Module overview
The Project Preparation Module will prepare students for the summer Masters Project. It will give students a grounding in the research methods and techniques they will need in order for them to plan and successfully execute and complete their project.
Part of the Module involves identifying potential areas of research, negotiating with the Programme Leader and potential supervisors. This will involve general research and the review of literature and the identification of a research question or questions. They will then develop a research plan which will be presented in summary form via a submitted coursework and a poster presentation. This will be presented via the Module Poster Exhibition at the end of the semester.
It is expected that as part of this module the students will undertake appropriate preparatory study for their summer project, e.g. learning specific new analytical, simulation or other technical skills where necessary. The module also teaches students what it is to be a professional practitioner, examining ethical and legal issues around professional practice.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The concepts of project planning and risk management
- The general background to the subject of your summer project topic
- The general background to the subject of your summer project topic
- Demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of professional codes of practice, legal, social, cultural and ethical issues and an awareness of societal and environmental impact
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Identify and describe appropriate research questions, and devise the means to address those questions through subsequent research/project work
- Carry out a critical review of literature, including current developments, analysing them and identifying limitations and avenues for further research and development
- Be able to present a project plan to a public audience
- Understand where necessary how to assess and obtain ethical approval for a project
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
Syllabus
The syllabus will develop skills required for students to be able to undertake research in the area of their identified summer project. It will also introduce them to specific tools, the appropriate research and data collection methods, as well as the quantitative or qualitative analytical methods required. It will also cover the planning and development methods necessary to deliver a viable Project Outline for the work over the summer term.
Development of the project research topic:
1. Literature review:
- Reading and summarising relevant articles
- Critical analysis and evaluation of research
- Identification of themes and comparators
- Writing review documents
2. Scientific method and nature of evidence
- Experimental methods
- Design methods
- Simulation techniques
- Data collection and management for quantitative data
- Human participants: expert reviews, focus groups, questionnaires and interviews
- Analytical techniques and tools
- Statistical techniques for analysing data
3. Ethical issues
- Ethical and societal challenges
- Positions and model of ethics
- Business ethics and corporate responsibility
- Personal and workplace ethics
4. Legal and professional issues
- Ownership, copyright and patent
- Workplace legislation
- Data protection
- Privacy and security
- Environmental responsibility
- Health and Safety: Good practise and policy
5. Professional Issues
- Professional societies
- Codes of conduct and practice
6. Project management and report writing
- Project planning and management
- Risk analysis
- Report structure and style
- Report writing
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Wider reading or practice | 40 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 6 |
Project supervision | 4 |
Completion of assessment task | 80 |
Lecture | 20 |
Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
This assessment will require the use of a second examiner and moderation, on an individual case-by-case basis, as for other projects.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Continuous Assessment | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External