Research and Engagement Design

A Research and Engagement Design should emerge from your reflection on the following questions:

What do you most want to see happening in your project in the time until it has to be submitted?
(“Happening” refers both to process and content. It includes, but should not be limited by, who you might be able to influence and what you hope to influence them to do, i.e., your audience and purpose. Take note of your title and evolving Governing Question. Do they match each other? Do they dictate what you actually have to do? Revise them if needed.)

What things might be blocking you from realizing this vision?

What can you do to deal with the obstacles and realize the vision—what new directions do you need to move in?

What achievable steps would move you in these directions?

You will have already addressed these questions if you completed the whole Strategic Personal Planning process. If you have only done the practical vision stage of Strategic Personal Planning, you will need to use other processes of reflection and dialogue (e.g., Freewriting, One-on-One Session with advisor) to explore the questions.

In the Design restate your title and Governing Question. The rest of the design may be in note form provided you make evident to readers and to yourself the reasons for the sequence of steps you include.

Sequence of Steps

Map out your research onto the weeks ahead—be more specific about the immediate future. Check whether the steps you propose allow you to fulfill your purpose, answer your Governing Question, and complete research that addresses the Component Propositions. Check whether the sequence ensures that when you get to any step you will have completed the preparation necessary for you to undertake that step.

(See Phase E)