Guidance on content of Student Methods Lab book
What is a Methods lab book?
It is a digital document* in which you document your research process via a series of
ongoing notes (or memos)
• What you are doing
• Why you are doing it – could you do it differently.. Why this way
• How you are doing it
• What data you have collected…
• Questions and issues raised and how you dealt with these
• Reflections on the research process
*e.g. a Word document, blog site (with time-stamped postings - need to be able submit
a digital copy of this via moodle for assessment.
Research memos can be written or visual records of your:
• Thoughts
• Decisions
• Procedures
• Interpretations
• Difficulties
• Ideas you tried out
• Challenges or questions that surfaced
• Future directions and ideas
The research approach briefs you will be working with provide some suggestions for
memos that you might want to create. Remember to include the date and time on your
notes (like a diary) to help you keep track of the progress of your process.
Your methods-lab book will help you learn about the approach and yourself as a
researcher:
• They will help your research to be more transparent, trustworthy, confirmable,
and reliable
• We are not seeking a ‘perfect’ study
• When something goes ‘wrong’ or just doesn’t work, which does happen in
research the point is to show how you reflected on this and adapted your
approach
• Mistakes and learnings are a good thing to include
• Do not copy-paste the approach doc in your lab book
Aim, Objective and RQs
Together the research aims, objectives and research questions are like a research
‘spine’ or ‘golden thread’ that define the focus and scope (the limits and boundary) of
any research project. They can help you ‘re-centre’ when you get a bit lost in what (or
why) you are doing a research task.
Before you start collecting any data carefully consider your aim (what you are trying
to achieve) and objectives (how you will realise your aim) and based on that craft a
set of well-aligned research questions. This is an iterative process, where you go
back and tweak research objectives and aims to ensure strong alignment (to
generate a ‘research spine’ or ‘golden thread’). This will ensure your study is focused
and not pulling you in different directions.
Aim
You need to decide on and formulate an aim for your study and record this in your lab
book. A research aim is a broad statement describing the overarching intention or
goal of a project, focusing on what you hope to achieve in the long term.
This might involve thinking about whose experiences you want to explore, what themes
or issues are important to you, what educational or learning activities you would like
people to discuss, and what technologies you are interested in.
Given the short time available we are not asking you to do a literature review before you
undertake their empirical work. That would be a usual step in the research process and
can help focus your aim to address a specific research gap.
You might want to create a memo where you try out different ideas, or explore
different combinations of groups, experiences, activities and technologies.
Objectives
Then, you need to identify your objectives. Research objectives are more specific,
practical, actionable, measurable steps taken to achieve the aim. Objectives outline
the specific actions or tasks you will need to perform to reach your broader goal.
What steps will you need to follow to achieve the aim of your study?
You can review the approach brief document, to identify some of the steps that a study
using the method will usually involve. As with your aim, your objectives should be
recorded in your Methods lab book.
You might want to create a memo where you show how you formulated your
objectives and reflect on this process and the challenges you experienced
Research Questions
Research questions are the key questions you want your study to answer. They are
basically your objectives converted/translated into a question format (often broken
into smaller chunks or steps).
Research plan/design
Review your objectives and turn them into a plan. Make a note of which objectives need
to be completed in the first lab session, and then develop a time plan that maps out
what you will need to do between each lab session, and in the remaining two lab
sessions, in order to complete the study. Your time plan should be recorded in your lab
book.
Where your initial ideas are too ambitious to be completed in the time available,
you could make a note in a memo about any decisions you take that reduce the
scale of the work, the consequences that this might have for your study, and what
you might be able to do in the future to build upon this initial work.
It would be useful to review the remaining sections of this research guide before
finalising your plan, so that you make sure all the steps are reflected in it.
Consider and propose ways to scope the study – in terms of participants, topics,
questions and so on, as appropriate to the approach you are using.
Ethical considerations
We have module-level ethical approval which means that the surveys and interviews
need to be conducted with other students on the course, and any observational work
needs to be conducted in public spaces (e.g. museum, café). This is to avoid the need
to get separate ethical approval which will be too slow for the time you have. When you
do your dissertation, you will need to gain ethical approval. Nonetheless you need to
engage with ethics, write an information sheet and a consent form (we will provide
templates). You will also need to identify any ethical boundaries – topics that would be
inappropriate, approaches that should be avoided, etc. you can include references to
publications, or links to resources, here.
You might want to create a memo about the process of gaining informed consent
or your thoughts on ethical considerations when researching digital technologies
and learning more broadly.
Data collection
You need to document the steps that you took to generate the data for the study. This
could include the approach you took to sampling, participation, interventions,
recording, participant writing, discussions, etc. Regarding how much data you need,
remember this is a pilot exploration and you have limited time to collect the data and
analyse it. Include information here about how you recorded and stored the data (e.g.
placing data files in Sharepoint or an encrypted hard drive or computer).
Data analysis
Document the steps you followed to prepare and analyse the data. We are not
expecting you to fully write up all aspects of the study rather we want you to produce
and include elements that could be reported in a write-up. (e.g., create a list and
definitions of codes, themes, an exemplar vignette). Demonstrate the way you analysed
the data – the issues and challenges you encountered and how you worked through
these. Reflect on the process.
You might want to create a memo on the process of data analysis, it can be quite
challenging to develop themes or codes and useful to reflect on how you managed
the challenges you experienced and what you learnt through this process
Concluding your study
You do not need to present your study as a complete report; rather you need to use the
Method Lab book to show the processes you followed. To help you make the most of
your experience of trying out each research approach, you need to include a concluding
section where you reflect on the process. Think about what you have learnt about the
topic you explored, what you learnt from trying out the method, and what you might do
differently if you were to do a fuller study in the future.
Assessment of your Methods lab book
Formative assessment during the lab sessions
• Tutors may look at your lab books
• You can ask them if you’re unsure about what to document
Summative assessment at the end of the module
• Submission of your whole lab book as a digital file through Moodle
• Minimum length 2,000: we envisage it will be longer, and you do not need to edit
it down
• Assessors will not read the entire lab book in detail
• They will review and assess a total of 2,000 words including: The opening and
closing sections (final reflections); Selected sections from one of the studies you
conducted that you consider the ‘best.
Lab books will be assessed using 6 equally weighted criteria:
1. Management of aims and objectives
Aims and objectives are justified, issues and alternatives are considered, developments
are tracked across the study, and reflections on achievement included
2. Appropriateness of the research design
The research design is related to the study’s aim, is justified, alternatives are
considered, and reflections on the design are included
3. Transparency of the research process
Notes about what, how and why the study was undertaken are consistent, carefully
detailed, justified and reflected upon
4. Conduct of the research
The research conduct shows careful consideration of issues, engagement with tutors
and evidence of personal learning
5. Quality of analysis and interpretation
Analysis and interpretation are insightful, carefully undertaken, alternative
interpretations are considered and reflections on the strength of evidence are included
6. Quality of the record of the study
The lab book gives a careful record, shows progress over time, helps to differentiate
between actions, decisions and reflections, and includes evidence of personal learning
from this experience
Note: getting the ‘right’ outcome or success of the study are not the assessed criteria