Planning a Research Project

STUDYSmarter

SurvivalGuide

PLANNING A RESEARCH PROJECT

Creating timelines:

A research project can be one year, two

years, three years or more. You should

always plan out these periods to ensure you

have a timely completion.

There are varying levels of tasks that must

be considered in any timeline:

 big (analyse data, write chapter…)

 medium (read article, edit

referencing…)

 small (check emails, format table…)

TIP

Discuss your timeline with your supervisor

to ensure your estimated timeframe is

realistic and all the information is included.

There are 2 types of timelines:

 Timeline 1 – This is for your research

proposal and your supervisor so they

can track what stage you are at. It is

simpler with clearer big goals. You may

update this every 6 months or as

requested by your supervisor.

 Timeline 2 – This is for YOU! It should

have extra details breaking down the

medium tasks in between the big tasks.

This should be updated weekly or

fortnightly.

You could also use a daily planner to

schedule in other commitments – family,

friends, exercise, employment etc. and to

include the smaller tasks.

How to make a timeline:

1) Make a list of tasks

2) Put tasks in chronological order

3) Categories level of tasks by colour

4) Choose a timeline design

5) Fill the timeline with the big tasks

6) Copy over timeline 1 and create timeline

2 with the medium tasks included

TIP

Save your timelines as pdfs when sharing

them with your supervisor/reviewers, to

maintain its format. Also use a key so it is

easily understood.

Tasks/deadlines you may include in

timeline 1:

 Coursework major deadlines

 Write research proposal

 Write literature review

 Planning methods

 Collect data

 Fieldwork

 Analyse data

 Write draft

 Present research

 Rewrite and edit

 Final proof read

 Final draft due

 Conferences

 Publication due dates

 Deadlines

Timeline 2 may contain:

 Coursework medium tasks

 RESEARCHSmart Workshops

 Reading schedule

 Meetings with supervisors

 Smaller goals that help achieve tasks in

timeline 1 (e.g. write section three of

literature review)

Research 1

NTT

CHART Example

January

Feb

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March

April May June July August

Sept

ember October November

ece

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Designing your timeline:

 Research various designs and find one

that suits you.

 Colour code based on themes.

 Make sure it is easy to edit.

 Have clear hierarchy of information.

 Leave room for a self-extension —

editing at the end always takes longer

than we realise.

Common timeline designs include:

 Gantt Chart — this is displayed as bars

reflecting the period of time it will take to

complete each task listed.

 PERT Chart — this is a good way of

showing how one task must be

completed before another is created.

However, it can be harder to edit.

 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) —

this is a diagram that flows down and

shows how a particular task can be

broken into smaller sections.

 Traditional Timeline — a linear model

showing the chronological order that a

project will take place. This works well for

milestone deadlines.

TIP

Depending on the length of your research

project, your timeline should show weekly

or monthly goals. Yearly would not be

specific enough.

What else should you be doing?

While a timeline can help to plan your

research project, you should also:

 meet with your supervisor regularly,

 update your timeline frequently,

 attend STUDYSmarter workshops and

WRITESmart drop-ins for feedback on

your progress,

 speak with peers to share ideas,

 edit after you have written a large amount

(do not edit constantly, as it can interrupt

your writing flow),

 break down tasks to make it more

achievable, and

 balance your study life with social life,

exercising and relaxing.

Like this Survival Guide? Why not check out more of our guides...

Writing a Literature Review, Writing a Research Proposal, Writing an Annotated Bibliography, Methods and

Methodology, Writing a Research Abstract, Writing Thesis Statements, and Quoting and Paraphrasing.

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