Knowledge & Learning
Special Interest Group

Mainly for Doctoral Students

This page is intended mainly to be of help to doctoral and other research students (although others may find some of the info helpful!). Suggestions for additions to the page are welcomed:
please email them to mail@knowledgeandlearning.org.uk

General info and advice     Qualitative approaches      Technology and Software      Citations and Referencing

General information and advice

Phinished : described as "a discussion and support group for those who cannot seem to finish their dissertations of theses" but has information and links that would be useful to any doctoral student.

Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It: OK, you about know this already, but just in case ... An online guide produced at Indiana University, USA

Research Methods
A set of handouts produced by Anne Qualter for Masters students in Department of Education, University of Liverpool

Trent Focus has developed a series of resource packs, downloadable in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format, addressing a range of research skills and processes. Trent Focus is funded by the Research and Development Group of NHS Executive Trent.

Social Research Update
Notes on various aspects of social research, produced quarterly by the Department of Sociology, University of Surrey
(NB do check the date of publication, particularly those Updates discussing computer and internet related topics as these are fast-changing areas)

Bobbi's Place
portal for online resources produced by Dr Bobbi Kerlin, Queen's University, Ontario.

Qualitative Approaches to Research

Qualitative Data Analysis
Resource pack produced by the Trent Focus Group.

Interviewing in qualitative research
Chapter 15 of Social Research Methods, by Alan Bryman

Qualitative Research
notes with link to Powerpoint presentation, produced by Dr. Carla Piper, School of Education, Chapman University (California)

qualitative-research.net
online gateway for qualitative research

Forum for Qualitative Social Research
a peer-reviewed multilingual online journal for qualitative research: currently being re-organized into a set of broader information and communication resources for qualitative researchers

Technology and Software

CAQDAS
(Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software) Networking Project, based at University of Surrey, funded by Economic and Social Research Council.
"aims to provide practical support, training and information in the use of a range of software programs which have been designed to assist qualitative data analysis. The project also provides various platforms for debate concerning the methodological and epistemological issues arising from the use of such software packages."

Tools for Digital Audio Recording in Qualitative Research
Social Research Update no 38, by Alan Stockdale

An Approach to Recording, Transcribing, and Preparing Audio Data for Qualitative Analysis
extensive (60 page) guide in .pdf file format, produced by Alan Stockdale

Tools and Resources for Text Analysis
by Daniel Robertson at Institute of Education, University of Stirling

Scolari (a division of Sage Publications) seem to have cornered the market for qualitative data analysis software: website provides info on popular qualitative data analysis programs including Atlas.ti, NUD*IST, NViVo, The Ethnograph.

EZ Text - free downloadable sofware for analysing semi-structured qualitative databases. Produced by the US Centers for Disease Control (originally for HIV prevention program)

ANSWR - "software system for coordinating and conducting large-scale, team-based analysis projects that integrate qualitative and quantitative techniques" - also free downloadable software from CDC.

Citations and Referencing

Harvard style bibliographies and references (University of Leeds)

The Harvard Style of Referencing Published Material (Leeds Metropolitan University)

References and bibliographies: A Guide to the Harvard system of referencing (Edge Hill)
NB this webpage give on-line access to a quiz on the Harvard style.

Biblioexpress - a free (yes!) bibliographic database management program, downloadable from this site. Limited facilities, based on the commercial package Biblioscape

Adept Science is the UK distributor for a range of bibliographic software, including EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, RefViz, WriteNote.