Design Tool: The SRM Research Project Planner

This post is part of a how-to series about how to use the subscription-based SAGE Research Methods online library. If you would like to access the SAGE e-books, articles, case studies, videos, and datasets mentioned in these posts, explore SAGE Research Methods with a free trial.

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Locate the Project planner under the Tools dropdown.

Visit SAGE Research Methods to access to the Research Project Planner. 

You can find the Project Planner in the drop-down menu on the front page of SAGE Research Methods. Project Planner materials will also appear in site search results. (If you do not have access, explore SAGE Research Methods with a free trial.)

You might imagine that a Research Project planner is some kind of spreadsheet or scheduling template. While those kinds of tools might be helpful at some point, if you don't know where you're going it is hard to know how to map the journey.  The SAGE Project Planner is set of materials designed to help you see what needs to be included in a research planning process. The Project Planner is a flexible set of materials you can use in conjunction with other proposal documents.

When you open your Project Planner you will see a menu on the left-hand side of the screen. These buttons correspond to important stages of research design.

Within each topic area you will find clear explanations, definitions of important terms, key questions, practical steps, links to other resources, and a checklist. Each section can be read online or downloaded in a PDF format. The sections about defining a topic, reviewing literature, and developing a research question are useful for new or student researchers-- or for experienced researchers looking for a fresh beginning. Guidance about writing up and disseminating results can be useful to any researcher.

Checklist questions help you identify what you need before moving to the next step, making it easier to prioritize tasks and make good use of your time. The checklists can help to focus meetings with your thesis or dissertation supervisor, or provide the basis for discussions with research clients or research collaborators so you can home in on critical questions.

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