"If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much"

Research, and what constitutes good research, varies between disciplines and as such requires each individual to approach their field with a keen curiosity to determine the rules of the game and what it is exactly that constitutes good research. Obviously there will be similarities, but gaining an understanding of the unique features of the area is what differentiates a Distinction and a High Distinction.

Below I have managed to put together the rules of the game that I will be following. This is by no means complete, as I am an Honours student and on the very first leg of my research journey. As such, it will be developed for years to come as I continually learn the processes and rules of good research.

I hope to expand my mind map through my Qualitative Research Methods course, which I will be able to use as a foundation in my approach to current and future research projects.

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose”

Welcome on my research journey. This year, in doing my honours at the Australian National University in Canberra, I will be opening my mind to previously unthought possibilities and exploring challenging concepts. I am excited by what I will learn and by what I will discover as I go on an academic adventure to explore Australian consumption habits of bottled water.

There are two key aspects to what critics describe as good research. Firstly, the research conducted must identify a gap and respond to a problem, subsequently making an original or value-added contribution. To do this, you need to dig deep to find out the rules of the game and play by them, as well as having a strong theoretical foundation. Secondly, the idea must be creative and engaging, being of interest to the target audience. An important element of this is to ensure that the findings are clearly communicated.

Cynics of academia criticise researchers, believing that research is concerned with the ‘yesterday’, not the ‘tomorrow’. This is true to an extent, with some research projects being retrospective, though this is because a lot can be learnt from the past that influences future practices. Nonetheless, I aim to make a significant contribution that explains consumer motivations and influences related to bottled water consumption, which will be of use to a variety of community groups and can be used for both current and future needs.

At the moment I am deciding between taking a social marketing approach, which will adopt an environmental/sustainability perspective, or take a more theoretical angle by attempting to describe purchase behaviours. In making my decision, I am contemplating which will have the most significant contribution to the area, as well as what will be of most interest not only to myself but to the wider audience.

An entertaining video from the popular ABC program ‘The Gruen Transfer’ looks at “How to Sell Bottled Water” and touches on the social phenomenon that is bottled water, which makes for interesting viewing. The link to the website is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwcCECPvlts.

However, it is just that; a topic. I need to continue reading the literature and refine the idea down into a research problem. It is important to have strong, credible theory behind the research as well as a range of sources, as it enhances the argument and provides a better understanding of the topic. I hope that my course in Qualitative Research Methods will help me to effectively evaluate the literature, and on a broader scale ensure that my thesis integrates qualitative methods to guide my research.