CSC8609 : Project in Human-Computer Interaction
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Abi Durrant
- Lecturer: Dr Nick Taylor
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 60 |
| ECTS Credits: | 40.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
1. To give students the opportunity to apply knowledge, research methods and design skills from their taught
courses to the development, execution and dissemination of a Human-Computer Interaction research project.
2. To give students practical experience of HCI design and evaluation in-the-wild.
3. To give students the experience of collaborating with academics and external organisations in the development
and execution of Human-Computer Interaction research.
4. To provide students with an understanding and experience of reporting Human-Computer Interaction research.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module is comprised of two components. Part 1 is a taught component that pulls together key elements from pre-requisite courses, and introduces students to theories of research in the sciences, humanities and design. This will include considering the structure and content of good research proposals in Human-Computer Interaction and the skills and knowledge required to develop a high-quality research proposal and ethics submission; and peer-learning workshops, feedback sessions, and one-on-one support as they develop a research proposal.
1. What is research? How does this differ in design, science, social science and the arts and humanities?
2. What is design-led research and how can it be deployed in Human-Computer Interaction?
3. What are the essential components of a research proposal and what is their purpose? (e.g. aims & objectives, the contribution to knowledge, methodology and case studies, findings and analysis, implications and conclusions)
4. Finding a problem area and working with peers, external partners and supervisors
5. Defining and refining a research approach
6. Writing your proposal and ethics submission
Part 2 involves the execution and dissemination of a design-led research project in Human-Computer Interaction. The project topic and plan must be approved by the module coordinator. Students will be required to provide an interim report (documenting their progress) and make a final presentation as well as produce a substantial written report.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 31:00 | 31:00 | Preparation/ delivery: project presentation- accompanies asynchronous lecture materials blocks |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 18:00 | 18:00 | Preparation for group session/ prepare pitch for proposal (e.g. graphic materials, presentation etc) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Preparation of project proposal |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 120:00 | 120:00 | Writing & submission of a research or implementation & evaluation report |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Desk research/ reading lecture materials/ making connections with other modules as prep for pitch |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Pip - Live discussion, small group activities, feedback and Q&A on set reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Synchronous present-in-person one-to-one feedback sessions on draft research proposals |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 432:00 | 432:00 | Research project work & progress reporting e.g. study design, data collection, data analysis |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Pitch ideas session: synchronous online session, discussion and Q&A on pitched ideas |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | Fieldwork desk research, (online) engagement with partner organisations / communities / user groups |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | present-in-person: Supported work on applied research project and writeup. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 16 | 1:00 | 16:00 | Synchronous and asynchronous online communication with supervision team |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Researching literature (for proposal) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Background reading |
| Total | 800:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Because of the diverse disciplinary perspective in HCI the module begins with short introductions and guided learning on the subject of what research is, in order for students to develop a critical understanding of different approaches to research and to understand what concepts like contribution to knowledge, and design-led enquiry mean. The style of this module is problem-driven (writing a research proposal/ethical submission and executing & reporting on a research project) and learning-by-doing. There are also strong elements of peer-review and group learning as this is consistent with the course teaching and learning philosophy of collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning. Since the HCI students come to the module with different skills and interests, there are significant opportunities for one-to-one and peer-based learning, as well as interaction with current PhDs and postdoctoral researchers.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 3 | M | 15 | Final research proposal (circa 4000 word report). |
| Research paper | 3 | M | 75 | 7000-8500 word academic paper in ACM format (describing the research project) with supporting data appendices. |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 5 | Presentation slides & oral presentation for outline proposal. |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 3 | M | 5 | Presentation slides & oral presentation for research project. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students will develop an outline proposal and give an initial presentation that will be assessed and critiqued by a panel of HCI researchers. The feedback students receive will then be used in the development a full research proposal that will be assessed by the module coordinator. In practice research outcomes are appropriately expressed in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international meetings. The assessment of this module reflects the realities of HCI research and trains the students in the necessary skills required to write an academic paper (describing the conduct and results of their research project) and present research at meetings of the academic community. The short thesis (in the form of a research paper) tests the student’s ability to: critically evaluate their own data and the published literature, to present and analyse data; and discuss their own work in a written format. The presentation of the research project (assessed by a panel of HCI researchers as part of a module “mini-conference”) tests the student’s ability to prepare and deliver short summaries of their project in clear and concise formats to an audience of peers in a time-constrained and word-limited fashion.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8609's Timetable