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# 3.2 A research plan

Before starting your research, it is helpful to write down your proposed methodology in a research plan. The research method you use will depend on your research question and the information you need to be able to answer it. You may find that as you consider the research methods to be used you realise your research question is too broad and needs to be amended or narrowed. This is a normal part of designing research.

There are advantages and disadvantages to different research methods, which may also influence your choice. Your research also needs to be realistic, both in terms of its scope and timing. Can you complete the research in the timescales available and leave sufficient time to analyse your data and write your report? If your research is too broad, you can reduce its scope by limiting its timescale, by geography or by using sampling. Alternatively, you may need to refine your research question to look at only part of the original proposal.

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