Researching Skills

Plan Your Research

The importance of effective research cannot be over-emphasised. Strategic and thorough research is the backbone to any successful project, whether it is an ABMA Dissertation or a company research assignment.

Before beginning the piece of work, you should know what it is you will be discussing and how you will be approaching the subject. By doing this preparatory work, you will be able to structure and plan your research, meaning time will be saved overall.

Consider the task you have been set or the arguments you wish to discuss within the piece of work. Ensure that you have a thorough understanding of all the topics to be discussed. Think about how you expect the piece of work to look upon completion and work towards that. Also consider how the piece of work will be marked and ensure you spend enough time researching the key areas of the assignment.

Sources of Information – The Internet

The Internet is becoming increasingly popular as a research tool with a large amount of information available to students. The Internet provides valuable online resources such as e-books (electronic books), e-journals (electronic journals), news websites, company websites, government information, financial data, places to buy books and much more. With this vast amount of information available it is crucial to ensure that the information you are using is both reputable and reliable.

The Internet has very little censorship or editing restraints, this means that almost anyone can post their thoughts or opinions on various websites. It is important that when viewing any material that is related to your subject, that you remain objective. Question the source of the material; is the language used of a high standard? Does the source state their qualifications and position in employment? Consider the date when the piece was written as online material can become out-of-date very quickly.

The general rule when using the Internet as a research tool is to ensure you stick to reputable websites. Ensure the information you are using is up-to-date where possible and most importantly reference your work. If you use the work of somebody else without crediting them as the source, you are risking being accused of plagiarism. Plagiarism is taken very seriously by both college officials and the ABMA and could result in you being banned from taking any ABMA examinations in the future.

Sources of Information – The Library

Ensure you are aware of what library resources you can use to produce your assignment before beginning any piece of work. Visit your nearest library and speak to a member of staff to see what resources are available to you. The types of resources on offer may include:

Computers
Books
Academic/Electronic Journals
Newspapers
Audio resources
Video resources

Familiarise yourself with your library. Learn where different resources are kept and how readily available they are. Acquaint yourself with the opening hours and the limit on the amount of resources you can borrow at any one time.

Usually, subject specific books will be kept together. Make sure that you know where the relevant textbooks for your ABMA course are kept. Remember books will usually be arranged in alphabetical order according to the author’s surname and initials. Journals and periodicals will be organised in much the same way. If you are in any doubt, speak to a member of staff.

Identifying Relevant Information

Use the ABMA Reading List to guide you towards the resources needed for your particular subject. If you do not have this, please speak to your lecturer who will be able to provide this for you.

Use the most recent, reputable information available in the work that you produce. Some textbooks, for example, will have new editions released each year. This is particularly important when quoting data and statistics, as these can change dramatically from year to year.

Consider the amount of work you have to produce as an ABMA Dissertation will carry a specific word limit. Decide on how much material on any given subject area you will need to research. Above all, be selective about what you read. Do not read every resource from cover to cover. You simply will not have time for this. Make sure you read only the information that is relevant to your piece of work and take notes accordingly.