This module will provide a Faculty-wide introduction to masters level study and research methods. It includes a range of topics that are (a) valid across a range of disciplines; and (b) specifically pertinent to masters level study. The content introduces you to three blocks: (a) literature review, (b) quantitative methodology, and (c) qualitative methodology. Within the methology blocks there is some opportunity for the you to choose methodologies relating to their specific discipline and interest. However, none of the subjects will be covered comprehensively, since the purpose of this module is to introduce topics that will then be worked on in more depth in discipline-specific modules. The module will also lead you to a practical understanding of the expectations of postgraduate student, PDP, and postgraduate level use of electronic research materials.

Resources: Library and IT facilities, booking of IT lab, powerpoint and slide projection facilities.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

APA, 2001 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - APA
Babbie, Earl (2006). The Practice of Social Research. 11th Edition. London: Thomson-Wadsworth. Berg, Bruce L. 2003 Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Allyn and Bacon, 5th ed.
Cresswell, 2002 John W. Research Design. SAGE.
Deacon et al 1999 Researching Communications. Hodder Arnold.
Gray, Carole and Julian Malins 2004 Visualizing Research - A guide to the research process in Art and Design. Farnham: Ashgate
Hart, Christopher. 1999. Doing a Literature Review. SAGE
Hollis, M. and Smith, S. 1991. Explaining and Understanding International Relations, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Resource Discovery Network. 2005. Virtual Training Suite. RDN. http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/
Salkind, Neil J. 2003 Exploring Research - Prentice Hall .
Schroder et al. 2003. Researching Audiences Hodder Arnold.Sulivan, Graeme. 2004. Art Practice as Research. SAGE.
Sulivan, Graeme. 2004. Art Practice as Research. SAGE.
UKGRAD. 2005 Just for Postgrads. http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Online_resources/Just_for_Postgrads/p!edceLii
Webb, K. 1995. An introduction to Problems in the Philosophy of Social Sciences, Pinter, London.

3500 words not inclusive of references and bibliography.

This report will need to include the following section:
(a) the collation of a literature (and contextual) review of a subject of your choice (which could be used as a pre-literature review for their thesis)
(b) the definition of a quantitative methodology (including an explanation and relevance of selected research methods)
(c) the definition of a qualitative methodology (including an explanation and relevance of selected research methods)
(d) conducting and writing up a (small scale) pilot project based on one of these methodologies, which discusses and analyses appropriate findings. The topic of the report will either be an extension of the topic of a essay/ project being written for a concurrent M-level module, or an anticipated master's dissertation. The various components of the report are not individually marked; rather the report is treated as a single entity and marked accordingly. Thus, there is not predetermined weighting of each component

This module is reliant on your independent study, with the teaching materials available on-line and lecturers available for tutorials by arrangement. There will be an introductory session at the beginning of the module, which is delivered as a half-day face-to-face session. The research topic for the assessment will be chosen by a process of negotiation between yourself and the module leader, with input where necessary by your award leader.