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XX50137: Long research apprenticeship project (MRes)

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 12
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take XX50133
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To support students, within an active research community, in identifying, investigating and presenting their own original research questions 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 a research question/questions, identifies an appropriate methodology which has been piloted, and engages with 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 a pilot of the research methodology and present findings in a coherent manner
* support arguments with relevant empirical data;
* develop rigorous arguments through precise use of relevant concepts, models and illustrations
* understand and apply concepts relevant to the integrity and rigour of research such as 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 through a pilot exercise, and produce a research report that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX50137 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Economics Department of Education Department for Health Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies Department of Psychology Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.