CARLOS A.

SCOLARI @CSCOLARI
PHD PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

BENVINGUTS/DES! WELCOME! BIENVENID@S!

▸ Objective: to learn how to write a research project

▸ Structure (EU standards)

▸ Tips

▸ And more tips!

▸ Why this course? Because AF2 in the 2º trimester…

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

WHAT’S A RESEARCH PROJECT?

▸ Research contract: “In the next 3 years, I will…”

▸ The thesis is just an outcome (the most important) of the research.

▸ The lineal process presented in the project is just a pre-vision of

the path you want to follow. The real research is always different.

▸ Tips

▸ Always keep the objectives in a visible place (post-it or tattoo)

▸ The PhD is not “to write a book” (thesis) but to “accomplish a

research project”.
STRUCTURE: TITLE & ACRONYM, ABSTRACT
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: TITLE & ACRONYM

▸ TITLE

▸ It must summarize the main idea or ideas of your study.

▸ A good title contains the fewest possible words that adequately describe the
contents and/or purpose of your research.

▸ ACRONYM

▸ It must cover the research objectives / themes and should be easy to remember!
Apply branding criteria. For example: TRANSLITERACY, PLATCOM, etc.

▸ Tips

▸ The acronym usually finishes to be the name of your project. Use it as a brand.

▸ Pay attention to the meaning in other languages!

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: ABSTRACT
▸ It must summarize the research context, objectives, methodology
and expected outcomes. Includes the contribution of the research
and impact (EU loves the word “impact”)

▸ Tips

▸ Write the abstract at the end, after writing the project.

▸ Check the number of words!

▸ Do not include bibliography (unless it is a theoretical research

that deals with specific authors or you are working with specific
datasets).
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: TITLE & ACRONYM

▸ TITLE EXAMPLES (ACRONYMS) (ERC)

▸ The Archaeology of Agricultural Resilience in Eastern Africa (AAREA)

▸ Nineteenth-Century Euclid: Geometry and the Literary Imagination from

Wordsworth to Wells (19TH-CENTURY_EUCLID)

▸ Australasian Colonization Research: Origins of Seafaring to Sahul

(ACROSS)

▸ From the earliest modern humans to the onset of farming (45,000-4,500

BP): the role of climate, life-style, health, migration and selection in shaping
European population history (ADNABIOARC)

▸ Anton Francesco Doni – Multimedia Archive Texts and Sources (AFDMATS)

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ Objectives must be clear, measurable, realistic and achievable within the
duration of the project (PhD 3 years + 1).

▸ In case of EU projects:

▸ Objectives should be consistent with the expected exploitation and

impact of the project. Include relation to the work programme topic, and
explain how your proposal addresses the specific challenge and scope of
that topic, as set out in the work programme.

▸ What?

▸ Objetives (Ob) (general + specific)

▸ Research Questions (RQ)

▸ Hypothesis (H) > very useful for experimental research

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ Tips

▸ Focus, focus focus!

▸ Perform a systematic literature review to increase knowledge and familiarity

with the topic and to assist with research development.

▸ Learn about current trends on the topic.

▸ Imagine the outcome of each question.

▸ Seek careful input from experts, mentors, colleagues and collaborators to refine
your research question as this will aid in developing the research question and
guide the research study.

▸ Read Karl Popper (and remember that science only moves forward by
discovering things that are not true — by falsification).
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

Type of question Formulation

▸ Descriptive investigation ▸ What are the characteristics of X? Who should perform X? What does X
look like?

▸ Comparative Research ▸ What are the differences between X and Y? What are their similarities
otherwise?

▸ Defining investigation ▸ What stage of development is X in? How can X be characterized? What is an
example of X?

▸ Evaluative / normative ▸ What are the positives or values of X? How well does X work? How
research appropriate or desirable is X? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of X?

▸ Explanatory / exploratory ▸ How is X a consequence of? How did it happen? What are the causes?
investigation

▸ Predictive tests ▸ To what extent X will happen? What will make X happen? What should
actors be prepared for?

▸ Framing, Problem Solving, ▸ How can you ensure that X happens? How can X be done? What can be
and Counseling done to solve problem X?

▸ Research evidence ▸ What effect does X have on Y? Is X more ___ than Y?

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

Characteristics
Comments
of the questions

▸ Feasible ▸ Adequate number of subjects

▸ Adequate technical expertise
▸ Affordable in time and money
▸ Manageable in scope

▸ Interesting ▸ Getting the answer intrigues investigator, peers and community

▸ Novel ▸ Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings
▸ Ethical ▸ Amenable to a study that institutional review board will approve
▸ Relevant ▸ To scientific knowledge
▸ To clinical and health policy
▸ To future research

Trailblazing Philosopher Susanne Langer on How Our Questions Shape Our

Answers and Direct Our Orientation of Mind

Science does not ask “Why?”

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ General objective (I) What do you think?

▸ To analyze the impact of social media marketing on business.

General objective (II) Do you like this one?

To evaluate the impact of corruption scandals on the country

brand image.

General objectve (III) And this one?

To analyse the effects of television on children.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ General objective (I) What do you think?

▸ To analyze the impact of social media marketing on business.

▸ General objective (II) Do you like this one?

▸ To evaluate the impact of corruption scandals on Spain’s

brand image between 2010-2020.

General objectve (III) And this one?

To analyse the effects of television on children.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ General objective (I) What do you think?

▸ To analyze the impact of social media marketing on business.

▸ General objective (II) Do you like this one?

▸ To evaluate the impact of corruption scandals on Spain’s

brand image between 2010-2020.

▸ General objective (III) And this one?

▸ To analyse the effects of television on children.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ General objective

▸ To analyse and evaluate the impact of corruption scandals on Spain’s

brand image between 2010-2020.

▸ Specific objectives Any proposal?

▸ To explore the underlying factors that caused the emergence of the

corruption scandals.

▸ To analyse the mediatization of the corruption scandal.

▸ To assess effects of the scandal on the country brand image.

▸ To propose recommendations for recovering the brand image.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ General objective

▸ To analyse and evaluate the impact of corruption scandals on Spain’s brand

image between 2010-2020.

▸ Specific objectives

▸ To explore the underlying factors that caused the emergence of the

corruption scandals.

▸ To analyse the mediatization of the corruption scandal in traditional

and new social media.

▸ To assess effects of the scandal on the country brand image.

▸ To propose recommendations for recovering the brand image.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ Specific objective 1

▸ To explore the underlying factors that caused the emergence of the

corruption scandals

▸ Research question(s) (examples)

▸ What’s the role of State providers in the corruption process? >

Outcome?

▸ How did media construct the corruption scandals? Outcome?

description and analysis of the mediatization process

▸ Hypothesis (examples)

▸ H1: State providers play a significant role in the corruption process.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: OBJECTIVES, QUESTIONS & HYPOTHESIS

▸ Specific objective 1

▸ To explore the underlying factors that caused the emergence of the

corruption scandals

▸ Research question(s) (examples)

▸ What’s the role of State providers in the corruption process? >

Outcome: description analysis of roles (taxonomy?)

▸ How did media construct the corruption scandal? Outcome:

description and analysis of the mediatization process

▸ Hypothesis (examples)

▸ H1: State providers play a significant role in the corruption process.

STRUCTURE: STATE OF THE ART
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: STATE OF THE ART

▸ Map of the situation of the research topic: What do we know about…?

▸ Objectives: to avoid repetitions and overlapping of research, and to

identify the unknown.

▸ It is also useful to check the theoretical and methodological

references. Who is who? Find your direct textual, human and
institutional interlocutors.

▸ Reverse engineering: How do other researchers work?

▸ Iterative process: Research objectives & questions < > State of the art
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: STATE OF THE ART

▸ Before: it was an intertextual process: text > text > text > …

▸ Now: it is a systematic and digitalized process.

▸ Systematized bibliographic review

▸ Specialization of Lluís Codina (DIGIDOC)

> See specific formation in the PhD Program.

▸ Search based on keywords and

inclusion/exclusion criteria.

▸ Framewok SALSA: Search, Appraisal, Synthesis,

and Analysis (Grant y Booth, 2009)

Grant, Maria J.; Booth, Andrew. «A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated
methodologies». Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26, pp.91–108, 2009.
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: STATE OF THE ART

▸ Tips

▸ Focus, focus focus! At a certain point you must stop reading!

▸ Be critical when choosing your literature. Don’t read everything.

There is a LOT of garbage.

▸ Be critical when analyzing your literature. Compare, confront,

identify limits, etc. Do not JUST describe.

▸ Always give credit! Not giving credit is also called plagiarism.

▸ Use bibliography software such as Mendeley, BibTeX, EndNode,

or Zotero. 

▸ Use maps and infographics.

STRUCTURE:
COFFEE TIME!THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
STRUCTURE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

▸ Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand
phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend
existing knowledge.

▸ A TF consists of concepts, together with their definitions, and

existing theory/theories that are used for your particular study. 

▸ The selection of a theory (theories) should depend on its

appropriateness, ease of application, and explanatory power.

▸ Check the assumptions or propositions of the theory (theories)

and point out their relevance to your research.
 HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

▸ Tips

▸ Take into account: media and communication studies are one of

the most fragmented research fields.

▸ Theorizing is practical!

▸ Do not limit to define concepts and propositions: challenge them

and be creative!

▸ Clarify it in the beginning of the research.

▸ Use maps and infographics.

C. A. Scolari (2019) “Communication: A post-discipline?” / “Comunicación: ¿una post-disciplina?”

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

▸ How are you going to answer your Research Questions? How

are you going to confirm (or not) your hypothesis? > Method!

▸ Traditions and trends:

▸ Quantitative: from statistics to the new thing > Big Data >
cultural analytics / distant reading / etc.

▸ Qualitative: textual / discursive / narrative / aesthetic analysis

+ ethnography. The new thing > digital ethnography

▸ Quanti and quali can be combined.

▸ Remember also experimental research!

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

▸ Clear description of data-gathering techniques: How are

you going to get the data? Interviews, focus groups,
surveys, observation, construction of textual corpus, etc.,
etc.

▸ Clear description of data-analysis techniques: How are

you going to analyse the data? Describe the processes
step by step. Explain if you are going to use software
(SPSS, nVivo, etc.) and how it will be used.

▸ More info in the specific courses on quanti and quali.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

Gantt chart
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

▸ Tips

▸ If the Research Questions / Hypothesis are well formulated, the

election of a method is almost automatic.

▸ Always include a testing of the method before entering the

Amazonia…

▸ Don’t be afraid of repeating the methods of previous studies

(basic for comparative analysis).

▸ Include the production of deliverables (middle term reports):

they facilitate the publication of articles and the final production
of the thesis.
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

▸ Research question(s)

▸ Is there a correlation between children online time and

violence in school? METHOD: survey and/or experiment
(quanti).

▸ How do young gamers learn to play videogames?

METHOD: survey (quanti) and ethnography (quali).

▸ How have TV and newspapers mediatized the pandemics?

METHOD: text/discourse analysis (quali) but quantification
may be necessary (i.e. construction of corpus).
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: METHODOLOGY

▸ Research question(s)

▸ Is there a correlation between children online time and

violence in school? METHOD: survey and/or experiment
(quanti).

▸ How do young gamers learn to play videogames?

METHOD: survey (quanti) and ethnography (quali).

▸ How have TV and newspapers mediatized the pandemics?

METHOD: text/discourse analysis (quali) but quantification
may be necessary (i.e. construction of corpus).
STRUCTURE: IMPACT
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: IMPACT

▸ The UE loves the word “impact” (I hate it) and they want
you to quantify it so that they can evaluate your
performance as a researcher.

▸ Do not only think in “scientific impact”: your research

should also have a “social impact”! This is not bad: in most
of the cases the citizens are paying for your research.

▸ How to give back to society what it has given us?

Projects usually finish with scientific publications, a
conference and a great dinner > Think different! Include
social / civil outcomes.
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: IMPACT

▸ Tips

▸ In EU projects, quantify as much as possible: number

of visits (websites), followers (Twitter, Instagram),
publications, downloads, participation in events, etc.

▸ In social sciences / humanities it is not easy to think on

non-scientific outcomes. However, it is possible!
Imagine useful applications of your research!

▸ If you develop apps, web portals, etc. remember to

include the assessment in your planning (Gantt).
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: IMPACT

▸ The main objective of the research is to understand how

children learn to play videogames.

▸ How can you increase the impact of this research beyond

the scientific outcomes?
STRUCTURE: DISSEMINATION
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: DISSEMINATION

▸ In traditional research, dissemination was the final

phase of the process (scientific publications).

▸ Forget that! Dissemination starts the first day of

your research (include it in the Gantt chart).

▸ Write a Dissemination Plan: scientific publications

(Journals? > Impact?), events (Conferences? Where?
When?), press, social media, website, blog, etc.
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: DISSEMINATION

▸ Tips

▸ Your research group has a website and UPF has a

eRepositori. For PhD candidates these are the basic
dissemination spaces.

▸ Disseminate simultaneously in circles:

research group > UPF Dep. of Comm. > scientific community >
society

▸ Researchers must dominate different languages and media

(learn how to write articles, abstracts, titles, books, tuits,
posters, reports, memes, etc.).
STRUCTURE: ETHICAL AND GENDER ISSUES
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: ETHICAL AND GENDER ISSUES

▸ Describe (and respect!) ethical protocols regarding data privacy

and data treatment. Different levels (+18 years old, -18, etc.).

▸ Gender: follow the UE instructions (i.e. “For a better integration of

the gender dimension in the H2020 Work Programme 2018-20”).
And remember: the gender dimension in research and
innovation is not the same as gender balance in research teams.
Both are important!

▸ Pay attention when working with high-risk groups: illegal

immigrants, people in flexible working situations, etc.

▸ Include in the project the data treatment protocols and any other
information about how you will move regarding these issues.
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

STRUCTURE: ETHICAL ISSUES

▸ Tips

▸ UPF Cirep

▸ Limitations when working with -18 years old

subjects. If not possible > check specific informed
consents.

▸ Learn how to deal with informed consents.

▸ In social sciences we work a lot with people.

Be careful!
PLANETARY WELLBEING
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT

PLANETARY WELLBEING

▸ Check the UPF policy and documents

▸ Think how your research can contribute to the planetary wellbeing.

 GRACIAS!!!

CARLOS A. SCOLARI @CSCOLARI

PHD PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROJECT