of these, time is the most
helpful or relevant: if it isn’t, then I put it down important one for me. A good, scientific piece
and move on. Each book or article should give of research must have plenty of time allocated
me greater knowledge of the topic, a further to it. Just a week of work would probably not
argument or a new opinion. If I find that if this is boost the quality of your project. Resources are
not happening, then I know it is time to ask for an important thing to consider while doing your
help. Milestones are very important, as is setting research. The vast amount of resources that
deadlines for them. This helps me ensure that I you need may pose some problems. One
have allowed enough time to complete the solution is to break it down to smaller
research and to go back and fill in any gaps if categories and to handle one at a time. If you
necessary. I always allow myself more time than know you need the help of a certain tutor, you
I think I need – this provides back-up time if must plan ahead to meet him or her and
necessary or relaxation time if I finish early. maintain an active relationship with him. Don’t
forget to always keep an eye on your initial plan
to keep you on the right track.

10
Key issues in time management colour when you should be revising for an exam?
If you answered yes to either of these questions,
(self management) you probably know what’s coming next: It doesn’t
matter if you complete 5 non-urgent tasks if the
We all have deadlines to work to, so we all most urgent task doesn’t get done.
have to think about time management regularly
throughout the course of our lives. As a result, So how can you avoid this? The key to
consciously or unconsciously, we all have some successful time management is planning and
sort of system in place. That is to say, whether then protecting the planned time. A list of daily
or not you are aware of it, you already have a tasks will focus your mind on important
method for managing your time. Chances are objectives. One especially good way to do this is
though, if you don’t know what it is, there’s with the A, B, Cs of time management:
room to tweak it so you can get more time out
of the day. 1. At the same time everyday write a to-do-list.
First-thing-in-the-morning or last-thing-at-
If you’re not sure whether you manage your time night are popular times to do this, but it is
well, there’s an easy way to check. This can be worthwhile experimenting to find the best time
done when you’re undertaking a new project, or for you. Keep your current goals in mind when
just to get a sense of how well you use your compiling your list.
time in your day-to-day life. Ask yourself the
following simple questions: 2. Prioritise the list using the following method:

i. How well does the way that you allocate your n A Priority – it supports a
time align with your current goals? personal/professional goal, is urgent and
ii. What changes might you make to improve important, has direct affect on
that alignment? colleagues/family/friends and if not
iii. What changes are you actually prepared to completed today will have serious
make? consequences: an essay due in tomorrow
iv. What obstacles might prevent you from would be a good example.
making those changes?
v. How can you overcome each of those n B Priority – is important but does not have
obstacles? the same urgency as a type-A Priority.
Type-B priorities generally become type-A
It’s as simple as that. Many people find that once priorities with time. For example, doing
they ask these questions and make themselves research in the library for an essay due in
conscious of how they spend their time, they 3-weeks (type-B now, but over time it will
immediately find ways to use it more effectively. become a type-A priority).

It can, however, seem impossible sometimes. n C Priority – is not important but would be
Have you ever been in the situation where you nice to do. Again, this priority could change
have so much to do that you don’t know where to with time. Type-C list priorities should only
start, so you start on the non-urgent tasks be started once the A and Bs have been
because they seem smaller and easier to completed. Cleaning your room, for
accomplish? Or, have you ever found yourself example, is a type-C priority at exam time.
cleaning your room or arranging your clothes by

11
3. Once you have prioritised your to-do-list give Exercise:
each task a number: A1, A2, B3, etc. Make
sure you complete the list in this order (do
the As first, Bs second and Cs last). The only Calibrate your internal clock
exception to this rule is your natural rhythm Close your eyes and start a stopwatch (use
your watch or your phone). Open your eyes
of productivity, if you know you are not at
when you think a minute has elapsed. Don’t
your most alert after lunch complete a quick
count in your head: the exercise is about your
C then.
“internal clock” – your subconscious sense of
time. Check the watch when you open your
4. When planning your day try not to be over
eyes and make a note of the time.
ambitious. Many tasks will take longer to
complete than you anticipate, so it is a good
Have you underestimated the amount of time
idea to try to plan for unexpected tasks
in a minute (0-59 seconds) or overestimated
should they arise.
(61 seconds +)? This can tell you a lot about
yourself. Extend your conception of time over
5. If a type-‘C’ priority remains on your to-do-list a whole hour, a day, or even a term. Imagine all
for more than 2-3 months delete it. It can’t be those extra minutes you have, or the time you
that important. think you have but don’t. Does your internal
clock tell you anything about the way you like
6. Try to work on one task at a time where to work, how punctual you are, or your attitude
possible. This will ensure you are focused on to deadlines? If you overestimated, do you
the task in hand. have a tendency to be too relaxed about
deadlines? If you underestimated, do you
7. Don’t procrastinate. The priority task might often panic (perhaps unnecessarily) about
seem daunting but getting started is often deadlines and work?
the biggest hurdle (see the section on
getting started on page 5).

12
Essex students say... Alex – Law and Management
Good time management is essential for me.
Caren – Humanities and Comparative Studies From the outset I know that I will first write an
I discovered (the hard way) how to manage my initial draft. Then I will chip away at the essay
time. I knew that my research project was once that draft has been finished. At the
going to be produced over a longer period of beginning of my first year I took a time
time than an essay so I had to ensure the time management course where I was shown a
scale did not make me complacent. I had made technique to chart my tasks in four boxes: each
a plan, and I had to make sure that each box represented a different degree of urgency.
research task listed for a particular day or Box 1 contains the most urgent tasks, Box 2
week was completed. I learned very quickly those with the next lowest degree of urgency
that if I decided to get the housework and and so on. For me this is a great way of staying
shopping done first, and then stop for lunch, I focused and prevents me from procrastinating.
had lost a day from my schedule. The With this technique I can sort according to
housework did not have a deadline attached to urgency what would originally have been a
it, so it became low priority. The ironing may long list of different tasks.
not have been done, but my research met my
personal deadlines! Thinking about doing a
difficult task was always worse than actually Ruxandra – Science and Engineering
doing it. The first thing that needs to be done for
efficient time management is to create a
Emma – Social Sciences system that works for YOU, not necessarily for
I am a big fan of writing lists - partly due to the everyone else. I like to write a to-do list for the
satisfaction of crossing things off them. I find following days and stick it on post-its all
that writing down tasks is a good way to focus around so that I can constantly be reminded of
my mind on what needs to be done, and to what needs doing. We’ve all been in the
organise the tasks by priority. However, as long situation when we are aware that we must
as it is not a life-or-death situation, or that a hand in a certain paper tomorrow, however we
deadline is missed, I believe that completing find ourselves checking email, Facebook,
my list out of order is really not the end of the Google-ing all sorts of things that have no
world. Similarly, if I know the tasks and connection whatsoever with what we’re really
deadlines and the level of priority for each, supposed to be doing. So I set priorities and do
then taking a day off to enjoy myself is, a) not not allow myself to jump to the next priority
a bad thing, and b) could potentially be until the previous one is done.
beneficial to mind, body and soul, helping me
to produce better work in the end. However,
the ability to take days off relies upon the fact
that I am organised in the first place and that
my ‘relax-time’ is controlled – if the essay is
due tomorrow and is not written then it is
probably not the best time to be watching TV!

13
Potential pitfalls in research you’re biting off more than you can chew - and,
if you are, they can probably help you narrow it
projects and how to avoid down to a manageable size.
them
Pitfall: Unreliable webpages. The internet is a
This will probably come as no surprise, but fantastic resource – but anyone can put
when working on a research project there are anything on it. Make sure you choose sources
many potential pitfalls. But what are they, and that are reliable. They should be peer-reviewed.
how can you go about avoiding them? Some Make sure you evaluate the source of the
of them will be things you’d expect, but others information, (ie journal, scholarly website, etc.)
you might not have thought of. Let’s take a as well as the authors credentials. Is the
closer look. information fact, opinion or propaganda? You
will need to be able to tell the difference.
Potential pitfalls and solutions Solution: The trick to using the internet for
Pitfall: Lack of planning. It takes time to find research is to know where the information
and collect the research materials you need. If comes from. Did you know that Wikipedia might
you’re using books, some may be checked-out, not be considered a scholarly source when it
and others may not be available on the shelves comes to your assignments? Lots of people
of your library – maybe you have to travel to get begin and end their searches with it, but you
the information you need. You’ll need to allow need to do better than that for your coursework.
time to make sure you’re able to get your hands What about other sources? Does the author
on them. you want to cite have respectable academic
Solution: This book has been designed with the credentials? Does the information appear in the
express purpose of helping you avoid this pitfall. pages of a peer-reviewed journal? Did you
In the end, whether you plan your project, and access the website through the library
how you choose to do it, is up to you. If you’re database? All of these things can help you
reading this now, there’s a fairly good chance establish how reliable or unreliable your chosen
you’re off to a good start. Hopefully some of the source is. If you have any doubt, it’s probably
hints and tips contained in here will be useful to better not to use the information, or at least to
you. see if you can find a source for it that you know
is reliable.
Pitfall: Lack of focus. Research projects that
are too broad can be difficult to research and Pitfall: No resources. There is no information for
write. You’ll need to make sure your project is you to support your research project. No other
not too ambitious for the amount of time you’re work has been done in the area, or perhaps it’s
given. all in a language you don’t understand. This can
Solution: But how do you know, at the be the unfortunate end of even very promising
beginning of the project, whether it is projects.
manageable or not? If you’ve never undertaken Solution: This pitfall is best avoided by careful
research before, you might feel a bit lost. planning. If you look around at the beginning of
Perhaps the easiest way to focus your project is your project you should be able to determine
to talk to your tutor, or someone who is just how much information is available to you. It
knowledgeable about research projects, about may be the case that you can’t find anything at
it. They’ll be able to tell you whether or not all in this initial search. Depending on how long

14
you have for your project, you may want to think rewards for meeting them: these might be very
about choosing something else. Alternatively, small to start – like working solidly for 1 hour
you could ask your tutor for advice. Maybe they without checking your email; your reward might
know of resources in a place you haven’t be 5 minutes catching up on all the latest news.
thought to look. This method has the potential to increase your
motivation in two ways: first, you have a reward
Pitfall: Too little time. Research projects have to look forward to; second, you have the sense
many facets to them, each of which requires of satisfaction that comes with getting your
time. Very often, they require more time than the work done and dusted. It may not sound like
researcher might think. Plan your project much now, but once you get down to it, you’ll
carefully, and don’t leave it to the last minute. find that satisfaction is worth quite a lot!
Solution: As you will have seen in the section on
time management, you probably have more time Pitfall: Too ambitious. Know when to draw the
available to you every day than you may have line. This is a research project – it’s not likely to
thought. The trick with research projects is to be the culmination of your life’s work. It’s not
take advantage of it. Start early, and work at it necessarily appropriate or beneficial to try to
regularly – if you do, you’ll probably find you include every piece of information you find. Just
actually have more time than you need. If, stick to what’s most relevant and best supports
however, you are already a master of managing your argument.
your time and you’re still finding that the project Solution: As enthusiastic as you may be about
is taking longer than you have, there are your topic, you want to keep in mind that it is
solutions. It’s possible that you set out to do too only a project and doesn’t need to cover every
much, so one solution is to re-evaluate how aspect of everything ever related to your topic.
much it is possible to achieve given the amount It’s much better to try to cover the most
of time you have: you may have to reduce the important things well, rather than trying to
scale of your project a bit. If this is what you spread yourself too thinly over everything. It’s
think you need to do, you’ll need to talk to your also much easier to get finished in the allocated
tutor to make sure it’s ok. amount of time if you keep in mind that your
tutor is not expecting the ultimate, definitive
Pitfall: Lack of motivation. Even if you leave book on the subject to emerge from your
your-self enough time, research projects can project.
suffer if you lose motivation. It can be difficult to
focus on a single project for a long time – you’ll Pitfall: Too much information. If there is a lot of
need to make sure you can sustain your information available on your project topic, there
motivation. can be a tendency to get overwhelmed by the
Solution: You’ve probably experienced this in amount of it. You’ll need to stay focused if this
other areas of life, and it’s not different in happens and not get distracted by information
research projects: you just don’t feel like doing it. that’s not directly related.
How do you usually get around this? Perhaps a Solution: Many potential research areas have
similar strategy might work for you in this had a great deal of work done on them. What if
situation. Or perhaps you want to try something yours is one of them? Well, to begin, don’t panic:
new: if that’s the case, there a couple of things you don’t necessarily need to read everything
you might try. You could, for example, set ever written about a subject for your project to
yourself small deadlines and give yourself be successful. It’s most likely to be the case that

15
once you’ve focused your ideas, some of the translate through your research into the final
information you find, though related, is not product. This is easy enough to avoid, though.
directly relevant to your project. Keep your idea The obvious way is to choose a topic that you’re
focused in your head and allow it to be your interested in. If that’s not possible – perhaps
guide as you sift through the mountains of your topic is assigned to you – then try to find
information. For example, if your focus is something in that topic that’s interesting: can it
consumer culture in modern British villages, be related (reasonably) to something that you
then you can probably shelve that book on are interested in? It’s also possible that once
consumer culture in ancient Greece. Be you start doing some research on your topic,
selective – you can always read the rest of the you will find it interesting, so don’t discount it
stuff when this project’s finished. too quickly. If however, despite every effort, you
are still bored of it, all hope is not lost: try
Pitfall: Intellectual distractions. Inevitably when looking for your topic in your everyday life.
doing research, you will find new and exciting Sometimes all a topic needs to ‘bring it to life’
ideas to pursue. That’s a good thing, but it can is, well, to bring it to your life!
be detrimental to your project if you give these
other avenues of inquiry too much attention and Pitfall: Not original. Not every research project
ignore the task at hand. has to redefine the discipline, but you should try
Solution: This can often be the result of having to take an original approach in your project.
too much information available to you. There’s That doesn’t mean that you can’t rely on work
little doubt that it’s all interesting, but do you that others have done, but if all your information
need to read it now? One of the greatest comes from a single source, what reason is
challenges for anyone involved in research there not to read the original rather than yours?
projects can be remaining focused on the Solution: It’s very often the case that simply
project at hand. When you’re really involved in starting a project from your own idea is enough
your project, it’s normal to want to explore all to make it sufficiently original. No matter what
the interesting questions that come up while else has been done, you’ll bring your own
you’re doing research. And there’s nothing to thoughts and voice to your project, and you’ll
say that you can’t, but make sure you protect certainly be looking at several sources. If you’re
the time you’ve given over to your research not starting from your own idea (if the topic was
project. This has to be your priority; pursuing assigned, for example) the process of devising
the other interesting ideas has to wait. Maybe your own structure, doing the research and
that could be your reward for a productive day’s assembling it around the topic will probably do
work? the trick. Be careful that you don’t copy from
other authors when you do this, though: that’s
Pitfall: Boring. Don’t pick a topic that doesn’t plagiarism. Not only is plagiarised work not
interest you. Try to find something you can original, it is an academic – and criminal –
really engage with. If your topic is one that offence to copy other people’s work and claim
you’re not enthusiastic about, then it’ll be that it as your own. Check out our Referencing Skills
much harder to do a good job on it… or to get booklet for more information on how to avoid
it done on time. plagiarism.
Solution: If you don’t find your project
interesting, it’s unlikely anyone else will, either.
That’s because your lack of enthusiasm will

16
Essex students say... Alex – Law and Management
The lack of the right resources was a pitfall
Caren – Humanities and Comparative Studies when writing my coursework. I sometimes find
Not living on campus meant I had to travel to that I cannot retrieve a source which exactly
any research material required for my projects. supports what I would like to say. A certain book
I started my research straight-away rather than might seem to be exactly what I need, but
wasting any time, which later proved to be the where one author may concentrate a great deal
right thing to do. About half way in, I ended up on one thing, another might mention it only
with piles of books and printouts. At this point briefly. As I am living off campus I often cannot
I stopped and made a shortlist of what I really simply return to the library. As a result, I now
needed. The technique I used was to create a make sure that I always procure a variety of
mind map. I used lots of colour and linked all books on the same subject. As long as I
the themes and ideas which gave me the increase my selection of the sources I collect
opportunity to see my project on one page. and do not rely on a single source for an idea,
This was a good way of seeing what fit and the I can defuse a potentially frustrating situation.
best way to make it flow. Condensing the
information kept me focused and motivated. It Ruxandra – Science and Engineering
also allowed me to review and revise my Not writing more than is allowed in the word
original schedule. count can be difficult. One way I try to avoid
this is to plan my paper before starting to
Emma – Social Sciences actually write it. I think about each section of
The key to any problem concerning research is the project and what I need to say, and then
DO NOT PANIC! Every problem has a solution, roughly calculate a number of words I have
but a calm, level head is required to find it. If my available. For example, I try to keep the
planning has gone out the window and there introduction to around 800 words, and my
are only a few days before the deadline then it abstract should not have more than 120-130
is time to crack on! This is the time for iron-will words. Try to plan each section beforehand and
determination and literally forcing myself to do to stick to the plan - if you wrote 200 more
the work. I like to remind myself in situations words than you were supposed to (it may not
like this that it is only an essay, it has to be seem much but if your limit is 3000, you can
done, and once it is I can forget about it! I find lose marks!) you will have to go through your
the online journal database is a fantastic paper several times and eliminate whatever you
resource and the articles are shorter than can. But this is both a frustrating and a time-
books and so more concise and easier to read. consuming process so I like to try to avoid it.
The reference section of the library also has
some fantastic resources – worth a visit.

17
Resources Glossary:
The topic of your research project will
Archive: a repository of information on a
determine the sorts of resources you need.
subject. Similar to a library, but often containing
Unfortunately, that means that you won’t find
a more focused collection of research
the answer to where you need to start looking
materials.
in this booklet. If you’re stuck, there are a
couple of places that are always good places to Bibliography: a list of all source material used
start. The first is the Library at the University of in a project, used to allow researchers to give
Essex. On its shelves and in its archives and credit to their sources.
databases you’ll find information on a huge
Cite: to indicate the source of a piece of
number of topics. You’ll also find discipline-
information presented in a research paper.
specific guidebooks to help you focus your
search. Many departments at the University also Database: a collection of research materials
have their own collections of resource (often data) accessed by computer, generally
materials. Finding them can be as easy as online.
asking where they are. There are also many
Footnote: a method used to provide
other excellent resources such as the British
bibliographic detail about the source of a
Library, or Google Scholar, and national libraries
quotation or piece of information.
from other countries. And, of course, you have
your tutor. If you get stuck, there’s nothing Journal: a scholarly publication in which the
wrong with asking for some guidance. They are work of researchers, scholars and academics is
experts, and they’re always happy to help eager presented.
students find their way!
Milestone: a stage to be reached in a research
project, very often corresponding to a specific
date.
Peer-review: the process by which journal
articles are evaluated by other scholars in the
same field to ensure that they meet accepted
academic standards.
Primary sources: source material, including
original documents (diaries, photographs,
official records), artworks (music, visual arts,
literature), relics and artefacts (built structures,
clothing, fossils) that are most closely
connected to the topic being studied.
Research: the process of investigating a topic,
idea or theory.
Secondary source: information from primary
sources collected, interpreted and presented
by another author.

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Notes

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