GRASP

Workshop series


Workshops are held during Semester 1 and repeated again during Semester 2. Most are held online, with session recordings and slides sent to everyone who registers.

We are currently running 5 workshop series:

  1. Writing your research proposal
  2. Literature searching and reviewing
  3. Data collection and analysis
  4. The research writing process
  5. GenAI and research

GRASP workshops are scheduled a few weeks before the start of semester, and you can sign up for them via the Library’s workshop calendar.

Although designed for HDR students, all Curtin staff and students are welcome to attend the workshops. Descriptions of each workshop are found below, along with registration links and access to previous recordings.

The online workshops are recorded and distributed to everyone registered for the session.

Writing your M1 research proposal


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In this online workshop we look at all the key components of the Research Proposal required for Milestone 1 and the resources available to assist you. In particular, we touch on:

  • the title and abstract
  • background and significance
  • research questions, aims and objectives
  • research methodology
  • ethical considerations
  • references
  • timeline and budget

Future workshops in the series delve more deeply into developing your research questions, literature/background section and research methodology.

Overview of the M1 research proposal: Workshop recording Sem1, 2025 [2:01:20]

In this online workshop we help you understand what makes a good research question, and help you develop and refine the research question/s, aims, and objectives for your research proposal. In particular we consider:

  • the differences between questions, aims and objectives
  • why a good research question is important
  • examples of research questions from published Curtin theses
  • how to develop a research question step by step
  • what makes a good research question

Formulating your research questions, aims and objectives: Workshop recording Sem1, 2025 [1:55:22]

In this online workshop we explore philosophical approaches to research including the relationship between ontology, epistemology, methodology and methods. We discuss how to design a research methodology that is appropriate for your discipline area and topic. The aim is to help you feel more confident in talking about your research methodology and your approach to your research, and in positioning it within a philosophical approach.

A good companion workshop is ‘Qualitative and quantitative research methods’, which is part of the GRASP Data Collection and Analysis series.

Research methodology and methods: Workshop recording, Sem1 2025 [1:55:14] (Recording includes guest presenter, Cally Jetta, discussing indigenous research methodology).

In this online workshop we help you develop a systematic approach to managing your literature review or background section for your research proposal and a process for writing it. In particular we cover:

  • purpose of a literature review
  • selecting and organising resources
  • reading and notetaking
  • writing the literature review section

Literature review: reading and writing: Workshop recording Sem1,2025 [1:56:31]

In this workshop we look at how to create an effective presentation for Milestone 1. These workshops are held online and in person, and involve developing and practicing a small part of your presentation.

This workshop looks at how to manage your research data, and includes:

  • the FAIR principles
  • file and folder naming, storage options
  • data management planning
  • and much more

Some useful pre-reading can be found on the Curtin Library Research Toolkit.

Research data & Data Management Plans: Workshop recording Sem1, 2025 [1:14:18]

Literature searching and reviewing


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This online workshop demonstrates additional functionality available in EndNote to support in-depth research projects. This session will show how to:

  • Synchronise your library between multiple computers
  • Work with referencing styles, including finding and editing styles, and changing capitalisation in your references
  • Add PDFs and other attachments, including automatic importing and using EndNote Click
  • Manage your library, including record numbers and changing display fields
  • Work with long documents in Word, including unformatted citations, creating chapter bibliographies and merging chapters
  • Get help with EndNote

NOTE: If you are new to EndNote please ensure you have first joined an EndNote essentials workshop for an introduction to the software. Online instruction is available at Curtin UniSkills with Essential Endnote and Endnote Extras.

This online workshop looks at how to use NVivo software to assist with writing a literature review. Topics covered include:

  • importing files and importing from EndNote
  • creating annotations and memos
  • creating codes to organise content
  • different ways to search the literature.

Health Sciences

This online session will enable you to:

  • Consider the type of search you want to undertake and for what purpose
  • Better assess which databases will be of most use to you
  • Plan a database search and consider specific techniques to help find relevant material
  • Find additional help and support

Literature Review (Health Sciences): workshop recording [00:47:14]

Literature Review (Health Sciences): PowerPoint slides [PDF, 988kB]

Business & Law & Humanities

This workshop will help you to:

  • Plan your literature review
  • Translate the research question into concepts and keywords
  • Identify databases and sources of information
  • Maximise strategies for effective searching
  • Stay up-to-date with your research topic
  • Manage your research results

Literature Review (Business & Law & Humanities): workshop recording [01:58:46]

Literature Review (Business & Law & Humanities): PowerPoint slides [PDF, 10MB]

Science & Engineering

In this online workshop you will learn essential techniques, tools and services available to help you find and manage the information you need for your research.It will help you to:

  • Plan your literature review and select quality references
  • Translate the research question into concepts and keywords
  • Identify databases and sources of information
  • Maximise strategies for effective searching
  • Track research in your discipline
  • Tips to get your research published
  • How to promote your research, yourself and your publications

Literature Review (Science & Engineering): workshop recording [01:03:26]

Literature Review (Science & Engineering): PowerPoint slides [PDF, 5MB]

This online session will enable you to:

  • Gain an understanding of the systematic and scoping review process
  • Considerations in formulating a research question
  • Plan a search using both keywords and subject headings, in a key database such as Medline
  • Gain tips on using advanced search techniques
  • Find additional help and support.

For more information view the Systematic & Scoping Reviews Guide

Data collection and analysis


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This online workshop provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Building on the Research Methodologies workshop (from the Research Proposal Series), it explores key features of various study designs (including case studies, grounded theory, phenomenology, cross-sectional, cohort, experimental designs, and more), along with appropriate sampling strategies and data collection techniques. Come along to learn more about these concepts, and to discuss how they apply to your own research project.

Introduction to descriptive statistics

In this online workshop you will learn the fundamentals of using statistics to analyse quantitative data. In particular, the workshop will cover:

  • different types of data and variables
  • displaying and analysing categorical and continuous data
  • analysing relationships between pairs of variables
  • the properties of the normal distribution.

Introduction to inferential statistics

In this online workshop you will learn the fundamentals of using statistics to analyse quantitative data. In particular, the workshop will cove:

  • confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, statistical power and sample size
  • testing for differences in means using one sample, paired sample and independent samples, t tests and one-way ANOVA
  • testing for linear correlation using Pearson’s correlation coefficient
  • testing for association using a Chi-square test.

Library’s Introduction to Statistics

In this in-person and online workshop you will learn tips and tricks for creating and distributing a survey using your Curtin Qualtrics account. In particular, the workshop will cover how to:

  • use different types of questions across multiple question blocks
  • use piped text and different kinds of logic to customise the survey
  • implement scoring, email triggers and quotas
  • customise the look and feel of the survey
  • publish and distribute your survey.

Library’s Introduction to Qualtrics

In this online workshop you will learn how to use NVivo to organise, summarise and search research materials for projects and assignments big and small. Topics covered include:

  • importing project materials
  • creating annotations and memos
  • coding
  • searching.

Introduction to NVivo module

In this workshop you will learn the fundamentals of analysing data using the statistical software SPSS. In particular, the workshop will cover how to:

  •  set up your data
  • calculate descriptive and inferential statistics
  • create charts
  • perform a range of data transformations

Introduction to SPSS module

In this hands-on workshop we will guide you through a data analysis and visualisation journey using the free open-source programming language Python. You will experience using Python, along with:

  • Accessing and storing data
  • ‘Cleaning’ data Analysing data
  • Visualising data Workflow automation
  • Interactive visualisations and beyond

Data literacy with Python

In this hands-on workshop we will guide you through a data analysis and visualisation journey using the free open-source programming language R. You will experience using R, along with:

  • Accessing and storing data
  • ‘Cleaning’ data
  • Analysing data
  • Visualising data
  • Workflow automation
  • Interactive visualisations and beyond

Data literacy with R

The workshop covers the fundamentals of analysing data using the statistical software Stata. The workshop will cover how to set up your data, how to calculate descriptive and inferential statistics, how to create charts and how to perform a range of data transformations.

Please note that if you would like to follow along with the workshop live on your own computer, you will need to have access to Stata, which is available on all Curtin-owned computers in Australia.

The research writing process


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In this workshop we will highlight some of the important things to consider as you write your thesis, reflect on areas that you may be struggling with, and identify things that you can do to work on or improve. In particular we consider:

  • different thesis formats and their structure
  • developing your scholarly voice
  • creating a flow of ideas
  • writing as a process
  • tackling writing challenges

Thesis writing: Context and principles: Workshop recording Sem 1, 2025 [1:55:47]

The aim of this workshop is to help you develop your skills in constructing good arguments in your writing, critique others’ arguments as well as reflect on, and acknowledge, your own subjectivity. In particular we consider:

  • what critical thinking is and why it is important
  • analytical reasoning
  • critical literacy
  • self-awareness / metacognition

We consider these aspects by looking at examples and reflecting on your own research project.

Critical thinking: Workshop recording Sem 1, 2025 [2:01:27]

In this workshop you will learn how to structure paragraphs within the conventions of academic writing style. We will discuss:

  • the difference between deductive and inductive paragraphs
  • the PEEL model for writing paragraphs
  • creating transitions between paragraphs
  • maintaining a logical flow
  • developing a process for writing paragraphs
  • common paragraph-writing problems

Writing better paragraphs: Workshop recording Sem1, 2025 [2:00:32]

In this workshop you will learn some approaches, techniques and tips to edit your own work. We also look at why getting feedback is useful, what it should look like, how to ask for it and use it well, and how to deal with negative feedback.

Thesis writing: editing and proofreading: lecture [00:35:59]

Thesis writing: feedback: lecture [00:40:02]

When working on a long document (such as a thesis), it can be tedious to get through all that formatting. We’ll teach you some tricks and tips for simplifying this process and getting Word to do the work for you. Freeing up your formatting time leaves more room to get your research and writing just right. In this session you’ll learn how to:

  • Use styles to create an automatic table of contents
  • Create a table of figures/captions
  • Insert cross references and bookmarks
  • Use section breaks to format independent chapters and pages

Formatting your thesis using Word [1:08:25]

AI for researchers


Sign up here for workshops in this series.

This series was piloted in Semester 1, 2025. Recordings are available to Curtin students and staff on request.

This in-person workshop provides a basic hands-on introduction to generative AI, including how it works, key considerations, evaluating its outputs, and leveraging it to streamline research. The session covers:

  • How generative AI is trained
  • Bias, ethics, and copyright considerations
  • Strengths and limitations of AI tools
  • Real-world applications (searching, text generation/manipulation, transcription, interrogating PDFs)
  • Possible research process integrations

This online workshop provides a basic introduction to AI tools that can be used to assist with literature searching and the literature review process. It will help you to understand the benefits and limitations of using AI for finding and discovering academic articles, and where and how these tools can support the literature review workflow. The session covers:

  • How AI can support literature searching and the literature review process.
  • Benefits/limitations of using AI tools.
  • Examples of popular AI tools.
  • Considerations when using AI tools.

This online session contextualises the ways that copyright and AI intersect, and will analyse common questions that arise when conducting research. Bring your questions and scenarios so we can have a robust discussion on how to navigate this complex landscape together. The session covers:

  • The background and basics of copyright and intellectual property
  • How AI uses copyrighted material
  • AI and Australian copyright law - the current landscape
  • Frequently asked questions about copyright and AI

This session highlights the current state of play regarding publishing research in an environment where ethics and guidelines for using AI are still to be determined. This session will focus on sharing experiences and highlighting some of the publishing practices that researchers should be aware of when submitting articles for publication. We will look at some of the challenges facing researchers making their publication plans. The session covers:

  • AI and Publishing - the current landscape
  • How are researchers responding to the AI challenge
  • How are publishers responding to the AI challenge
  • How to comply with grant/funding requirements in an era of AI

This in-person session provides attendees with hands-on experience in designing, adapting, and using effective AI prompting techniques to enhance AI outputs. The Session covers:

  • Basic AI functionality and the importance of prompting
  • AI model output variance and how to manage it
  • Identifying appropriate AI use cases and structuring effective prompts
  • Effective prompt design for better results
  • Basic prompting techniques
  • Advanced prompting strategies, including:
  • CARE framework
  • Role-based prompting
  • Chaining techniques
  • Iterative prompting
  • Meta prompting