THESIS - BIG IDEA - What's the question? Main Purpose of the study? When you feel overwhelmed ->...

1. Overachievers: Amy calls your research a brick in the wall. It's really just a grain of sand. The reality is that this is a thesis for a grade so you can graduate and not many people will ever read your thesis except maybe other students that need an example. Not really understanding this left me feeling 'ungrounded' because I wanted to save the world. Be able to realistically look at what you are doing with your thesis. If it's a GREAT thesis, you may be asked to present it at CELA conference but it pretty much stops there. You can also submit it to ASLA entries on research and if you win, they look good on a resume but that's about where it ends so work the program but don't let it intimidate you.

2. CH4 - Findings and Analysis - How will you examine your data? Just have a plan - set it out early - It's just sorting and organizing data (like dumping a 1000 pc puzzle on a table and sorting pieces to where they go - like pieces and edges go together until they start making some kind of sense).

2.1. Tools I used; Ever note for filing articles, Mind Maps, a Book on how to do Domain Analysis was AMAZING (find your amazing how-to guide and simply follow it), Dedoose.com coding software, transcript tools (look into Google LIVE TRANSCRIBE). Always find your simplest common denominator for what you are doing (using mind maps or tools to organize your thoughts and data. Use zotero and Grammarly. Make sure autosave is set to ON.

2.2. Analysis: Mine was based on coding and sorting info: 1) other's perceptions 2) Field data ranking scores on different subdivisions (just added a different type of data that was based on MY perception and guided by my Lit Review (my Lit Rev told me what to look for) 3. the lit review gives a foundation to the rest

2.3. Findings: Pull out info from your analysis (use examples of what your interviewees said - quote them to show examples or use your ranking findings if you are using scores.

3. Ch5 -5 Conclusions & Discussion: What are the answers to your Research Questions (this is your conclusion)? Discussion (this is why you are doing the thesis!)

3.1. Discussion: Why is any of what you did important? How can LA's use the information? What future research would help further your idea? You were interested in it - why should someone else be interested and how can they build on what you did? What questions arose during your process that you didn't answer (KEEP A RUNNING NOTEPAD ON THIS DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS)

4. Ch1 - Intro - Research Questions: How do these relate to what you want to know?

4.1. Do they bring you closer to the intended purpose? Are you asking the right questions that pull your subject's perception on the big idea? The more specific you are - the better able you will be to glean viewpoints and perception which leads to a reality for your big idea. You are looking for perception realities that you can make recommendations on for further research and showing how it pertains to the LARC profession.

5. Ch2 - Lit Review - Funnel it down broad to specific. Ex: The case for LARC focused conservation -> HIPPO -> Conservations Subdivisions -> Designing CS for wildlife -> Apex preditores (Urban Carnivores).

5.1. Don't get lost; If it doesn't relate back to what you are doing, move on. NOTE: You may want to change your Research Questions based on what you learn. Are they still appropriate based on the existing literature (what has already been said about what you are doing?)

5.2. A good time to find reputable sources on writing styles and follow it: passive vs active guides, find a good proof reader. Learn word doc formatting for your thesis so it's not a mess trying to set headings, subheadings, etc. (set this up in the beginning - messed up formatting can be a nightmare).

5.3. Best time to get guidance on where you're going with your advisor. Specifically talk about your research questions and what kind of information you are looking to receive (be open but you do have a goal). Also tackle if your Research Methods are the best for the information you want to get.

6. Ch3 - Research Methods: What's your plan? Find a good Thesis (see the Table of Contents which is basically a thesis outline) and follow it - it's your roadmap.

6.1. Have enough data to make it worthwhile as a thesis: Triangulation (I used interviews, lit review, and field data). Use enough subjects to at minimum pique interest and support what you are doing. You are spending a lot of time on this, you should make it worthy of your time and effort.