You are required to show an informed and at the same time critical understanding of the fundamental legal principles which apply to research, including a consideration of:

- Undertaking a range of advanced research activity related to Law including a comparative element.
- Developing advanced level skills in writing, summarising and critical assessment.
- Reaching a critical understanding of research strategies through the comparison, evaluation and justification of quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
- Appropriate management of research ethics.

This module will be delivered through 18 interactive lectures and 6 seminars each of 2 hours duration.

Interactive Lectures
18 interactive lectures of 2 hour duration each for a total of 36 hours.

Guided Independent Study through Tutorials
At the end of each 2 hour lecture, students will be given a tutorial for guided independent study. The tutorial will be made available through the module VLE page and will contain pointers to relevant legal electronic databases such as Westlaw, Lexis, LawTel etc. Tutorial answers will be submitted through the VLE for feedback by module tutors. Each tutorial will involve 4 hours of guided independent study for a total of 72 hours of guided independent study.

Seminars and Unguided Independent Study
Six 2-hour seminars will be held on the 4th, 8th and 12th week for a total of 12 seminar hours. Seminar questions will be included in the module handbook. The seminars will be supported by research and personal study. Students will be expected to spend 10 hours of unguided independent study for each seminar for a total of 60 hours of unguided independent study.

Both assessments are FINAL assessments assessed as ‘COMPETENT / NOT YET COMPETENT’

• One summative assessment consisting of a research proposal (3,000 words) assessing learning outcomes (1-5)
• One 5 mins presentation of the research proposal submitted in the assignment (assessing learning outcome 2)

Access to appropriate texts and material via Moodle LMS

• A Bryman, SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS (OUP, Oxford, 4th edn, 2013)
• J Holland & J Webb, LEARNING LEGAL RULES: A Student’s Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (OUP, Oxford, 8th edn)
• WC Booth, GG Colmb, JM Williams, THE CRAFT OF RESEARCH (University of Chicago Press, 3rd edn: 2008)

1. IDENTIFY AND JUSTIFY A SOUND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ADOPTED FOR YOUR PROPOSED RESEARCH
Learning
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem-solving

2. USE APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION AT AN ADVANCED LEVEL TO FIND INFORMATION AND TO EXPLAIN, DEBATE, AND PRESENT HIGHLY COMPLEX ARGUMENTS, PROPOSALS AND IDEAS
Communication

3. DEMONSTRATE A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ETHICAL CONCERNS AROUND CONDUCTING AND MAKING USE OF RESEARCH
Application
Reflection

4. DEMONSTRATE INITIATIVE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN IDENTIFYING AND INTEGRATING RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT ADVANCED LEVEL STUDY Analysis
Communication
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning
Reflection

5. IDENTIFY AND ASSESS THE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES NECESSARY FOR MASTERS-LEVEL STUDY, DEMONSTRATING SELF-DIRECTION AND A REFLECTION ON YOUR PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING THESE ATTRIBUTES
Application
Reflection