Identify the research area
What kind of research are you doing and what is the research question/s and / or hypothesis that you wish to answer?
Design the research study
There are various broad types of research in literary studies which may be qualitative or quantitative and each requires a particular methodology:
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Text or genre approach where the study may be of particular texts or particular kinds of texts often of a particular author or theme
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Area focus where the study may be across media, comparative, dealing with translations or interdisicplinary
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Theory focus taking approaches such as feminist, cultural studies
Undertake a preliminary literature review and draw up a research proposal for your supervisor. Check whether ethical clearance is needed
Carry out research
Know your library collection both print and electronic, know the tools for searching for information and understand how to evaluate resources. Situate your research within current research. Collect your evidence to answer your research question.
Click on the Books, Journals, Databases and Theses tabs above for more information on sources of information and tools. A very useful brief guide to aspects of the literature review and types of reviews etc has been put together by Chimene Tucker of the Unviersity of S California.
Analyse research results
What does your research / data collection tell you and in relation to your research question?
Publish research results
In what format / style must your thesis be written; ensure your referencing is correct and you have avoided plagiarism (click on the Referencing tab above)
