Tara Brabazon podcast

Henry Huang is completing a research project on Manga. He talks with Tara about how technology is 'managed' within Manga, with attention to both its utopic and dystopic interpretations.

Most discussions of research methods are hooked into the social sciences and the sciences. Yet what can Communication Studies bring to an investigation of research methods? In this podcast, undergraduate students completing their final project explore the nature of this contribution and the specificity of humanities scholarship.

Dr Matthew Ingram and Tara explore the challenges that confront students during a research project. Matt argues that understanding the research process and taking responsibility for it are key characteristics of success.

Nicole Grifoni is conducting a research project on Drake. She is interested in how popular knowledges about heterosexual relationships are activated in his audience to create social change.

Nada Kabbara is enrolled as a 4th year student at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Tara talks with her about religious extremism, religious tolerance and how we create socially just communication systems.

Assumptions about research supervision are damaging. At the start of any research project, it is important to ask, note and understand student expectations for teaching, learning, research and supervision. Tara talks to her 4th year undergraduate students and probes their requirements of a research supervisor.

Once the research is completed, students may feel that the difficult slog is finally over and they can quickly and accurately write up their project and submit it with ease. Yet such an assumption is mistaken. Tara talks with Mick Winter about the writing phase of research projects. What are the distinctions between journalistic and academic writing? What is the best mode of expression? Can we eve...

Tara introduces her students from Capstone, the 4th year research project at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.  Students ask Tara the key questions to commence their research project.

Laura and Tara discuss how to organize time in a research project. How do you know when to stop reading? How valuable is that editing and drafting time? Laura and Tara explore the value of 'seeing' time' to structure time.

Research is difficult.  It can be a pleasure, but the point of research is to challenge ourselves and challenge the limits of knowledge to discover something new.  Tara concludes her 10 microlectures by discussing how to succeed in research and value the experience.

A rather depressing title to this podcast, but it is important to acknowledge the characteristics of poor research projects that may fail.  Tara discusses the signs of research flaws, problems and issues and how students can correct these before submission.

When the research, writing and editing cycles are complete, students - quite rightly - feel that it is time to relax.  However the key moment is still in front of them.  Preparing the document for submission is crucial to a successful examination.  Tara provides a checklist for students to deploy, to ensure that the examiner receives a high quality submission, rather than a document that does not...

The relief is real when the first draft of a research project is completed.  However the marks - and the high grades - are given to the best edited and drafted documents.  Polish creates excellence.  Tara explores this difficult, time consuming and stressful stage of a research project, showing what examiners are looking for and how - and where - the marks are carried on a dissertatation.

Too often the phrase 'writing up' is used as a self evident and self explanatory phrase in research projects.  Yet writing, researching and thinking are tethered in complex and intricate ways.  Tara explores the writing 'stage' in research and shows that it is not a 'stage' at all, but a continual cycle of reflection through scholarship.

The online environment has opened incredible opportunities to research students. Yet how is this plurality of information and platform managed in current research projects?  Tara explains - from the perspective of a supervisor and examiner - what is expected from a research bibliography in the 2010s.

Practice-led and creative-led theses and research projects have grown in popularity over the last twenty years.  Often formed from an artefact and exegesis, they are not without controversy or challenge, particularly when passing through a process of examination.  Tara evaluates the risk and potential of this special mode of research.

Along with research methods, the literature review is a constant - if dull - attendant to any programme of research.  Yet literature reviews are not only done poorly, but are often pointless and obliquely connected to the research question or thesis statement.  Tara ensures that the focus of the literature review is clear and frames the research effectively and carefully.

Teaching (and learning about) research methods is often the dullest of topics and courses. Yet methods are important, but perhaps not in the way in which they are conventionally taught. Tara talks about why methods matter, but why they must be at the service of theory.

The phrase "doing research" does not capture the complex stages and milestones between finding an idea and submitting a thesis or major assignment.  Tara talks through the stages of a research project, understanding how and why examiners give high marks to some students and remove marks from others.

While the intensity of a research project is often focused on the days before submission, the success of a thesis or dissertation is often determined by the first few days of planning.  Tara shows how to make that plan, and the tricks and tips that will create a successful research trajectory.

Tara introduces the fourth year research course in Communication at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology: Capstone

Tara talks with Steve Redhead and discusses the characteristics of research projects that fail, or are marginally successful. How can students avoid the pitfalls and errors in their research?

Research training is a major area of the contemporary academy. A key - yet underasked question - is the difference between theory and method. Steve Redhead and Tara explore 'the turn to methods' and the impact of this 'turn' on the scale, scope and quality of research.

Nicola and Tara talk about the capacity of podcasting for assessment in professional communication programmes.

Claire and Tara explore how podcasting can be used in assessment for professional communication programmes. Claire shows how complex ideas can be presented in new ways.