Developing Your Research Project

Emma Thompson, Richard Penny, Jo Dixon, Manuel León, and Keisha Taylor

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more There are no specific course requirements, other than a curious disposition and desire to undertake some academic research. You can use the hashtag #FLcuriosity to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Academic research: principles and definition
Drafting and developing research proposals
Gathering information from literature and from findings
Research methods: choosing an appropriate methodology
Academic reading and note taking
Referencing, plagiarism, and academic integrity
Academic writing: organising sources, structuring essays
Academic writing: summarising a research project into an abstract
Academic presentations: preparation and delivery

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Reviews summary

Foundation for academic research

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation for anyone starting out in academic research. Many found the content helpful in understanding research principles and developing their own research projects. The structure often felt logical and easy to follow, covering essential aspects like drafting proposals, gathering information, and understanding research methods. However, some students noted that while it's beneficial for beginners, it may lack depth for those with prior research experience. The sections on academic writing, referencing, and presentations were generally seen as useful, though some wished for more detailed examples or advanced techniques.

Ideal for those new to academic research.

"As someone completely new to research, this course was exactly what I needed to get started."

"This course demystified the research process for me as a beginner."

"If you're feeling lost about where to begin your research, this is very helpful."

Content is well-organized and logical.

"The course is structured logically, guiding you step-by-step through the research process."

"I appreciated the way the topics built upon each other, making complex ideas easier to grasp."

"Each section felt well-placed in the overall flow of developing a research proposal."

Covers essential writing, referencing, methods.

"The modules on referencing and academic writing were particularly useful for me."

"I learned practical tips for choosing research methods and structuring my paper."

"The parts about abstracts and presentations are valuable additions to the core research topics."

Good starting point for research basics.

"This course was a great introduction to the fundamental principles of academic research."

"I found the initial modules very helpful in laying the groundwork for my research project."

"It gives you a good overview of what's involved when you start a research project."

May be too basic for experienced learners.

"While a good intro, I found it a bit too basic given my prior experience."

"I wished some topics, like specific research methods, went into more detail."

"If you've done research before, this might mostly be review, not new information."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Developing Your Research Project. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.