Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
XX50137 Long research apprenticeship project (MRes) |
| Credits: 18 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take XX50133 |
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Aims: To support students, within an active research community, in identifying, investigating and presenting their own original research questions on a fairly substantial scale, and within a fixed time period.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, the students should be able to: * understand principles of research design and appreciate alternative approaches to research; * understand the significance of alternative epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction, research design and the selection of appropriate analytical techniques; * show competency in the use of particular research designs and techniques within their own specialist discipline or subject area; * produce a Report of academic and professional merit that defines and answers a research question/questions using relevant theory and data. Skills: Intellectual skills * define and answer a research question; * demonstrate knowledge of the relationships between, and the rationale for, particular qualitative and quantitative research methods and be able to select appropriate strategies for research and/or evaluation; * develop and present an original and coherent answer; * support the overall argument with relevant empirical data; * develop rigorous arguments through precise use of relevant concepts, models and illustrations; * understand and apply concepts of generalisability, validity, reliability and replicability. Professional practice skills * develop, apply, test and hone professional practice skills taught in the research methods units of the programme, depending on the particular nature of the Research Apprenticeship Project; * understand issues posed by social research in relation to ethics, confidentiality and legality; * have a good command of language skills where appropriate; * present the Report in a written form that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation and expression; * complete the assignment within the agreed deadline. Transferable/Key Skills: * writing, presentation and dissemination skills; * bibliographic skills including library and other sources; * research management skills, including time, personnel and resources planning and monitoring; * language skills where appropriate; * ability to work independently. Content: Any area of social science research for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. The nature of the Long Research Apprenticeship Project is that students 'learn-by-doing', and so they will be expected to demonstrate their ability to define a research question, design and conduct primary research and produce a research report that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation. |