PC with Office, MS Project
A statistical package, such as Excel (or SPSS)
Access to the Internet
Library

Hunt, Anthony (2005) Your research project: how to manage it. Routledge (available as e-book)
Weaver, Philip (2004) Success in your project: a guide to student system development projects. Prentice Hall (available as e-book)

Directed learning supported by one-to-one contact with academics to encourage the students' knowledge, critical thinking, reflection and their application of the knowledge being learned. On-line materials will highlight subject related issues and link to recent advances in the industry. Course content and exercises will be presented on Blackboard. Delivery content will be supported by the use of on-line educational video clips and related internet material. Formative feedback, by email and the virtual learning environment will be given in response to regular exercises. Provisional grades and feedback will be made available by e-mail and/or the virtual learning anvironment as appropriate.

100% coursework including a number of deliverables (Learning outcomes 1-4):
A portfolio of submissions leading to:
- A review paper of literature and background investigation of the research project (guide approx. 2,500 words).
- Dissertation project proposal, which states the research programme and reflects the understanding of the research problem in its context, methods to be adopted in the project and ethical implications (guide approx. 2,000 words).
- A project plan for the dissertation project.
- Presentation of the proposed research area. (Approx. 8 minutes)

Methods and skills of literature research, gathering of data from a range of sources, selecting and using appropriate technologies available (e.g. library, digital library, Internet facilities and other sources).

Techniques required to analyse data and to present the results in a suitable format.

Refined skills in project planning, organisation of study materials, presentation and dissemination of research, research proposal specification, techniques of research report writing.

Research proposal specification, regulations and supervisors role. A student will demonstrate a wide range of professional and IT skills such as producing technical documents, research papers and project proposals and plans.

None.