ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the central concepts, techniques and perspectives that underpin the process of doing research. It discusses where ideas for research projects come from and give some advice on common approaches adopted by students and others on how to think about potential research projects. Critical reading, personal events or observation that makes people want to reflect upon their meaning can all be used as the starting point for a research project. A good starting point for any research project is for the researcher to write a rationale. The rationale will inform them about the type of research they want to conduct. Action research and a related approach known as practitioner research are approaches to research that draw upon action and reflection from the practitioners perspective. Many first-time researchers are of the opinion that research projects should be objective, balanced and politically neutral. Standpoint research also has a degree of validity and reliability.
