| Unit name | Research Skills |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM0021 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Paul Earlie |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will introduce students to the skills and techniques needed to conduct their research and present their findings, in the first instance in their dissertation. Students will learn how to identify an area of research and formulate key questions; where to locate relevant materials and secondary readings, how to organise their research materials, and how to structure and write an academic dissertation. It will introduce students to issues such as impact and encourage them to think about the dissemination of research, including the use of blogs and social media. It will equip students with the necessary skills to embark on doctoral research, if they so desire; it will also encourage them to explore the use of research skills outside academia by inviting speakers from third sector organisations to lead discussions, where opportunities arise.
Students will:
a) Identify and develop a research topic and establish key questions.
b) Identify and select appropriate resources to research a wide variety of interdisciplinary topics.
c) Reflect critically on their own theoretical and empirical approach, and the approaches of others.
d) Establish a suitable structure for the dissertation.
Teaching will be delivered online through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation.
This unit is intended as preparation for the dissertation, so it will be assessed as a pass/fail (following the template established by the MA in History) on the basis of the submission of a one-page research proposal and a presentation of the research area and key questions during a dissertation-board meeting. A pass in this unit will be contingent on the student providing the following, to a suitable standard:
In their proposal:
And in their presentation (Online):
If students are continuing a line of research that they began in one of their units, or as part of a Supervised Individual Study, they will be required to demonstrate that their dissertation project represents a step forward, or a change of direction, from their previous work.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM0021).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
