# ResearchUnboxed — 12 planned workshops

Dates, session lengths and arrangements are unconfirmed. Session 12 is an added recommendation, not an original proposal detail.

## 1. Introduction to research

Objective: Distinguish a claim from evidence and recognise inquiry across disciplines.

Activity: Map an interest in science, society or a text. Identify what evidence could change your mind.

Output: Interest map and initial question

Optional extension: Find one empirical study and one interpretive essay. Compare how each supports its claims.

## 2. Literature review & critical reading

Objective: Evaluate source reliability, authorship, context and relevance.

Activity: Annotate a source: separate its claim, evidence and interpretation. Record the source in a literature matrix.

Output: Annotated source and literature matrix

Optional extension: Trace a headline to its original study and note what the headline leaves out.

## 3. Finding a feasible idea

Objective: Identify a useful gap without claiming that nobody has studied a topic.

Activity: Develop three questions. Compare access to evidence, time, scope and ethical constraints.

Output: Three questions with feasibility notes

Optional extension: Search alternative keywords and revise your account of the gap.

## 4. Questions, hypotheses & methods

Objective: Match a focused question to a suitable method.

Activity: Compare observational and experimental designs, and qualitative and quantitative approaches. Identify controls, confounders, sampling bias and faculty guidance needs.

Output: Focused question, rationale and method sketch

Optional extension: For an interpretive question, explain your text selection; for an empirical one, name a measurable variable.

## 5. A paper in conversation

Objective: Critique methods, evidence and limitations respectfully.

Activity: Discuss a paper across disciplines. Ask whether its sample or context supports its conclusion and suggest an alternative explanation.

Output: Critique of methods, evidence and limitations

Optional extension: Check whether a second study uses a different population or source selection.

## 6. Data analysis & visualisation

Objective: Describe a public dataset honestly and distinguish correlation from causation.

Activity: Use UCI Iris in a spreadsheet: label columns, calculate a mean and median, and make a scatterplot. Discuss outliers, uncertainty and limits to generalisation. Coding is optional.

Output: Labelled graph with interpretation and limitations

Optional extension: Reproduce your graph in Python or Desmos and record every transformation.

## 7. When sources disagree

Objective: Explain conflicting findings without choosing only convenient evidence.

Activity: Compare two sources: inspect definitions, sampling, methods, context and uncertainty.

Output: Comparison of two sources and an explanation of disagreement

Optional extension: Write down what further evidence would help resolve the disagreement.

## 8. Research writing

Objective: Connect each claim to evidence and acknowledge uncertainty.

Activity: Draft an outline and a cited paragraph. IMRAD suits many empirical papers; humanities arguments may use thematic or chronological structures.

Output: Paper outline and one evidence-supported paragraph

Optional extension: Revise a paragraph to distinguish your interpretation from the source’s claim.

## 9. Presenting findings

Objective: Explain a question and its limits to a non-specialist audience.

Activity: Design a short talk or poster with readable figures and explicit limitations; practise with a peer.

Output: Short presentation or poster outline with feedback

Optional extension: Try a one-minute explanation without specialist vocabulary.

## 10. Synthesis & peer critique

Objective: Integrate evidence rather than listing sources.

Activity: Group sources by agreement and disagreement. Use the feedback rubric to identify the most consequential improvement.

Output: Revised evidence map and project improvements

Optional extension: Keep a revision log explaining why you accepted or declined feedback.

## 11. Project development

Objective: Plan a reproducible next step and surface obstacles early.

Activity: Review your research record, references and method with peers; identify a faculty checkpoint before any sensitive or laboratory work.

Output: Progress summary, obstacle and next steps

Optional extension: Write instructions that would let another student retrace your analysis.

## 12. Mini-symposium & reflection

Objective: Share a clear argument and reflect on how it changed.

Activity: Give a short presentation, invite constructive critique and distinguish a club showcase from a preprint or peer-reviewed publication.

Output: Short presentation, peer feedback and reflection

Optional extension: Identify one unanswered question and one skill to practise next.