Preparing for an Independent Research Project

Step into your next research adventure

Independent research might sound daunting at first. But it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of postgraduate study, giving you the chance to explore what truly interests you.

This course from Arden University provides the guidance and tools to design a project that reflects your goals and ambitions.

You’ll explore key ideas in research methodology, research ethics and academic writing, gaining the practical skills to plan and deliver your project with clarity and purpose.

Build a strong foundation in research design

You’ll discover how to plan your approach, understand the difference between primary and secondary research and build a design that helps you stay focused and organised from start to finish.

You’ll also explore what makes great research tick. Learning how to choose a topic that excites you and shape it into a clear, achievable question.

Gain tools to think ethically and reflect deeply

Good research doesn’t just answer questions; it asks the right ones responsibly. You’ll explore the ethical principles that guide meaningful research and learn how to apply them to your own ideas.

Along the way, you’ll reflect on your learning journey, building stronger study skills and a clearer sense of how you work best.

Write like a researcher

Academic writing is about more than style; it’s how you share your ideas with the world.

You’ll learn how to read critically, engage with academic literature, and express your arguments with clarity and purpose. By the end, you’ll feel ready to write with focus and bring your research ideas to life.

Taught by Arden University’s expert criminology team and delivered through flexible digital learning, you’ll walk away with the tools to grow as a researcher and take your next academic step with confidence.

This course has been created for postgraduate criminology students who are preparing to undertake their independent research projects. The course will provide a brief introduction to independent research, and will support students in making some of the key decisions ahead of commencing their studies, including: • choosing your topic and creating a research question • primary versus secondary research, • an introduction to research ethics, and • engaging with academic literature

This course has been created for postgraduate criminology students who are preparing to undertake their independent research projects. The course will provide a brief introduction to independent research, and will support students in making some of the key decisions ahead of commencing their studies, including: • choosing your topic and creating a research question • primary versus secondary research, • an introduction to research ethics, and • engaging with academic literature

• Identify different ways of selecting a research topic, and to understand the process of creating a research question.
• Compare the differences between primary and secondary research.
• Identify the key principles of research ethics, and to be able to apply these principles to your own subject area(s).
• Explore how to engage with academic literature at different stages of the research process.