KF7028 - Research Methods and Project Management

What will I learn on this module?

In this module you will learn about research and the processes involved in carrying out research in the area of computer and information sciences. The module will encompass the full research cycle from development of the initial concept through to final evaluation and reflection on your research. You will learn how to search, find and evaluate the literature and how to use this to construct a critical literature review. You will also be able to gain an understanding of different research methods and techniques and how to apply them in practice. You will be given the opportunity to gain expertise in data and information analysis, from data collection through to the analysis, presentation and interpretation of results. You will be able to critically evaluate and reflect on the research process. You will also learn about ethics and professional conduct whilst undertaking research and consider and manage risk (including health and safety) and legal, societal and sustainability issues with respect to a research project.

Alongside this you will be provided with the skills and techniques to effectively manage a project from start to finish, including the planning and monitoring aspects.

How will I learn on this module?

This module is delivered through a combination of workshops and independent study. Each workshop will focus on a particular aspect of the module providing the main theories, techniques and approaches and enabling you to practically apply them. You will be allocated into an action learning set early on in the module and these will be used in the workshops to provide a group environment for applying your learning and to enable you to reflect on your learning and engage in peer support and evaluation. Outside of the workshops you will be expected to engage in follow up activities from that week and prepare for future workshops as well as engage in more independent learning and keep a reflective journal. This reflective journal will form a key part of the evidence for the two assignments. Informal feedback will be provided throughout the module mainly through the workshop sessions.

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How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported throughout the module by the module team During your workshop you will receive informal feedback from your tutors and from peers particularly through your action learning set. The main BB module site will provide the key resources to support your learning and will also be a forum for sharing practice and queries with your tutor and other students at any time.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Deploy comprehensive knowledge and understanding of appropriate research tools, techniques and approaches including data and information analysis and management in the field of computer and information sciences

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Be able to effectively apply project management to successfully implement a computing related project.
3. Be able to effectively search, evaluate and develop a critical literature review
4. Appreciate and apply appropriate research techniques, tools, analysis and evaluation to support effective research in computer and information sciences

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate an ethical and professional approach to research including an appreciation of risk, societal, legal and sustainability issues and how they apply in a research environment.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment
The main source of formative feedback will be via the workshops where your tutors and peers, particularly those in your action learning sets, will be providing ongoing feedback on the tasks in hand. The BB module site will also be a source for sharing queries and the module tutors will be available for students to meet up with individually or in groups outside the formal scheduled teaching time.

Summative assessment
There will be two summative assessments for the module.
1. The first assessment will be a team project where you will be required to undertake a critical literature review of research in a relevant area of computer and information sciences and project manage this process as a team. You will be expected to keep a reflective journal through the process. You will be formally assessed on your reflective journal and the presentation of the results from your critical literature review itself and the process of managing the team (worth 40% of the marks for the module).

This assessment will assess MLOs 2, 3.

2. The second assessment will evaluate your understanding of different research methods and data and information analysis together with your ability to evaluate and address ethics, professional and related issues. You will be expected to keep a reflective log throughout the module and use this to prepare an oral presentation on research approaches, analysis and ethical and professional considerations (worth 60% of the marks for the module).

This individual assessment will assess MLOs 1, 4, 5.

You will receive written feedback on both of the summative assessments via the main BB module site.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module has research at its centre, therefore it addresses and embeds all four elements of research rich learning. You will be expected to undertake research yourself (research/enquiry based), conduct a significant literature review as a team, and analyse your results from this (research tutored), explore and apply different types of research approaches and data analysis and project management techniques relevant to the research environment (research led) and consider ethics, professional and related issues in relation to research (research orientated). You will also be exposed to examples of research in the computing discipline including examples from the academic staff here at the university and have the opportunity to discuss and critically engage with this. Throughout you will be expected to practice self-reflection to enable you to evaluate the research learning you are gaining through this module.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 16 months full-time
2 other options available

Department Computer and Information Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or January 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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