Dr Leanne Doherty

Dr. Leanne Doherty's presentation focused on developing a structured research approach and effectively using academic evidence in our dissertations. She emphasised the importance of being organised and intentional with our search strategy, which includes using relevant keywords, finding the right databases, and meticulously recording search results and our reasons for including or excluding sources. A structured approach like this ensures the evidence we gather is relevant, credible, and supportive, which will make our final dissertations more persuasive and grounded in real findings.

Practical Techniques & Tools

To properly define our research scope, Dr. Doherty suggested visual tools like Venn diagrams. We can use these to map our main themes (Theme 1: "Super-Apps", Theme 2: "Western Users", Theme 3: "Privacy Laws"), with the overlapping section representing our core research area. She also introduced citation chaining, a powerful method where you find a key article, check its bibliography for foundational work, and also see who has cited it more recently. This allows us to trace the academic conversation. Finally, she stressed the importance of using a citation management tool like RefWorks from the very beginning to save time.

Academic Writing: Style and Structure

• Writing style should be descriptive and objective.
• Use precise vocabulary to answer the “what” and “how” of research.
• Employ the P.E.E.L structure for paragraphs:
  • Make a Point.
  • Support it with Evidence.
  • Explain how the evidence proves the point.
  • Link it back to the main research question or the next paragraph.
• Maintain a professional and academic tone.
• Avoid contractions like “it’s” or “we’re.”
• Avoid personal opinions like “I think” or “I believe.”
• Use phrases like “The evidence suggests…”

Be concise and avoid redundant words for clarity and focus.

Personal Reflection & Action Plan

While the talk was informative, I found it a bit overwhelming, especially as a creative design student who prefers more visual and practical work. However, the session highlighted how strong research can significantly enhance creative work by allowing me to justify my design ideas with reliable evidence. To improve, I plan to practice using the university's research databases, get better at keeping organised notes, and make sure to seek support when I get stuck. Strengthening these skills will be key to making my dissertation more evidence-based and well-structured.