RSCH09029 2022 Research Design & Development

Critically evaluate existing knowledge and its application to the student's chosen research area.

Develop a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, generally informed by the forefront of research in their chosen area.

Analyse paradigms of research enquiry and explicate where chosen paradigms fit within their research area of interest.

Expertly discuss and propose a range of data collection and analysis tools and techniques relevant to their study.

Judge the importance of ethics to any research study and incorporate this within their research proposal.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of appropriate project management skills to ensure successful completion of level 9 research project.

Live delivery and campus-based learning: 

Synchronous delivery of live learning will occur weekly. Scaffold approach to the research process will occur, this will allow the student to develop the required skills over the semester. 

Campus learning will take place once per term. Students will contribute to the plan for the onsite component of this module. It may take the format of the workshop but students will be able to determine their collective needs that can be addressed in this forum. 

During the term, students will develop their research skills to enable the completion of a Research Report. This will then lead to the development of a robust Full Research Proposal for submission at the end of the semester.

• Research Report - 50%
• Full Research Proposal - 50%

The repeat assessment strategy will be dependent on overall grades and will be decided and documented at the Progression and Award Boards.

Subject repeat submission is capped at 40%.

LO1) Critically evaluate existing knowledge and its application to the student's chosen research area: Learners will explore different sources of evidence and its relevance and application to a research topic. Resulting in the identification of a research area that becomes the foundation of their research project.

LO2) Develop a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, generally informed by the forefront of their research: Learners will engage and critically review sources of knowledge inclusive of appropriate databases, journals, government documents and other relevant evidence sources. This will support the learner to develop new insights and identify potential research areas for further investigation.

LO3) Analyse paradigms of research enquiry and explicate where chosen paradigms fit within their research area of interest: Learners will have the opportunity to discuss, examine and debate, common and often used methods of research enquiry, evaluating when and where these paradigms, methodologies may be relevant to their future research studies. 

LO4) Expertly discuss and propose a range of data collection and analysis tools and techniques relevant to their study: Learners will be given the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding in tools of data collection and data analysis. This may involve attendance at additional workshops on data collection and data analysis techniques, relative to the learner's level of research experience and expertise.

LO5) Judge the importance of ethics to any research study and incorporate this within their research proposal: Learners will be expected to explore ethical dilemmas relevant to their proposed research topic, in doing so they are expected to develop appropriate strategies and documentation to deal with potential ethical dilemmas.

LO6) Demonstrate a critical understanding of appropriate project management skills to ensure successful completion of level 9 research project: Learners will be supported in the acquisition and demonstration of project management skills in the area of research, inclusive of all stages of the research process, but also the associated project management tools of successful project completion. This will include but is not limited to, project timelines, work packages, tasks and deliverables with the intention of supporting the student not only with the proposal and projects but also for their research activities into the future.