The connection between hypothesis and valid evidence generating activities as embodied in research methods.

All students will cover
- Introduction of basic research and presentation skills such as literature research and reporting of research findings.
- Introduction to the nature of research and the reasons for research investigations, identifying and defining research questions and hypotheses.
- Presentation and dissemination of research, research proposal specification; Techniques of research report writing; research management; regulations and supervisors role.

And a selection of the following as appropriate.
- Overview of research methods, quantitative and qualitative research. Data collection strategies and issues.
- Sampling theory and survey methods. Data analysis: types of data; survey and experimental data; statistical analysis.
- Ethical and access research issues related to investigation, experimentation, industrial collaboration and publication of research findings.

The assignment, general principles of research and project management will be presented to students at the outset of the module. These are the key skills that students will require to successfully attempt the assessments. Initially students will identify a potential Certificate topic and need to research and develop this through consultation with the module tutor over several weeks. Formative feedback can therefore be regularly sought from the tutor. As students develop their work they will need to attempt several assessment components that develop different aspects of academic writing, these include a concise report summary and referencing task, a literature review, abstract formulation, and a certificate proposal.

The module is very much student led in that the student chooses the topic on which to base the certificate proposal. Skills of project management as well as other key academic skills will be developed in completing the assessment. Throughout the student will need to regularly gain feedback on their progress from the tutor which begins to instil the relationship between student and supervisor in advance of the Diploma and Dissertation stages of the course.

PC with Office
Access to the Internet
Library
Materials supplied

Plus possibly
A statistical package, such as SPSS

Prescribed admission requirements as stated in the award handbook.

Sharp, J.A. (1996) The Management of a Student Research Project (2 ed), Aldershot Gower, ISBN: 056607706X
Oliver, P. (1997) Research, Teach Yourself Books, NTC Publishing Group, ISBN: 0844200158
Marshall & Rossman (1999) Designing Qualitative Research, Sage, 3rd Ed, ISBN: 0761913408

100% Coursework (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- A project proposal, which states research objectives and reflects the understanding of the research problem in its context and methods adopted in the research.
- Presentation of the project proposal.
- A literature review

You will study this module at the start of the course which involves development of a literature review, project proposal and presentation and underpins the Professional Certificate stage and subsequent stages of the course.