Developing your research topic
ICT103 Week 8
Developing your research topic
Outline
Developing a research topic
Report Introduction
This week we are looking in detail at the report that will be your final assessment. We will cover the structure of the report over several weeks. An essay has a number of sections, including:
Front Matter
Title page
Executive summary
Table of contents
Report
Introduction (Week 8)
Body sections (week 9)
Conclusions and/or recommendations
References
Appendices
Appendices
Our approach is to guide you through each of these stages so that you can get support and feedback as we progress.
Five-minute Self-test
Thinking about writing a business report Do you know how to.
Yes, I do Im not sure No idea!
Write a report introduction? Write an executive summary? Make a table of contents in Word? Write a reference list? The Research Questions
Assessment 2 (presentation) and Assessment 3 (business report) are to be based on either question 1 or question 2.
Question 1. Cyber Security
Define cyber security and outline the major challenges and benefits of implementing a cyber security strategy in an organisation.
The Question
Define cyber security
Outline major challenges
Outline major benefits
Focus area: cyber security strategy in an organisation
Question 2. Software Development
Games developers always look for new and innovative ways to reach their target audience. Discuss four of the current trends in game development.
The Question
Define games development
Current trend 1
Current trend 2
Current trend 3
Current trend 4
Developing a research topic
There is a three-step process that you can use to help you to articulate your research topic. By now, you have had some preliminary discussions and done a bit of research, so you need to have a clear topic.
Think
Think about some problems related to your research question. Spend two minutes brainstorming ideas. You will need to have a clear research topic to complete the assessments.
Describe
Try to define or describe the four main points relating to the topic and write bullet points on the main problems in the area. What do you already know? Which of your references help you to address these points.
Area 1: Area 2: Area 3:
Area 4:
Definition/Description:
Definition/Description:
Definition/Description:
Definition/Description:
Main problems:
Main problems:
Main problems:
Main problems:
What do you need to know:
What do you need to know: What do you need to know: What do you need to know:
Self-reflection:
Is there enough to write a report?
What types of sources will I need to find?
Are my points academic?
