🏗️ Phase II: The Architect

Phase II: The Architect

Duration: Weeks 2-4 (Jan 19 - Feb 02) | Points: 125
Design your digital workspace and research foundation

Learning Objectives

By the end of Phase II, you will:

  • ✅ Build a professional GitHub profile
  • ✅ Confirm software installation (R, RStudio, Obsidian, Quarto)
  • ✅ Structure your digital office for research
  • ✅ Identify and evaluate media archives
  • ✅ Understand data source feasibility

Phase II Overview

As an architect designs blueprints before construction, you’ll design your research infrastructure. This phase ensures your digital workspace is properly configured and you understand where to find data for your research.

The Architect Mindset

  • Plan ahead: Set up systems before you need them
  • Build foundations: Establish reliable workflows
  • Choose materials: Select appropriate data sources
  • Document structure: Create clear organizational systems

Assignments

GitHub Profile (25 points)

Due: Week 1 (Jan 12)

Create a public GitHub profile with: - Professional photo - README.md introducing yourself - Research interests overview

GitHub Setup Guide

Syllabus Contract (25 points)

Due: Week 2 (Jan 19)

  1. Open the provided Quarto template in RStudio
  2. Sign your name (handwritten image or typed)
  3. Click “Render” to generate PDF
  4. This confirms your software is correctly installed

Project Setup (25 points)

Due: Week 3 (Jan 26)

Submit screenshot showing your “Digital Office” structure: - Obsidian Vault folders - RStudio Project files - Organized according to course guide

Setup Guide

Archivist Report (25 points)

Due: Week 4 (Feb 02)

Identify a media archive (e.g., Nexis Uni, Social Media Data): 1. Draft brief report in Obsidian summarizing: - Source name and type - Date range available - Feasibility for your research 2. Render to PDF using RStudio

Weekly Schedule

Week Chapter Focus
Week 2 Ch 2: The Publishing Engine Understanding research workflows
Week 3 Ch 3: The Scientific Approach Research fundamentals
Week 4 Ch 4: Intelligence Gathering Finding data sources

Tools & Resources

Required Software

Textbook

Vibes to Variables

Tips for Success

  • Complete software installations early
  • Test your Quarto rendering before the syllabus contract is due
  • Explore multiple media archives before committing
  • Keep screenshots and documentation of your setup process
  • ✅ Plan ethical data collection approaches
  • ✅ Evaluate existing research and prior work
  • ✅ Identify potential risks and mitigations
  • ✅ Present a mini research proposal :::

What You’ll Do

In Phase 2, you’ll move from understanding the liaison role to asking good questions:

Frame Research Questions — Move from vague ideas to clear, testable questions with defined variables

Map Stakeholders & Sources — Understand who needs what information and where data lives

Plan Data Collection — Design ethical approaches (surveys, interviews, data scraping, observations)

Identify Risks — Consider privacy, bias, sampling, and other potential challenges

Phase 2 Assignments & Activities

⭐ FIRST: Complete the Week 03 Project Setup Assignment

Before diving into research activities, ensure your vault is organized and ready for data.

→ Go to Week 03: Project Setup Assignment

This assignment takes 10-15 minutes and is worth 25 points.

Phase 2 Content & Activities

Activity 1: Understanding Good Research Questions (Week 3-4)

Work through these steps:

  1. Read & Compare - Review 2-3 example research questions from your field
  2. Critique - What makes them clear or vague? What variables are defined?
  3. Rewrite - Take a vague question and rewrite it with clear variables

Example: - ❌ Vague: “How do people use social media?” - ✅ Clear: “What communication patterns distinguish active vs. passive users on TikTok among ages 18-25?”

Submit: Your rewritten research questions (2-3 examples) in 03_Project/01_Prospectus/

Activity 2: Stakeholder & Data Source Mapping (Week 4)

Create a one-page visual map showing:

  • Who cares? - Primary stakeholders (who needs your findings?)
  • What’s available? - Existing data sources (surveys, databases, interviews, archives)
  • What’s missing? - Gaps in current data
  • How will you collect? - Your planned methods

Submit: A visual map (diagram, table, or infographic) in 03_Project/01_Prospectus/

Activity 3: Mini Research Proposal (Week 5)

Write a 2-3 page mini proposal including:

  1. Problem Statement - Why does this question matter?
  2. Research Questions - What specifically will you investigate?
  3. Methods Overview - How will you collect data?
  4. Timeline - When will each step happen?
  5. Risks & Mitigations - What could go wrong and how will you address it?

Submit: 03_Project/01_Prospectus/Mini_Proposal.md

Key Concepts: The Research Mindset

Variables (The Building Blocks)

Independent Variable - What you control or predict from
Dependent Variable - What you measure or predict to
Control Variables - What you hold constant

Research Designs

  • Exploratory - What’s happening? (descriptive)
  • Explanatory - Why is it happening? (causal)
  • Evaluative - Is it working? (assessment)

Ethical Considerations

  • Informed Consent - Did people agree to participate?
  • Privacy & Confidentiality - How will you protect personal data?
  • Fairness & Bias - Are your methods equitable?
  • Harm Reduction - Could participation cause distress?

Resources for Phase 2

📋 Weekly Journal Template

5 min

Reflect on your research questions and process using one of three thinking paths: Connector, Troubleshooter, or Critic.

View Template

📚 Reading & Literature Review Tips

10-15 min

How to take effective research notes and organize them in your vault.

[Content to be added]

🔧 Research Methods Glossary

Beginner

Quick definitions of common research terms (variables, sampling, validity, etc.)

[Content to be added]

What Success Looks Like

By the end of Phase 2, you should have:

✅ 2-3 Clear Research Questions - With defined independent/dependent variables
✅ Stakeholder & Data Source Map - One-page visual showing who cares and what data exists
✅ Mini Research Proposal - 2-3 pages outlining problem, methods, timeline, risks
✅ Week 3-5 Journal Entries - Reflections on your research process
✅ Ready for Phase 3 - Understanding your data landscape

Milestone Timeline

Week Deliverable Status
Week 3 Research questions draft Submit in prospectus folder
Week 4 Stakeholder/data map One-page visual
Week 5 Mini proposal 2-3 pages + class discussion

Next Phase

Once you complete Phase 2:

→ Phase III: The Builder - Develop research questions and build your codebook

Need Help?

  • Stuck on research questions? Visit office hours or check the research methods glossary
  • Data collection questions? Talk to Dr. Leith about ethics and feasibility
  • Proposal feedback? Share a draft in 00_Inbox/ or email for comments

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