Month: February 2026

This week’s session introduced research frameworks and different approaches to research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods. We discussed how research questions can influence the methods used and how different frameworks can help structure an investigation. The lecture also highlighted the importance of developing a clear research problem rather than starting with a broad area of interest.

We were also briefed on the Draft Literature Review assignment that will be submitted later in the term. The assessment requires us to propose a research question, outline our objectives and begin building a literature review supported by academic sources. Nigel also asked us to upload potential research ideas to a Padlet, which was useful as it encouraged everyone to start thinking seriously about possible thesis directions.

Alongside the lecture, Nigel shared a series of videos about research frameworks by DrJ Thesising 101. Although research design can initially feel quite abstract, these resources helped break down the purpose of frameworks and how they can be applied when developing a research project. At this stage, I was still refining my interests, but the session made it clear that choosing a topic is only the first step; the challenge is developing a structured approach that can support meaningful research.

This week’s lecture focused on developing a literature review and understanding its role within the thesis. We discussed how a literature review should do more than simply list sources, instead bringing together different authors’ perspectives to support a balanced academic argument. The concept of the “Golden Thread” was also introduced, highlighting the importance of maintaining a clear connection between the research question, literature review, methodology and final conclusions.

One practical part of the session was a demonstration of citation management software such as Zotero and Mendeley. Up until now, I had mostly relied on online citation generators whenever I needed references, which often felt inefficient and sometimes unreliable. It was useful to see how dedicated reference management software can organise sources, store PDFs and automatically generate citations and bibliographies. Considering the amount of reading and research involved in the thesis, I can see how these tools could make the process much more manageable.

The session made me realise that the literature review is not just a background section but something that helps shape and support the entire research project. Going forward, I want to start collecting and organising sources early so that I can build good research habits before beginning the main body of the thesis.