Poster Technical Design

Defining concepts: Core idea

Why Defining Concepts Matter?

DCFS: 

Demarcation: distinguishes what is included and excluded in a concept.

Clarity: ensures researcher, client, and reader share the same understanding.

Feasibility: makes abstract goals concrete and researchable.

Steering: allows direct connection between research questions, framework, and data

collection.

Defining concepts link to the research objective and research question

Each definition and operationalisation must serve the purpose of achieving

the objective.

Relation to research questions: concepts appear in research questions; if they are

vague, the questions cannot be answered properly.

Function of defining concepts

nsures clarity, precision, and measurability of key

terms.

Research Strategies: Core idea

Research strategy is a key decision in research from which a number of other decisions will follow.

A research strategy is the overall approach you choose to gather and analyse data in order to answer your research questions. 

The strategy determines whether your research will focus on breadth vs. depth,quantitative vs. qualitative

Research Units

Research units = the individual elements or entities from which the researcher collects data.

In the farm example → the research units are the farmers (or farms) being interviewed or surveyed.

The five main research strategies

Surveys, experiments, Case studies, Ground theory, desk research

Function of a research strategy

It is the overall plan of attack for answering your

questions.

Research Material: Core idea

Research material = all information used to answer research questions.

Can be primary data, or secundary.

What info is needed, where can it be found, how will you acces it?

Sources of Research Material

Acces data for material techniques

Research Material Trianulation

Using multiple sources or methods increases reliability and validity.

Function of research material and Relation to research questions

It provides the raw information that will be transformed into answers to your research questions. Each sub-question requires specific material; if the

material is missing, the question cannot be answered.

Research planning: Core idea

Planning ensures the project is feasible within the given timeframe. It is also a communication tool with supervisors, clients, or funding bodies. Also includes risks and plan resources

What is the correct conceptualization of planning?

• Make an overview of activities

• Identify their intermediate and end products (deliverables)

• Identify their sequence and timeline

Planning is a combination of processes and products

Characteristics of Research Planning

You have to think about the activities needed to carry to reach to the objective of the project, resources needed for completing the project, quality of your project, and the risks that might impact the project.