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PROGRAM

Research Design, Delft

[04-07-2011]

Objectives
The great accomplishment of the first year of a PhD project is the elaboration of the research design. The research question must be formulated and supported. It must be broken down into sub-questions and a tentative model must be constructed, identifying the key variables of the research. The research design specifies how these variables are to be operationalised (measured and/or manipulated). The PhD candidate should also make the practical planning of the entire research project. The participants of this course learn to determine what kind of measurements they are dealing with (quantitative vs. qualitative), how to formulate research questions, how to decide on the survey or experimental design, sample size and quality of measures. The deliverable of this course is the design of a pilot study that can be part of the PhD student’s research project.

Contents
The workshop focuses on the following themes:

Determining types of research (quantitative vs. qualitative)
Formulation of research questions
Identification and operationalisation of key-variables
Instrument development
Planning of research activities

Methods
The workshops use the following formats:

short introductions to the themes followed by group work;
exercises and the sharing of experience;
take-home assignments and feedback;
on-line discussion and networking.

Output
Taking part in the workshop will provide the participants with:

understanding of the basic elements of research design
the ability to define key variables and to determine the measurement conditions
the design of a pilot study

Participants
The workshop is open to PhD students in the first year of their research project. The minimum number of participants is eight, the maximum per group is fourteen.

Investment in terms of time and money
The course consists of five half-day sessions and an online follow up period of one month. The total study time (including preparation for the meetings, home assignments and on-line activities) amounts to 60 hours.
The fee for the course is € 700 (course materials included).
To register for the course, please send an email to e.arkesteijn-vanSchaik@remove-this.tudelft.nl

Contact
Dr. E. de Graaff, tel. + 31 (0) 15 27 86226
Email: E.deGraaff@tudelft.nl

Period

a. Fall 2011