Research Project

Martina Raftery
Learning Support Tutor

Outline
Why do a Research
Project?
Research & Planning
Writing
Proofing
Referencing
Time management
Stress management

Contemporary Art Archive

2 by Lyndall Jones

Why am I doing a Research

Project?
Professional
development
Aspect of your
studio practice
Explore own
interests
Add something
new
Become an expert

Freedom: A Fable by Kara

Walker

What makes a Good

Project?

Interesting and innovative

Demonstrates critical
understanding of research
topic
Uses a range of quality
sources
Puts forward a clear argument
Is logically structured and

Learning Outcomes
See Handbook
Planning
Research
Analysis
Communication

Structure?
Many ways to write
Personal
Chance to explore and express
Must address your research
question
Discuss with supervisor
Read others: list of First Class
Honours theses - Handbook

Brainstorm/Active
Research

Plan
Get sequence of ideas in place
Keep research and writing
focused
Identify what is relevant and
what isnt
Helps build argument
Evenly distribute word count
Reduce stress

Eating the Thesis Piece

by Piece
Part 1 - 6,000
words
2,000 word
essays x 3
Plan
Create goals
Create a

Home (2011) by Miler

Lagos

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Example
Specific Begin introduction
Measurable I will write 300
words
Attainable I can manage 300
words
Relevant Working towards
deadline
Time-orientated Tonight

Write

Workspace consistent, comfortable &

organised
Follow your structure
Refer back to the research question
Each paragraph:
Introduce
Backup with evidence
Summarise

Proof and Edit

What to look for:
Relevant to topic?
Back up points - bring in
expert opinions?
Spelling, Grammar &
Punctuation
Correct formatting see
handbook

NCAD Referencing System

Why Reference?
Credit your sources
Demonstrate
readings
Bring in experts
opinions
Avoid plagiarism
accidental or not
Strengthen your
argument

MARK AIRS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Trustworthy Source?
Credible source
Academic writing: use of correct
spelling, grammar and proper
terminology
Recently dated
Use websites for your own
understanding and then reference
academic sources such as
books/articles
No Wikipedia

Reliable Evidence and

Sources
NCAD Library

NCAD Online
Journals

NIVAL

Google Scholar

Donald Judd (1987)Complete writings, 1975 - 1986

Eindhoven: Van Abbemuseum.

Things you need to

note:
The authors name
The year it was
published
The title
Who published it
Where it was
published
The pages you used

Citations in the Text

Author
Year
Page Number
(Smith, 1990, p. 25)

It takes a great deal

of time and thought
to install work
carefully. This should
not always be
thrown away.
From: Donald Judd
(1987)Complete writings,
1975-1986.Eindhoven:
Van Abbemuseum p. 111

It takes a great deal of time and

thought to install work carefully. This
should not always be thrown
away.Most art is fragile and some
should be placed and never moved
again (Judd, 1987, p. 35).
Judd placed a great importance on
the curation of work, remarking that
this process should take a large
amount of time and thought to be
done correctly (1987, p. 35).

Fig. 2 Piet Mondrian Broadway Boogie Woogie(1942-43) Oil on canvas,

The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Where to Find the

Guidelines?

http://www.ncad.ie/students/studentacademic-information/visual-cultureprogramme-information/

Checks for potential plagiarism

and provides feedback to you and
assess your work quickly.

Why Use?
Before submitting written academic assignments
to lecturers/ depts, a final check for plagiarism
will ensure that the writing is original and well
cited.
Plagiarism is often unintentional and students
may not realize they have accidentally
plagiarized.
TurnItIn will do a quick and thorough check of
papers for similar work. Using TurnItIn
will give you peace of mind that your essays are
plagiarism-free.

TurnItIn
Previously your work could be checked by
Visual Culture department,
You are being asked to use TurnItIn software
yourself to check for plagiarism before
submitting your academic work.
You will receive information on how to set up
your account and use it through your college
email.
It will provide the information which allows
you to join a class on the Turnitin website

Process
Upload your written material to turnitin
A similarity check provides a basic
indication of how much information
contained in a specific submission is
matched to other sources in the Turnitin
repository.
Direct quotation, citations, or bibliography
areas of the paper are checked by the
lecturer / department.

Contd
When your work is submitted a comparison
document called an Originality Report is
produced.
This document details the matching or
similar text between a submission made on
Turnitin and other sources.
The Originality Report can be downloaded or
printed

Barriers to Writing

Fuchsia Macaree

What is making you strive

towards perfectionism?
Ideals are directions, not
absolutes
Focus on your end goal and
dont obsess over the fine detail
Delegate you cannot do

Time Management
To Do Lists Prioritise
Organisation: notes,
workspace, emails
Timetabling - Google Calendar
App
Timers - Tomato Timer
Limit Distractions - Cold Turkey

Stress Management
Exercise
Social Support
Meditation: Mindfulness
Free Meditation Downloads
The Free Mindfulness Project
UCLA Mindful Awareness Research
Centre

 Eat healthily
Take regular breaks
Avoid all-nighters
Avoid alcohol or stimulants
Seek professional help if
needed

Final Words
Read your
handbook!
Start early
Plan
Put your passion
and personality
into it
Manage your
stress
Ask for help

Questions?