This module will address the following topics:



Project types and styles

What characteristics define an excellent project? (Some qualities of outstanding projects including project types and research approaches, tailoring a project to your own interests, aspirations, and capabilities)

Locating pertinent literature: How to get the most out of the university library; tools and resources that are available; primary and secondary sources.

Studying research papers: Choosing which articles to read; reading intensity; writing notes and summaries; and gathering bibliographic metadata.

Research paper creation: Planning your paper's structure, framing the question, writing styles, tools, and resources; crediting and referencing sources; avoiding plagiarism; and editing and proof-reading are all part of the process.

Evaluation of project results: critical analysis; scope and restrictions; and experimental, analytical, unit-testing, and user analysis assessment methods.

Your MSc project preparation: How to create a workplan that is specific to your project; risk analysis; contingency planning; how to allow enough time for drafting your report.

Academic writing styles

Referencing

Developing a thesis

Preventing plagiarism

Evaluation, metrics, and performance measurement methods

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

Understanding of peer review processes

Economics of systems and architecture

Design processes and trade offs

Risk assessment and forward thinking

Team organisation, team-working, and effectiveness of individual roles

Professional practices in the domain

Solution support

Utilisation of accepted standards

Written Report – A comprehensive review of research methodologies and justify to most appropriate methodology for the dissertation proposal.

Dissertation Proposal – The written report will be a submitted research review document that will do the following. It will identify a project title, explore aims and objectives, identify research method, confirm risks to the project, discuss ethics, , and include a project plan. Formative feedback will be provided throughout its preparation. On submission feedback will be received from members of the marking panel during a verbal feedback session.

This module will be delivered via lectures and tutorial sessions. Students will also be expected to use and regularly engage with the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) employed for the delivery of this module. The material will include content and activities that allow students to assimilate the concepts and skills required by the module.

Understand and apply key research method concepts to the definition of practical projects

Knowledge and Understanding,
Enquiry, Learning


Define, plan, and identify the goals and objectives of a dissertation project

Analysis,
Enquiry, Learning


Demonstrate the capacity to gather sources, and to comprehend and evaluate previous literature in a complex computing situation

Reflection,
Knowledge and Understanding


Show that you can organise and produce a thorough scientific style report in relation to your findings

Analysis,
Application,
Communication, Problem Solving

Bui, Y, N. (2019) How to Write a Master's Thesis, SAGE Publications, Inc

Mars, N. (2019) Academic Writing & Research: How to Write a Good, Strong, Important and Interesting Thesis, ¿Independently published

Creswell, J, W, (2018), Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage Publications

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
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
Davies., M and Hughes, N. (2014) Doing a Successful Research Project: Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods, 2nd edition, Palgrave Macmillan
Sharp, J. A., Peters, J. and Howard, K. (2002) The Management of a Student Research Project, 3rd edition, Gower

Trotman Education, (2022), Careers 2022, Trotman Education; 18th edition

Sosna, E. (2021), The Career Equation: Coaching a Culture of Career Conversations, Open University Press

Newton, A, J. (2021), Start a Successful Career Today in Information Technology: Computer Science + Computer Engineering Career Guide, Independently published

Harbash, R. (2019), Professional Practice in Engineering and Computing: Preparing for Future Careers, CRC Press; 1st edition

Cornwell, D. (2020), Software Company: Advice on how to start, grow and exit a software company, Beaten Metal Books Ltd

Will be identified by the specific topic of the proposal

The purpose of this module is to introduce the foundational knowledge and abilities you will need to start working on your MSc project. The syllabus will consist of identifying a project, defining goals and objectives, deliverables, and value addition, selecting literature to go in your research review section, how to study research papers, academic writing, and preparing for your MSc dissertation.