Interactive Digital Textbooks for Postgraduate Researchers
Currently Under DevelopmentA coordinated suite of interactive digital resources designed to support postgraduate students in developing research literacy, methodological confidence, and analytical expertise. Each resource shares common pedagogical principles: learning through doing, embedded literacy support, scaffolded progression, and emphasis on informed methodological choice.
All workbooks include multiple interactive tools allowing students to practice with sample data first, then apply their learning to their own research data. Reflection and planning activities throughout help readers apply concepts to their own projects.
Introduces paradigmatic thinking to students encountering concepts like ontology, epistemology, and paradigm for the first time. Coverage across eight social science disciplines shows both what unites them methodologically and where their traditions diverge.
Interactive tools include: Reality Spectrum for exploring ontological positions, Method × Paradigm Explorer, Design Coherence Challenge, Method Builder game, Analysis Route Finder, and a Project Designer for building and comparing research designs across different paradigmatic stances.
Enables students to 'try on' different analytical approaches in low-stakes practice environments. A 'multiple lenses' exercise demonstrates how the same data yields different findings through different approaches — building confidence for informed methodological choice.
Interactive tools include: Text Explorer for linguistic marker detection, Transcript Preparation Tool, plus analytical workspaces for Thematic Analysis, Qualitative Content Analysis, Discourse-Marker Analysis, and Narrative Analysis.
Designed specifically for research with ≤120 participants — the size typical of dissertation research, programme evaluations, and practitioner enquiries. Guided calculators show every computational step, building understanding rather than black-box dependence. Consistent emphasis on effect sizes alongside significance testing.
Interactive tools include: Guided calculators for all major statistical tests, Questionnaire Builder, Analysis Plan Generator, Inferential Report Generator, and comprehensive Test Your Knowledge quizzes across ten topic areas.
Developed by Dr Pauline Prevett
University of Manchester
School of Environment, Education and Development
For enquiries: pauline.prevett@manchester.ac.uk