Designing a research project

Introductory

In this lesson, we’ll introduce the concept of research and explore crucial considerations for researchers when designing a study. We’ll cover the essential methods used to collect data. Our discussion will focus on:
  • Understanding what research entails
  • Identifying the key steps in designing a research project
  • Exploring the diverse types of research and their purposes

Join us as we unravel the fundamentals of research, delve into effective study design, and uncover the significance behind various research methodologies.

For this lesson follow the lecture first to give you an overview of the main steps in designing a research project. This is set at introductory level to introduce you to the main concepts. We will further develop these concepts in other Units. Please also note the resources below the lecture that will guide you to external content, that you may also find useful to help with your understanding.

Designing a Research Project

In this lecture we will discuss what research truly is, how to navigate the steps in designing a research project and explore the broad types of research and their significance.

Table of Contents

Designing a Research Project

Community research toolkit
A toolkit providing a brief introduction to the subject of how to do research in communities (inc. links to other sources of information that you might find helpful)
Research Methods Toolkit for Society and Mental Health
The creation of the Research Methods Toolkit has been guided by a commitment to co-production. It follows the key principles outlined by the National Service User Network of collaboration, redefining our understanding of legitimate knowledge and placing those with lived experiences at the centre of our research. We understand co-production to be more than a method. It is an ethos that runs through the entire research process – from identifying a topic, to study design, to data collection and analysis, and finally to knowledge dissemination.