1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of scientific principles and practice (including ethical principles and professional practice) that guide and support academic research.
Enquiry
Problem Solving

2. Demonstrate development of independent learning and writing skills e.g. referencing, and understanding of plagiarism, and project management etc.
Reflection

3. Identify a suitable problem or improvement area for development into a masters-level dissertation based on knowledge and critical understanding of key subject domain issues and a critical evaluation of scientific risk (e.g. risk and safety, cultural, global and environmental issues, copyright, software standards, and issues of Cybersecurity).
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

4. Present the context for the chosen masters-level research project in terms of its background, aim and objectives, deliverables and methodological and ethical basis.
Analysis
Reflection

5. Produce a programme plan for a substantial masters-level research project, selecting and applying a valid research approach, methods and techniques that demonstrates a logical, scientific and well-engineered approach to problem solving.
Analysis
Application
Communication

This module focuses on research skills such as undertaking a literature review, and reporting of research findings, development of research questions, research methodology, and ethics. A critical study of research methods is undertaken and quantitative and qualitative research methods are explored, including data collection techniques and sampling theory and survey methods. Data analysis techniques are examined, including the types of data, the use of survey and experimental data and statistical analysis. Issues regarding the presentation and dissemination of research are considered. The specification and definition of research proposals are examined, as are techniques of research report writing, research management, compliance with regulations and the supervisor's role.

The module also addresses industry and regulatory topics so they are considered in relation to planning and integration into projects, topics include:
- Professional bodies, codes of conduct, and expectation of good practice
- Legal, Social, Ethical and Professional Issues
- Risk and Safety issues, testing, and problem reduction
- Principles of Project Management
- Development of computing professional skills
- Cultural, global and environmental issues
- Copyright and intellectual property topics in the digital world
- Software design standards such as PAS 754 (Trustworthy Software)
- Principles of Cybersecurity, addressing individual and large scale systems, issues related to information, threats, and management of potential risks

A COURSEWORK:

Dissertation Proposal and Presentation (80%) (Learning Outcomes 1 to 5).

A mini-project demonstrating all the phases of research e.g. hypothesis, literature review, secondary and primary research, ethical approval, data analysis, writing-up, presentation etc. (addressing issues such as: professional practice, risk and safety, project management, cultural, global and environmental issues, copyright, Software standards, and issues of Cybersecurity).

(20%) (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2)
Total words for both assessments 3,000 words

12 hours (lectures); 12 hours (tutorials); 12 hours (workshops)
Students will be expected to use and regularly engage with the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) employed for the delivery of this module. Typically, this will be 'Blackboard' and students are expected to work through the module material provided on the VLE at the suggested pace and in accordance with the Learning Activity Plan. The material will include content and activities that allow students to assimilate the concepts and skills required by the module.

Recommended texts:
Blaxter L., Hughes, C., and Tight, M. (2010) How to Research, 4th edition, Open University Press, ISBN 9780335238675.

Crème, P., and Lea, M, (2008) Writing At University: A Guide For Students , 3rd edition, Open University Press, ISBN 9780335221165.

Punch, K. F., Developing Effective Research Proposals, 3rd edition, Sage Publications, London, ISBN 9781473916388.

Lindlof, T. R. and Taylor, B. C. (2018), Qualitative Communication Research Methods, SAGE Publications, ISBN-10: 1452256829.

Davies., M and Hughes, N. (2014) Doing a Successful Research Project: Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods, 2nd edition, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 9781137306500.

Sharp, J. A., Peters, J. and Howard, K. (2002) The Management of a Student Research Project, 3rd edition, Gower, ISBN 9780566084904.

You will need access to these resources:

- The Module Handbook including schedule and module descriptor on the Blackboard VLE;
- Lecture notes and guided reading material, text books, journals and recommended online sources in the research domain;
- Word processing, statistical analysis, presentation software e.g. SPSS, or Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint etc..
- Referencing tool e.g. Mendeley

None

This module provides you with basic research training and a good grounding in research methods and techniques. It will allow you to begin research and carry out basic research projects which can be developed in the future. In the module you will learn about the different approaches to research that are suitable for different topic areas and you will gain practice in selecting a suitable research approach on which to base a research design. You will learn the importance of ethics in research and how to design a research proposal that has a sound ethical basis. You will also carry out a critical analysis of a research problem or hypothesis and communicate the results in verbal and written form and carry out a critical literature review and design surveys and experiments in the form of a research proposal that can be carried forward to the Masters Dissertation.

13 hours (lectures); 13 hours (tutorials); 13 hours (workshops)
Students will be expected to use and regularly engage with the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) employed for the delivery of this module. Typically, this will be 'Blackboard' and students are expected to work through the module material provided on the VLE at the suggested pace and in accordance with the Learning Activity Plan. The material will include content and activities that allow students to assimilate the concepts and skills required by the module.