This module addresses:

• Identification of research based topics and areas
• Scoping a research title
• Developing study plans (project milestones, resources, and deliverables)
• Approaches to carrying out research and investigation
• Writing and documenting a research based report
• Approaches to referencing (journals, technical reports, conference proceeding, recognised industrial standards and forums, and books etc.).
• Social, ethical and legal issues

Assignment - 100% assessing Learning Outcomes 1 - 4.

An assessed report, within a word limit of 3,000 words (FINAL).

Each student must write a research based report of a professional standard, which is based on their own chosen computing topic. The report will need to show a clear and in-depth understanding of that topic relevant to the computing discipline.

The content written in the report must be original in relation to the student's other module assessments.

Contact for the module will be a one hour session timetabled per week.

The first week is an introduction lecture to the module and assessment. This session will be used to introduce the assessment specifically and give students the opportunity to ask questions that they have so these can be clarified at the outset of the module.

The remaining eleven weeks will function as report development and feedback review surgeries on the student’s progress. For these weeks students must attend and bring with them their progress. Tutors will use the sessions to specifically support students in the creation of their report through guidance on planning, researching, and writing the report. Students should utilise these sessions to ask any questions that they have in working on the report.

As this is an individual study module subject specific texts cannot be recommended. However, in relation to writing the report the following are suitable sources:

Ballenger, B. (2014), The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers, 2014 Edition, Longman. ISBN-10: 0325455545

Bell, J. (2010), Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers in Education (Open Up Study Skills), McGraw-Hill. ISBN-10: 0335235824

Bodden, V. (2015), Classroom How-To: Writing a Research Paper, Bodden, ASIN: B00ZQBFNNM

Flick, U. (2011), Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner's Guide to Doing a Research Project, Sage Publications, ISBN-10: 184920781X

Lester, J.D., (2014), Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, Books a la Carte Edition Plus Mywritinglab, Pearson. ISBN-10: 0321996313

Zemach, D. and Broudy, D. (2011), Writing Research Papers (Macmillan Writing Series), Macmillan Press. ISBN-10: 0230421946

Lab with School of Computing image

None.

1) Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and use of the techniques and advanced scholarship required to create a professional standard publication for specialist and non-specialist audiences (from topic identification through to final version of report), including consideration of relevant social, legal, and ethical issues.
(KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING)

2) Demonstrate through production of a professional report a systematic understanding and critical awareness of a topic at the forefront of the computing discipline.
(APPLICATION, COMMUNICATION)

3) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the academic context, coupled with sound judgment through discussion of research that may be partially complete or contain a significant absence of readily available data.
(ANALYSIS, LEARNING)

4) Demonstrate throughout the written report critical evaluation and reflection in describing current computing theories and technologies that are at the forefront of professional and academic developments, and back up discussions with original perspectives related to problems and solutions documented.
(REFLECTION)