2014/15 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

DESN2275 Research Methods

20 creditsClass Size: 240

Module manager: Dr Richard Blackburn
Email: ccdrsb@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2014/15

Module replaces

DESN2255 Digital Design for Professional Practice

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to a range of research methods in preparation for the level three dissertation module common to all of the undergraduate programmes in the School of Design. The fundamentals of research planning and research design will be delivered with basic and intermediate research methods theory. Research skills will be developed through workshops particular to each programme of study and a series of seminars will be instrumental in introducing current research undertaken in the School allowing students to fully appreciate the purpose of research and to evaluate and review research while developing critiquing skills.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate sound knowledge of a range of research methods and their appropriateness for different research studies / tasks
- Evaluate and critique research objectively
- Search for appropriate literature and images for a literature review with a clear understanding of validating and referencing the information
- Develop a research project proposal with an appropriate literature review to give context to the intended study with a sound research methodology, aim and objectives, and correctly referenced using the Harvard Referencing system

Skills outcomes
- Written and oral communications skills
- Project development, organisation and management skills
- Critical thinking
- Subject knowledge

Syllabus

This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the importance and value of research in the wider community. Students will develop a sound understanding of basic and intermediate research methods that may be incorporated into their Independent Study module at level three. Students will understand how to build a research framework developing a hypothesis, research questions, aims and objectives and will appreciate ethical considerations. Students will also be introduced to cataloguing techniques for efficient data retrieval. Students will understand and engage with a literature review, validating and critiquing research and information from a range of resources. Students will use the Harvard Referencing system and will understand copyright issues. Students will understand practice-based research and traditional academic research types exploring quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students will also have a clear understanding of how research is written, reported, published and disseminated in the academic and wider community and will have a good understanding of appropriate academic language and confidence in writing the dissertation in the level three Independent Study module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Group learning	4	2.00	8.00
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	3	1.00	3.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Private study will be spent as follows:
- Examination Preparation 30 hours
- Additional Reading 50 hours
- Planning, developing and producing research proposal 20 hours
- Research and literature review 50 hours
- Critique writing 28 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Continuous monitoring of Student progress will be monitored by:
- Observing engagement and interaction in the seminars and workshops
- Regular attendance at Lectures
- Through the project proposal and critique assignments

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Independent Study Proposal with literature review, aims and objectives, research methods and Harvard Referencing 1,500 to 2,000 words not including the list of references/bibliography	30.00
Critique	1000-1500 words	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Alternative resit for the critique of presented research will be to critque an academic journal paper (1,000 to 1,500 words)

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 30 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 31/03/2015

Disclaimer

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