2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PECI3700 Independent Research Project

40 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Kara McKechnie
Email: k.mckechnie@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

Module replaces

PECI 3108

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The PCI Independent Research Project module is an extended project where students identify a research question pertinent to knowledge in performance and the cultural industries and then devise and carry out a strategy to address that question. The IRP demonstrates that you can work independently in conducting research which involves dealing with a range of material and complex ideas and that you can communicate the outcome of your research effectively and convincingly using appropriate academic conventions.

Objectives

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Carry out independent research with tutorial support and guidance

Define the area of study and identify research questions

Select and deploy research method (s) appropriate to the study

Select from, critically analyse, and interrogate a comprehensive range of sources

Interpret and contextualise the main findings of the study in relation to that of established researchers and/or practitioners

Demonstrate the ability to synthesise subject knowledge and understanding and research with a personal position which shows depth and some originality

Present ideas coherently and cogently in writing observing academic conventions

Demonstrate the ability to manage their own learning over a sustained period of study

Learning outcomes
Students successfully completing this module will have developed:

Knowledge and understanding of research skills allowing them to identify a research topic and question, identify appropriate methods to address the question and pursue those methods independently.

Research skills appropriate to a final year undergraduate in processing information (selecting, evaluating, analysing, synthesising) and in conveying the outcomes in written form (considering structure, coherence and clarity of their written work and making confident use of academic conventions)

Knowledge specific to the particular topic they have chosen to investigate.

Syllabus

Student identifies topic and area of research into an aspect of performance and the cultural industries. The focus of individual study is determined through agreement between student and supervisor via a research proposal.

Resources about the module will be available on-line from Easter in Level 2. The introductory lecture (Lecture 1) for this module will be in the period between Easter and the Summer exams in Level 2. It will address developing proposals for dissertation. In this period there will also be seminars for students to discuss their ideas with peers and receive preliminary advice from staff.

Students will be asked to make an initial proposal for their IRP by the end of term in Level 2. This proposal will be used to inform decisions about allocation of supervisors to students.

Semester 1

Sept - Lecture 2 – Reviewing the research proposal process, focus on literature review, research methods and managing your supervisor.

Sept - Tutorial 1 - Verbal feedback on individual research proposals.

Oct - Seminar 1 – Discuss managing the research process in the initial stages and issues around refining research proposals.

Oct - Submit final proposal, tutor feedback and guidance via email

End October - Tutorial 2 discussion of written feedback on proposal.

Nov - Lecture 3 - How will the IRP be assessed? What makes a good undergraduate research project?

Nov/Dec – Tutorial 3 – review of progress (annotated bibliography)

Dec/Jan - student submits 3,000 words to supervisor (focus to be agreed at tutorial 2)

Semester 2

Jan/Feb - Tutorial 4 – feedback on individual progress (includes written feedback on 3,000 words)

Jan - Seminar 2 - academic writing workshop (discussing extracts of past dissertations)

Feb/March student submits draft of final submission

March - Tutorial 5 – feedback on draft submission

Final submission directly following Easter break.

The final submission for the Independent Research Project will normally consist of a written thesis of 10,000-12,000 words, but it can also include an element of practice-led enquiry (within allocated resources). In these cases an element of non-written documentation (e.g. edited video) may be included as part of the submission and the word count of the written element may be reduced (but must be no less than 7,000 words). N.B. The inclusion of practice-led methods must be agreed with the supervisor at the proposal stage.

List of references, bibliographies and appendices are not included in the word count.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	3	1.00	3.00
Seminar	2	1.00	2.00
Tutorial	5	0.50	2.50
Private study hours			392.50
Total Contact hours			7.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

Research context (literature survey) – 40 hours
Preparing dissertation proposal – 20 hours
Preparing for seminars – 10 hours
Gathering data - 80
Analysing information - 83
Writing draft – 120 hours
Revising draft – 39.5 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Because of the weighting of this module it will be important to identify at an early stage where students are not making sufficient progress. The points at which progress will be monitored will be:

Initial proposal - verbal feedback on the in Week 1 of Semester1
Submission of final proposal via VLE (week 4 of Semester 1)
Final proposal - written feedback (pro-forma) mid way through Semester 1
November tutorial
Interim submission (3,000 words) with written feedback in Dec/Jan.
Submission of draft ( Feb/March)

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	10-12,000 words equivalent	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Alternative assessment is set according to individual circumstances and approved by Exams Tutor and Pro-Dean for Student Education

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/05/2017

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