Run by School of Ocean Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Dei Huws

This module has the following aims:

1. To develop a critical understanding of the available information and prior research in the field selected for the research project.

2. To prepare a literature review that will form the basis for the research project introduction & discussion.

3. To prepare a project proposal form to define the plan of the project

4. To present an outline of the project proposal to a critical audience for comments.

5. To know how to critically review the project proposals of peers.

The purpose of the literature review is to ensure that the student is aware of background literature in the general area of their research project topic.

Undertaking a literature review will ensure that they are well briefed before embarking on research, and should focus their attention on very specific areas of knowledge or lack of it and areas of contradiction. The literature review will enable them to place their study in the context of what is known, and thereby stimulate them to develop hypotheses which can be tested by specific questions. It is an essential step in project design.

Following introductory lectures, each student will spend their time in self-study and literature searching. Project supervisors will meet with their students on a non-formal basis throughout the semester and provide guidance and feedback about progress in the completion of the literature review.

At the conclusion of the literature review the student will be able to complete a project proposal form outlining the specific hypotheses to be tested and the overall plan for the project. This will be presented as a 10 minute talk with 5 minutes of questions and will help to confirm sound plans, spot problems and suggest better approaches, such that the student has a much clearer idea of how to proceed. Staff and fellow students will review the proposals, in particular to rein in overambitious plans, to identify problems in experimental design, raise awareness of likely logistical problems, and to draw attention to unconsidered safety issues.

	excellent Excellent: Provide exhaustive coverage of the available literature showing full understanding and extensive critical integration of material across the topic area. Develop logically, prioritised, testable hypothesis from review. Excellent formulation and presentation of project proposal
On completion of the module students will have a good understanding of the selected topic.	proposal
On completion of the module students will be able to critically review and make value judgements about information from a range of sources.
On completion of the module students will be able to write an in depth literature review.
On completion of the module students will be able to prepare and present a detailed project proposal.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
COURSEWORK	Literature Review		65.00
ORAL	Literature Review Presentation		20.00
COURSEWORK	Project Plan		15.00

		Hours
Private study	Literature searching and reading (130 hours) Review preparation and writing (40 hours) Project Proposal preparation and writing (19 hours) Included in these hours will be some meetings with your supervisor. Each student will require or prefer differing amounts of contact time, but everyone should expect at least 3 one-to-one meetings during the study period.	190
Seminar	Presentations	8
Lecture	Lectures on literature review and project proposal preparation and planning (2 hours)	2

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Compulsory in courses:

• F7AT: MSc Applied Marine Geoscience year 1 (MSC/APMGSCI)
• F7AX: MSc Marine Renewable Energy year 1 (MSC/MRE)
• F7AH: MSc Physical Oceanography year 1 (MSC/PO)