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Information processing

 

Introduction

With respect to the second generic quality, lifelong learning, there is a shift to the area of personal learning. For the postgraduate higher degree by research student, the context is the 'pursuit of personal development and excellence in research within and beyond the discipline or professional practice'.

Information processing is defined as '...concerned with gathering and manipulating and storing and retrieving and classifying recorded information' (hyperdictionary.com). A key reference document for this process is the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (replaces the NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice).

The resources which follow cover these areas and support you to use information during your candidature to develop your research proposal and thesis. This process is closely linked to information retrieval.
 

UniSA resources

On campus workshops

Research Education Support Activities (RESA) offers on campus workshops relevant to:

as part of the core series (all disciplines). Check the calendar for details of when these workshops are offered.

workshop resource course

Online workshops, courses and resources

These RESA indexes provide links to online workshops, courses and resources:

Other

Bibliographic management software (Library) has information on EndNote and RefWorks, both available to students for downloading bibliographic citations and styles

Managing your information and data looks at different types of information and how information can be stored.

Analysing and interpreting data and information looks at how to organise the information gathered from your research for effective delivery and understanding.

Requirements and guidelines for research data storage (Research and Innovation Services) assists researchers in the appropriate storage of material.
 

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Other resources

SPSS

Resources to help you learn and use SPSS (UCLA) is an excellent website featuring free introductory online tutorials including a Starter Kit and Learning Modules. Other resources include notes and movies of seminars, online manuals and information on installing, customising and updating SPSS and discussion lists and technical help details

SPSS scientific research page (opens in a new window) provides technical reports on SPSS products and their uses. There is also a Training section with details of courses available in Australia

SPSS: A brief tutorial for SPSS versions 11, 9 and 7.5 provides screen captures as well as instructions:

NUDIST/NVIVO

QSR Homepage (Qualitative Solutions and Research - NU*DIST developers) has information on conferences and workshops, free demo software and updates, information on products and resources such as a free downloadable manual and tutorials.

Using Nudist Software for Qualitative Research (PDF file, 1.32mb) from the University of North Florida broadly outlines how to use Nudist features.

Statistics

Seeing Statistics is an online approach to teaching and learning statistics. The chapter headings are: 1. Data & Comparisons; 2. Seeing Data; 3. Describing the Center; 4. Describing the Spread; 5. Seeing Data, Again; 6. Probability; 7. Normal Distribution; 8. Inference & Confidence; 9. One-Sample Comparisons; 10. Two-Sample Comparisons; 11. Multi-Group Comparisons*; 12. Correlation & Regression; 13. Categorical Data*; 14. Nonparametrics & Transformations* (not available in the version 1.0 edition).
Please note: Version 2.0 is also available but not freely accessible.

Other

Data storage and retention (Guideline 2, Joint NHMRC/AV-CC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice) outlines research responsibilities.

Dealing with data (PhD Stages, University of Queensland) links to software sites for SPSS and NUDIST, and looks at issues of research such as putting the data into a coherent form, looking at the fit between your aims and your research design, and developing a sense of where your thesis is going.

 

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