Module UXS-2099:
Research and Methods

Module Facts

Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Steffan Thomas

Overall aims and purpose

This unit aims to equip students with an understanding and critical overview of the key conceptual and methodological issues associated with various types of research enquiry appropriate to students seeking to write a dissertation within the School of Creative Studies and Media. It sits alongside a module dedicated to students engaged in research by practice, developed by Dr. Eben Muse.

It addresses theoretical and practical issues in designing research projects, and therefore will also develop key transferable skills for the world of work. The topics to be addressed include research paradigms, research ethics, conducting literature reviews, textual and discourse analysis, and engaging in field research.

Course content

  • Introduction; choosing a research topic
  • Writing a research proposal
  • Research Paradigms: Positivism vs Interpretivism
  • Working with texts 1: Textual analysis
  • Working with texts 2: Content analysis
  • Fieldwork 1: Questionnaires, interviews and focus groups
  • Fieldwork 2: Ethnography and participant observation
  • Case study approaches
  • Quantitative and qualitative sampling issues
  • Research Ethics
  • Doing a literature review; writing a dissertation

Assessment Criteria

threshold

D [40-49]

Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows:

  • Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.
  • Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.
  • Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.
  • Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

good

C [40-59]

Submitted work is competent throughout and occasionally distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates:

  • Good structure and logically developed arguments.
  • At least in parts draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.
  • Assertions are, in the main, backed by evidence and sound reasoning.
  • Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

B [60-69]

Submitted work is competent throughout and distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates:

  • Very good structure and logically developed arguments.
  • Draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.
  • Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning.
  • Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

excellent

A [70-100]

Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways:

  • Has originality of exposition with the student's own thinking being readily apparent.
  • Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.
  • Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

Learning outcomes

  1. Apply a range of study skills and methodologies appropriate to research in the Arts and Humanities.

  2. Define a coherent research question, and design and implement a programme of study to investigate this question.

  3. Embed a substantial piece of academic or practice-based research within an appropriate set of cultural, social, institutional, economic and/or critical frameworks.

  4. Work independently to deadline over a sustained period of time.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Literature & Review 50
Methodology & Ethics 50

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

Lectures (1 x 1 hour per week for 11 weeks): mixture of one-to-many and interactive style so to demonstrate methodological approaches

 11
Private study 178
Seminar

Seminars (1 x 1 hour per week for 11 weeks): interactive/hands-on exercises; study skills exercises; student presentation and systematic feedback sessions

 11

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • 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

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: