Crafting a research agenda (in memes)
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George Veletsianos discusses the importance of having a focused research agenda, which should communicate one's interests and effectively guide their study. He emphasizes avoiding overly broad topics and provides examples of how to refine research themes to achieve a balance of specificity and flexibility. The document also offers practical exercises and suggestions for developing a well-defined research agenda.
Crafting a research agenda (in memes)
- 1. George Veletsianos, PhD Canada Research Chair & Associate Professor Royal Roads University CSSHE PreConference, May 2016 Calgary, AB
- 2. What comes to mind when you hear the term “research agenda?”
- 3. Example • My research agenda focuses on understanding individuals’ experiences and practices with emerging forms of education and scholarship. I specialize on Networked Scholarship and digital learning. • Others?
- 4. What is it? At its very basic: • Research agenda = A program of study Beyond that: • Research agenda = A plan and a tool • To communicate your interests • To help you focus
- 5. Try to stay away from research agendas that are unfocused and “too broad” Examples of Research Agendas that are nebulous and unfocused - “I research educational technology” - “I study how universities use technology” - “I aim to understand how people learn”
- 6. Why?
- 7. How do I define my Research Agenda? What are you passionate about?
- 8. How do I define my Research Agenda? What are you passionate about?
- 9. How do I define my Research Agenda? What are some themes describing your interests?
- 10. How do I define my Research Agenda? What are some themes describing your interests?
- 11. Above all…
- 13. What does a “liberating” Research Agenda looks like? It is specific, but flexible. It balances breadth, depth, and focus without being too broad or too narrow.
- 14. Refining your focus A topic? A method? An approach? A participant group? Examples: For-profit higher education (within which one may study: adoption, impact, experiences, etc) Outdoor education (within which one may study: students, faculty, early adopters, etc)
- 15. Refining your focus Improving STEM education (within which one may conduct design and development, gender issues, etc) Sidenote: Broad enough à e.g., Studying Engineering or Math fits within the research agenda
- 16. Refining your focus A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study open access”
- 17. Refining your focus A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study the impact of open access”
- 18. Refining your focus A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study the impact of open access on higher education institutions”
- 19. Online learning Refining Exercises #1 Venn diagram Self-regulated learning Big Data
- 20. Refining Exercises #2 Concept map
- 21. Some additional suggestions • Don’t focus your agenda on ephemeral objects (e.g., Twitter, specific policies, etc) • Refine, refine, refine • Share your research agenda with others • Consider defining research strands