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our argument, so that you do not fall into the trap of simply collecting facts rather than unfolding a clear argument relating to a narrowly defined issue.  See Section 2.4 for more on this.

2.2 Conducting a literature search or review
In order to write with confidence about your topic, you will need to read what members of the academic community have already been said about it.  Always ask for guidance from staff – do not avoid looking at a particular resource because you are not sure how to access it.  Library staff are there to help you do exactly this.

Remember to look for up-to-date references to the topic.  There may well be classic texts, particular relating to underpinning theories, but you should also see what has been said in recent years.  The availability of electronic journals will help greatly with this, as they are easily searchable.  Look at the library website – but, if in doubt, ask a member of library staff to help you.

2.3 Researching and exploring your topic: methods and methodologies
Research is a form of learning, or finding out. When you find out anything, you do it in a particular way, or using a particular methodology, even if you are not aware of it. If you are a third year student, and particularly if you are a Masters level student, you should be aware of the methodology you are adopting in your search for evidence, and of where that methodology fits in the spectrum of possible approaches.  For example, it is common to read about quantitative research and qualitative research.

Quantitative research is based on scientific method.  It purports to be as objective as possible, and is often based on statistics or other measurable, empirical data.  Conclusions will be drawn from the analysis of things clearly measured.

Qualitative research is often based on subjective data items, which cannot be given a numeric value, for example the attitudes and opinions of a range of individuals on an issue. Anthropological study, for example, may be based on small details of people’s experience, collected through observation. These will be described in words rather than numbers, and statistical generalisations cannot be drawn from them.

In practice, few dissertations involve only qualitative or only quantitative methods, but there is often a major focus on one end of the spectrum or the other.  Where will your focus lie?  The answer should depend upon the kind of enquiry you are engaged in: again, ask your supervisor for advice about this.

2.4  The importance of having a thesis and evaluating it critically
Remember that you are constructing an argument or defending a thesis, from the beginning to the end of your assignment.  Keep your thesis – the statement you are defending or central argument you are asserting – in the forefront of your mind as you write.  Think of this central idea, and the logical development of your argument (train of thought) around this, as being the central path of your dissertation, and make sure that you do not have sections or paragraphs which are somewhere in the shrubbery out of sight of the main path.  Every paragraph should further the central argument, by providing another angle on it, additional evidence, and evaluation of that evidence in relation to the central thesis.

2.5  Managing your notes
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