1. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 20 1 Research Methods in Politics 20 Writing-Up... and in the end was the beginning (Chapter XIII, The Last Time)

2. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 202 Teaching and Learning Objectives 1. to consider when to begin writing-up your research 2. to identify essential contents 3. to learn how to communicate your research so that it stands out favourably from other similar works 4. to consider how best to maintain the interest of your readers

3. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 203 Writing-up Why? Why? How? How? What? What? So what? So what? To whom? Who is the readership? To whom? Who is the readership? Where? In what publication? What are their rules? Where? In what publication? What are their rules?

4. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 204 Readership determine language determine language pre-knowledge: expert or novice pre-knowledge: expert or novice your relative status your relative status style: politics researchers tend to: style: politics researchers tend to: –admit subjectivity and bias –demonstrate enthusiasm and interest –tell a good story report should lead readers stage-by-stage through research process to enable them to fully share (or reject) conclusions report should lead readers stage-by-stage through research process to enable them to fully share (or reject) conclusions

5. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 205 Publication Rules number of words number of words presentation: recto or verso, line- spacing, margins, binding, font presentation: recto or verso, line- spacing, margins, binding, font referencing referencing footnotes, end notes footnotes, end notes check: tutors may be unaware of changes check: tutors may be unaware of changes

6. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 206 Structure continuous, or continuous, or highly-structured highly-structured –paragraph numbers –sub-paragraph numbers advantages advantages

7. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 207 When write-as-you-proceed write-as-you-proceed parallel with theory/ literature review, fieldwork and analysis parallel with theory/ literature review, fieldwork and analysis provides substantive evidence of progress provides substantive evidence of progress basis for discussion with supervisor and colleagues basis for discussion with supervisor and colleagues assures sponsors/ funders assures sponsors/ funders evidence for upgrading of academic award evidence for upgrading of academic award prepare for many re-writes prepare for many re-writes

8. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 208 Conventions and Advice write generally in the third person; e.g. it was considered that... write generally in the third person; e.g. it was considered that... use the pronoun I to emphasise your own position use the pronoun I to emphasise your own position avoid writing one: use you to share the text with the reader, e.g., as you have seen, avoid writing one: use you to share the text with the reader, e.g., as you have seen, avoid gender problems of his/her by referring to subjects as they if possible avoid gender problems of his/her by referring to subjects as they if possible using the present tense to describe historical events may be a good literary device to create excitement: however, it can become very confusing in academic reports. Instead, use the past tense to describe the methodology and field-work; reserve the present tense for your analysis and conclusions using the present tense to describe historical events may be a good literary device to create excitement: however, it can become very confusing in academic reports. Instead, use the past tense to describe the methodology and field-work; reserve the present tense for your analysis and conclusions qualify your assertions qualify your assertions state assumptions clearly state assumptions clearly strike balance between the coverage and erudition given to theoretical discussion, methodology, data, interpretations and conclusions strike balance between the coverage and erudition given to theoretical discussion, methodology, data, interpretations and conclusions dont write the data speaks for itself: you must interpret the data dont write the data speaks for itself: you must interpret the data avoid excessive spurious accuracy in the text, e.g. dont say 48.73%, writenearly half: where you think that precise figures are helpful, give them in footnotes avoid excessive spurious accuracy in the text, e.g. dont say 48.73%, writenearly half: where you think that precise figures are helpful, give them in footnotes follow normal grammatical conventions follow normal grammatical conventions avoid excessive acronyms: after a time, the reader may forget what they stand for and their significance. Avoid inventing acronyms which are the same or similar to well-established ones, e.g. dont label independent research analysis as IRA avoid excessive acronyms: after a time, the reader may forget what they stand for and their significance. Avoid inventing acronyms which are the same or similar to well-established ones, e.g. dont label independent research analysis as IRA seek to maintain pace and interest seek to maintain pace and interest ensure that your report is read by another person before you submit it. If English is not your first language, then seek the assistance of a proof-reader ensure that your report is read by another person before you submit it. If English is not your first language, then seek the assistance of a proof-reader be positive and up-beat: if you dont sound confident of your research, then your readers are even less likely to have confidence in your report be positive and up-beat: if you dont sound confident of your research, then your readers are even less likely to have confidence in your report

9. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 209 Structure I – Abstract etc I – Abstract etc II – Chapter 1: Introduction II – Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2; Theory and Literature Review Chapter 3: Method of Data Collection Chapter 4: Data collected, e.g., case-study Chapter 5: Analysis and Discussion Chapter 6: Conclusions III – Appendices III – Appendices –Tabulated data –Questionnaire –Transcripts –Technical specification –Statistical methods: which and why IV - References and Bibliography IV - References and Bibliography

10. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 2010 Abstract, etc title: identify theory title: identify theory abstract: summarises report abstract: summarises report preface: personal statement preface: personal statement acknowledgements acknowledgements declaration declaration contents page contents page list of figures list of figures list of tables list of tables

11. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 2011 Check-List Is the meaning clear? Is the meaning clear? Is the report well written? (tenses, grammar, spelling, punctuation) Is the report well written? (tenses, grammar, spelling, punctuation) Is the referencing well done? Is the referencing well done? Does the abstract really give the reader a clear idea of what is in the report? Does the abstract really give the reader a clear idea of what is in the report? Does the title indicate the nature of the study? Does the title indicate the nature of the study? Are the objectives of the study stated clearly? Are the objectives of the study stated clearly? Are the objectives fulfilled? Are the objectives fulfilled? If hypotheses were postulated, are they proved or not proved? If hypotheses were postulated, are they proved or not proved? Has a sufficient amount of relevant literature been studied? Has a sufficient amount of relevant literature been studied? Does the literature review provide an indication of the state of knowledge in the subject? Is your topic placed in the context of the area of study as such? Does the literature review provide an indication of the state of knowledge in the subject? Is your topic placed in the context of the area of study as such? Are all the terms clearly defined? Are all the terms clearly defined? Are the selected methods of data collection accurately described? Are they suitable for the task? Why were they chosen? Are the selected methods of data collection accurately described? Are they suitable for the task? Why were they chosen? Are any limitations of the study clearly presented? Are any limitations of the study clearly presented? Have any statistical techniques been used? If so, are they appropriate? Have any statistical techniques been used? If so, are they appropriate? Are the data analysed and interpreted or merely described? Are the data analysed and interpreted or merely described? Are the results clearly presented? Are tables, diagrams and figures well drawn? Are the results clearly presented? Are tables, diagrams and figures well drawn? Are conclusions based on evidence? Have any claims been made that cannot be substantiated? Are conclusions based on evidence? Have any claims been made that cannot be substantiated? Is there any evidence of bias? Any emotive terms or intemperate language? Is there any evidence of bias? Any emotive terms or intemperate language? Is the data likely to be reliable? Would another researcher get the same results? Is the data likely to be reliable? Would another researcher get the same results? Are recommendations feasible? Are recommendations feasible? Are there any unnecessary items in the appendices? and, finally, Are there any unnecessary items in the appendices? and, finally, Would you give the report a good grade of you were the examiner? If not, an overhaul is necessary. Would you give the report a good grade of you were the examiner? If not, an overhaul is necessary. (Bell, 1997: 162) (Bell, 1997: 162)

12. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 2012 Word Distribution: Suggested Chapter 1IntroductionScoping5% Chapter 1IntroductionScoping5% Chapter 2Theory and Literature Review30% Chapter 2Theory and Literature Review30% Chapter 3Method of Data Collection5% Chapter 3Method of Data Collection5% Chapter 4The data, e.g., case study30% Chapter 4The data, e.g., case study30% Chapter 5Analysis and Discussion20% Chapter 5Analysis and Discussion20% Chapter 6Conclusions and Implications10% Chapter 6Conclusions and Implications10% Avoid reducing the analysis and discussion: adequate coverage is essential if conclusions to be shared. Avoid reducing the analysis and discussion: adequate coverage is essential if conclusions to be shared.

13. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 2013 Questions for Discussion or Assignments 1. Select three research reports from approved journals on the same topics, e.g., election turnout. Contrast and compare these. Which do you regard as being most successful in attracting your interest? Why? What improvements would you suggest to the other two? 2.Select a dissertation previously approved by your department for BA, MA or PhD purposes appropriate to your own degree. Critically evaluate the writing-up. What improvements would you make? Give specific examples 3.Prepare a programme for your research project on a week-by- week basis. Integrate your proposed supervision meetings and writing, and re-writing of chapters