Postgraduate Research Methods (P00487)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : ACE-P-PGRes

This course is designed to support students in developing their research proposal and to assist them in defining their mode of enquiry. The course has been constructed to help guide students through a range of issues and considerations which should inform their general approach to research. This course will give students a general introduction to postgraduate research, its methodologies, its challenges and its organization, including in creative practice. Students will be introduced to a range of research tools and will be equipped to plan and organise their research, as well as to communicate their findings. The course will cover (1) the practicalities of research, including setting and achieving realistic goals, planning, working in a team, using resources, presentations skills, and meeting institutional requirements and expectations of good practice, (2) techniques for advancing knowledge and understanding, such as setting up a programme of reading, literature review, techniques of archival research, interviewing, observation studies, ethnographic research, gathering evidence, quantitative methods, and creative practice as research, (3) developing a critical framework in which to review research and research methods, taking account of the contested nature of research practice.

Entry Requirements

? Co-requisites : Enrolment in PhD, MPhil, MSc by Research or other research programme.

? Costs : n/a

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Common Courses (School of Arts, Culture and Environment), (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	09:30	10:50	Central
Lecture	Tuesday	11:10	12:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to

. plan and manage a programme of MPhil/PhD/MSc research
. make use of and evaluate a variety of research tools and methodologies
. address issues of copyright, confidentiality, data protection and other ethical issues
. articulate, reflect on and critically evaluate their chosen subject of research and its methods
. communicate with colleagues in the same and other disciplines about their research
. pursue specific research methods in detail

Assessment Information

Assessment will focus on the preparation and presentation of a conference paper. Students prepare a 400 word abstract on a topic pertaining to their research. Students peer review colleagues abstracts. Students submit a 3,000 word written paper after the conference.

Marks: abstract 15%; peer review 15%; final paper 70%