2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

TEXT5216M Research Project

60 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Kaida Xiao
Email: k.xiao1@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

TEXT5116M (MSc Textile Sustainability and Innovation) CHEM5501M (MSc Polymers, Colorants and Fine Chemicals)

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The fields of textile, polymers, colorants and fine chemicals research, in particular sustainability and innovation aspects, are constantly evolving areas. These present a multitude of opportunities that can be addressed by fundamental and applied research. You will conduct independent research, under the supervision of a supervisor/supervisory team, into a specialist area of your interest relevant to your programme. You will direct your study, with supervisory input, and develop key skills in your selected area of research. The module also entails a series of seminars to introduce methods for research and analysis. The module contains a range of formative and summative assessment activities to scaffold your progress.

Objectives

On the existing MSc Textiles programme or the MSc Polymers, Colorants and Fine Chemicals programme, students come from a diverse range of educational backgrounds, with some of the students coming from non-science based educational backgrounds. This module aims to scaffold students to formulate ideas and hypotheses, develop research methodology, and implement and evaluate the methodology. This is actioned by a series of seminars in the first semester to develop key research skills. The students in consultation with academic staff and the module leader will negotiate a research topic in Semester 2. This will be followed by verbal presentation (defence) of the idea and proposed methodology in front of the programme team and cohort, in the middle of Semester 2. The students will undertake supervised research and report on their work in an appropriate format. The students will finally submit either a written dissertation or a research paper style article. During the course of the module, there will also be formative activities.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to: 1. demonstrate ability to undertake research in Textile Technology and/or Polymers, Colorants and Fine Chemicals and/or Sustainability and/or Innovation or related sectors 2. produce a critical review of the literature relevant to the selected topic 3. formulate appropriate research aims and objectives, and develop corresponding appropriate methodology 4. Exhibit mastery in the analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data, and critical interpretation of the results 5. produce a written dissertation or research article style paper that provides a clear and concise report of the research undertaken and critiques the findings.

Syllabus

The module provides students with the opportunity to research a subject area of relevance to their programme of study. The module will include a series of seminars to introduce methods for research and analysis (literature searching, topic selection, project planning, developing a research idea, demonstrating criticality, qualitative/quantitative research methods, project management, research dissemination and research ethics). The student will work under the supervision of academic staff to prepare a research proposal presentation (first summative assessment) and research dissertation / research paper (second summative assessment). First formative activity will be focused on academic integrity (self-reflection) and second formative activity will provide opportunity to get some high-level (main supervisor) feedback on the overall structure and approach to the ‘write-up', including some reflections on the students’ analysis/discussion of results and application of critical thought. Third formative activity will be self-assessment mapped to the assessment criteria of the written submission. The research may involve experimental work or a desk-based study or a combination of both.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Coursework Discussion Session	2	2.00	4.00
Group learning	1	3.00	3.00
Seminar	17	1.00	17.00
Tutorial	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			569.00
Total Contact hours			31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			600.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative Assessment 1 Students will submit a draft four weeks before the submission deadline via Minerva. The main supervisor will provide high-level written feedback on the dissertation structure, analysis/discussion of results and application of critical thought.
Formative Assessment 2 Students will be required to submit a completed self-assessment form, mapped to assessment criteria. This will promote assessment literacy and encourage students to self-reflect on their work before submission of the dissertation.

The students will also receive formative feedback in the seven one-to-one supervisory meetings and in three group discussion/learning sessions with the module leader

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	Submitted as either a 11000-13000 words dissertation OR a 4000 to 5000 words ‘research paper’	80.00
Oral Presentation	Multimedia presentation and filled research synopsis form	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Use this field for any additional information about coursework assessment not included in the table above, and also for details of any alternate resit formats available. In case of resit requiring laboratory work, the student will need to be registered to access the laboratory facilities.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:38:40

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