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Thanks for all the advice from both of you. I'm in the fortunate position to be enrolled at a Russell Group University doing a CertHE in languages, which I don't have to finish until 2014. So that solves the problem with gaining access to journals etc and also gives access to software. I think maybe it may be worth trying to do this research and perhaps using it in some way to gain entry onto a PhD. Would that be an option?

======= Date Modified 17 Feb 2011 19:23:29 =======
======= Date Modified 17 Feb 2011 19:16:24 =======
Hi,

I have a 2:2 BSc and a PGCert in Social Research Methods. I've been trying to complete an MSc in Social Research Methods but sadly my health deteriorated quite badly so I had to pull out and take a PGCert. I would argue this is also the reason I ended up with a 2:2. I simply do not have the money to carry on either and because of funding cuts the qualification is being removed before I'll have a chance to complete it.

I feel I understand research methods well enough to do some research. I have a number of ideas about what I could do research on, and have written a proposal.

I understand how important it is to have a supervisor but I simply will not be able to afford to have one or be accepted onto a research course with my qualifications and the fact that I've basically just failed an MSc.

So my question is, do you think it's possible to do research and write research papers without a supervisor. Is it possible to submit a paper to any journals without them having to be authored by an academic? I know it will need to come under intense scrutiny, so how should I go about doing that before I submit if I'm not a PhD student? I really want to get on with this research, I think it's important research partly because it doesn't seem like anyone has really followed the line of inquiry I wish to take.