Overview

This module equips students with an understanding and critical overview of the key conceptual, theoretical, practical and methodological issues associated with various types of qualitative and quantitative research enquiry applicable to the creative arts and industries.

The module will not only prepare students for carrying out a dissertation within the School of Arts, Culture and Language but also for future employment as they develop important, transferable skills for a wide-range of disciplines. In-class activities and assessments will see students design research projects, review the existing literature on a subject, consider the ethical implications of their research as well as formulate appropriate methodologies tailored to investigating a specific topic.

The student-led seminars help students develop their own research interests and dissertation ideas, while developing public speaking and presentation design skills through peer-feedback.

This module equips students with an understanding and critical overview of the key conceptual, theoretical, practical and methodological issues associated with various types of research enquiry applicable to the creative arts and industries. The module will not only prepare students for carrying out a dissertation within the School of Arts, Culture and Language but also for future employment as they develop key, transferable skills for a wide-range of disciplines. The topics to be addressed include research paradigms, research ethics, conducting literature reviews, formulating methodologies, data, textual and discourse analysis, and engaging in field and archival research. The student-led seminars help students develop their own research interests and dissertation ideas, while developing public speaking and presentation design skills through peer-feedback.

Assessment Strategy

A [70-100]: Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: Has originality of exposition with the student's own thinking being readily apparent; Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study; and Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

B [60-69]: Submitted work is competent throughout and distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: Very good structure and logically developed argument; Draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student; Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning; and Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

C [50-59]: Submitted work is competent throughout and occasionally distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: Good structure and logically developed arguments; At least in parts draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student; Assertions are, in the main, backed by evidence and sound reasoning; and Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

D [40-49]: Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: Generally accurate but with omissions and errors; Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning; Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions; and Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply a range of research skills and methodologies appropriate to research in the Arts and Humanities.

• Appraise academic or practice-based research within an appropriate set of cultural, social, institutional, economic and/or critical frameworks.

• Define a coherent approach to a research question, by designing a proposed methodological approach with consideration of research ethics.

• Make use of appropriate literature to argue and evaluate the current body of knowledge in response to a research topic.