Duke looks to put iPad to work in research methods course

Masters students taking a research methods course are being given the devices to use in field research projects.

Course tutor Jen’nan Read said: “Our primary goal is to equip our students with a toolset that allows them to make the most of their time in the field.

“As calculation, graphing, and presentation-creation functions of the iPad are put to use in the field, so too is the ability for students to focus on mastering the more complex methods by which they are basing their research.”

Course iPads boast 3G and wi-fi internet access and a variety of research and survey applications that can record and import multimedia interviews and photos, and collect, chart, evaluate and even present data.

The 10-hour battery life is another advantage for fieldwork, and the institute believes the slate form factor of the iPad makes it easier to handle and less susceptible to damage than laptops and netbooks.

• Read blogger Tim Macer’s thoughts on the iPad as a research tool here.