Description
Book SynopsisThis book is a special edition, compiled for to the MSc Course Research Methodologies as taught at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. It is a compilation of useful chapters from several sources on how to structure, set up, carry out and write up your (thesis) research to aid you in writing your research plan. Next to that it acts as a companion during your thesis research. After introducing you to the philosophy of scientific research, subsequent chapters each contribute to the different phases of your research. The book uniquely allows for the often multi- or interdisciplinary research many of you carry out, based on the established Dutch university tradition of (semi-)independent student research, creating a thread through the process for you to follow.
This edition is a collection of chapters from
An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research (2016), edited by Steph Menken and Machiel Keestra, and
Academic Skills for Interdisciplinary Studies. Revised edition (2019), by Koen van der Gaast, Laura Koenders and Ger Post, published by Amsterdam University Press.
Table of ContentsPart 1 From ‘An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research’
1 Introduction
2 What is science? A brief philosophy of science
2.1 What is science?
2.2 Moving through the Science Cycle
4 Interdisciplinarity
7 The interdisciplinary research process
7.1 The IIS model of interdisciplinary research
7.2 Planning your research project
8 The problem
Step 1 Identify problem or topic
Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question
9 Theoretical framework and research question
Step 3 Develop theoretical framework
Step 4 Finalize research question
Step 5 Formulate sub-questions
10 How to collect and analyze your data
Step 6 Develop research methods and design
Step 7 Data collection and analysis
11 Discussion and conclusion(s)
Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s)
References
Part 2 From ‘Academic Skills for Interdisciplinary Studies’
1 Preparatory reading and searching
2 Gathering and organizing key information
3 Studying thoroughly and critically
4 From your topic to your question
5 Formulating a good question
6 A testable concept
7 Making a research instrument
8 Research practice
9 The structure of your article
10 Finishing your article: academic writing, titles, and abstracts
11 Citing sources and the bibliography
12 Preventing fraud and plagiarism
Appendices
Appendix A Sample literature review
Appendix B Sample research article
