1. Before you read Text 2A “Managing Your Postgraduate Research Project”, discuss these questions with your groupmates or teacher.

a) What opportunities will you have during postgraduate study? b) Do you think research projects run smoothly? c) What is required to be an efficient researcher? d) Do you know how to plan a research project? e) What risks can have the impact on a research project? f) What are the reasons for not completing a project on time?

2. Read and translate Text 2A. The Active Vocabulary List following the Text may be helpful. Find out if your answers are right or wrong. Use the introductory phrases given in Unit 1.

Text 2A. Managing your postgraduate research project

 Research degrees offer a rewarding and exciting opportunity to explore an issue in real depth. On completion you will be one of the world’s leading experts in your field. During your study you will have the opportunity to meet researchers from around the world and present your work to them. However research projects rarely run smoothly, they are often frustrating and highly challenging. Being prepared for this and understanding why you are undertaking the research will help you to maintain your motivation and prepare for future opportunities. Indeed trained researchers offer experience that employers value.

Postgraduate research projects are often highly complex requiring several objectives to be completed and various tasks that must be carried out at specifi c times. To be an effective and effi cient researcher you will need to plan your research projects carefully to make the most of your time and research opportunities. Your plan will need to be revised over time as your research develops and changes over

time. The plan will help you quickly identify if you drop behind your targets, giving you the chance to make the necessary adjustments to the plan and your objectives, and ensure you complete your research.

When you know what you need to do, and when you need to do it, you can start to build an initial plan. This does not need to be complex, and could simply be a list of milestones in your diary or calendar. Where there are several tasks that you will be undertaking simultaneously, you should identify any critical paths that exist (those where you must complete certain tasks before beginning others). Some students with highly complex projects may find project management software useful, and many institutions offer training to use this effectively.

 With an initial plan in place, it is worth looking at each of the tasks and milestones to identify any risks that might be present. For each risk estimate the impact it will have on your project, and how likely it is to occur. You should consider setting up contingency plans for any risks which are most likely to occur.

For example, in most research projects the availability of data can have a significant impact, be this the availability of an industrial partner or access to archive data. It is often hard to be certain that you will get the data that you want and expect to be available. If in your case you assess the likelihood of the data source being unavailable, you could manage this risk by investigating the possibility of alternative data sources and make initial preparations to use them.

It is not uncommon for doctoral research projects to dramatically change as you discover more about your research area. As changes occur, update your plan to keep it realistic and deliverable. You may also add more detail to your plan as the research method becomes clearer. To facilitate your thinking about this you may fi nd that a work breakdown structure will help you. Identify the reasons for why you did not finish on time, and identify the problems you faced. You may fi nd the following reasons occurring commonly: — If it was due to other commitments, have you taken too much on? — If it was due to unexpected complexity, will other tasks also take longer? — If it was due to the unavailability of equipment, did you manage to start another task in your free time?

Now modify your plan to take account of your changed situation. You may have to reduce the amount of work you plan to do. If so, discuss this with your supervisor, taking care to identify the tasks that are essential to complete your project successfully.

ACTIVE VOCABULARY LIST

arise [ə′raiz] (arose, arisen) v — возникать, появляться; являться результатом objective [əb′dʒektiv] n — цель, задача, стремление

target [′ta:git] n — цель, объект, предмет; контрольная цифра

adjust [ə′dʒΛst] v — приводить в порядок, улаживать; согласовывать; приспособлять; регулировать

adjustment n — регулировка, согласование; урегулирование worth [wə:θ] adj — заслуживающий, стоящий (чего-л.)

impact [′impækt] n — влияние, воздействие, последствия; [im′pækt] v — оказывать воздействие

occur [ə′kə:] v — случаться, происходить

available [ə′veiləb(ə)l] adj — наличный, имеющийся в распоряжении, доступный availability [ə,veilə′biliti] n — наличие

complete [kəm′pli:t] adj — полный; законченный; v заканчивать

facilitate [fə′siliteit] v — облегчать, помогать, способствовать

take account of; (syn.) take into account [ə′kaunt] — принимать во внимание misconception [,miskən′sep∫(ə)n] n — неправильное понимание (представление), недоразумение

opportunity [,ɔpə′tju:niti] n — возможность, случай

take the opportunity (of) — воспользоваться случаем

access [′ækses] n — доступ; иметь доступ

have access (to)— иметь доступ (к)

gain / obtain access (to) — получить доступ (к)

source [sɔ:s] n — источник, основа; документ

data source — источник данных

relate (to) [ri′leit] v — относиться, иметь отношение; устанавливать связь, определять соотношение

closely related — тесно связанный

enable [i′neib(ə)l] v — давать возможность; делать возможным

mean [mi:n] (meant [ment]) v — значить; подразумевать

means [mi:nz] n — средство, способ; ресурсы

by means of — посредством

order [′ɔ:də] n v — заказ; порядок; приказ; заказывать

in order to — для того, чтобы

regard [ri′ga:d] v — рассматривать; касаться, иметь отношение

regarding [ri′ga:diŋ] prep — относительно, касательно, о

regardless (of) [ri′ga:dlis] phr prep — независимо от, не считаясь, не принимая во внимание

due to [′dju:tu:] prep — благодаря

3. Complete the following sentences with details from the Text.

1. Postgraduate degrees offer _____________________________.

2. The plan of your research project will require ______________.

3. Project management software can be applied for ___________.

4. The data available for research projects can have ___________.

5. You should keep your plan ____________ and _____________.

4. Locate the following details in the Text. Give the line numbers.

1. In which lines does the author explain how to plan a research project?

2. Where in the Text does the author fi rst mention the research objectives?

3. At what point in the Text does the author discuss some possible modifications of a research project?

5. Underline the detail that is NOT mentioned in the Text in each of the sentences below.

1. During your postgraduate study you will have the chance to meet researchers, present your work to them, and become the world’s leading expert in your field.

2. Postgraduate research projects require various tasks to be carried out, some papers to be published, and several objectives to be completed.

3. You can begin to make an initial plan when you know how to make it, what you need to do, and when you need to do it.

6. Answer the following detail questions.

1. According to the Text, understanding why you are doing the research will help you to prepare for a) challenging tasks. b) running the project smoothly. c) future chances.

2. According to the Text, what do employers value? a) researchers’ experience b) researchers’ educational background c) researchers’ motivation

3. According to the Text, to complete your research you should a) make a project plan. b) make the necessary adjustments to the project plan. c) identify the targets.

4. According to the Text, one of the reasons for not fi nishing the research project is due to a) equipment failure. b) the availability of equipment. c) the lack of equipment.

5. According to the Text, if you reduce the amount of the research work, you have to a) plan your changes. b) consult your supervisor. c) modify your plan.

7. Underline or mark the main ideas of the Text and retell it in English.