Contact us to schedule a one-hour free webinar 'Research design with the Idea Puzzle software', including a two-month free trial of the Idea Puzzle software for all users of your university email domain. To date, Ricardo Morais has lectured the Idea Puzzle webinar 355 times in 103 universities from 27 countries. On average, the knowledge imparted at the webinar was evaluated 9,5 in 10 by 1548 participants (13% response rate).
Introduction
The Idea Puzzle software is a decision-making tool that helps PhD candidates improve the coherence of a research proposal, article, or thesis in the light of Philosophy of Science (Morais & Brailsford, 2019). It also helps review the strengths and weaknesses of a research project in any field of knowledge (Parente & Ferro, 2016). To date, it has helped design more than 7000 research projects worldwide.
The Idea Puzzle software poses 21 questions, helps answer them, and allows the self-evaluation of each answer in terms of decision-making status. The help function of the Idea Puzzle software includes examples of research designs in different fields of knowledge that have won the Idea Puzzle Prize as well as definitions, introductions, tips, and bibliography. The output of the Idea Puzzle software is a research design with 21 answers, an overall score, and a coloured jigsaw puzzle of progress that can be shared in PDF or in Word.
In 2023, the Idea Puzzle software was shortlisted for SAGE £15k Concept Grant, from a total of 89 research software tools. The jury considered the theoretical framework of 21 decisions unique and praised the way the Idea Puzzle helps PhD candidates go through the process of developing their research.
Topics
1. Relation between epistemology, methodology, ontology, and axiology
2. Coherence between theory, method, data, rhetoric, and authorship
3. Empirical research as a system of 21 dilemmatic decisions
Audience
PhD candidates, doctoral supervisors, and lecturers of research methods/skills in any field of knowledge.
Results
After the webinar, participants will be able to: a) acknowledge the relation between epistemology, methodology, ontology, and axiology; b) coherently align the theory, method, data, rhetoric, and authorship of a research proposal, article, or thesis with the Idea Puzzle software; and c) review the strengths and weaknesses of a research project in any field of knowledge.
Lecturer
Ricardo Morais, married and father of three daughters, is Assistant Professor of Management at Católica Porto Business School, and Director of Idea Puzzle. Since 2013, he coordinates the seminar 'How to design your PhD' at the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management (EIASM) in Brussels. He holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, having graduated in Management from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. He is also an alumnus of HPI School of Design Thinking in Germany. His research interests are interdisciplinary, including Philosophy of Science, Strategic Management, Design Thinking, and Spirituality in Management. Since 2002, he has published more than 30 academic articles, chapters, and papers about these topics and lectured in 103 universities from 27 countries. He is a member of the Philosophy of Science Association, Strategic Management Society, and Academy of Management.
Publications
Morais, R., & Brailsford, I. (2019). Knowledge visualisation for research design: The case of the Idea Puzzle software at the University of Auckland. In K.N. Sim (Ed.) Enhancing the role of ICT in doctoral research processes (pp. 46-66). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Parente, C., & Ferro, L. (2016). Idea Puzzle (www.ideapuzzle.com), created by Ricardo Morais. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 15(3), 643-645.
Testimonials
Hasok Chang, Hans Rausing Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
"Your course certainly constitutes an innovation in the teaching of Philosophy of Science."
Mary Mazzilli, Acting Deputy Dean Postgraduate Research Training, University of Essex, United Kingdom
"Thank you so much for doing this. I heard very good things about the webinar. Especially about the evaluation!"
Ursula Hurley, Director of the Doctoral School, University of Salford, United Kingdom
"Thank you for the recent webinar, which was well attended and has received excellent feedback. We see the Idea Puzzle software as a great support for PhD candidates during this period of enforced online learning and as such we would like to formalise it as part of our training offer for the coming academic year."
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