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Module

CSC8609 : Project in Human-Computer Interaction

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Nick Taylor
  • Lecturer: Dr Caroline Claisse
  • 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 StudyAssessment preparation and completion1150:00150:00Preparing project proposal, dissertation and presentation coursework deliverables
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture42:008:00Delivery of content around project skills and career development
Guided Independent StudyProject work1622:00622:00Conducting research project
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops42:008:00Group work developing project ideas and understanding research
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery42:008:00Online drop-in session to discuss project development
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision80:304:00One-to-one or group meetings with project supervisor
Total800:00
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
Research proposal3M10Outline research proposal of up to 2,000 words.
Research paper3M90Research report of up to 8000 words academic paper in ACM submission format with supporting data appendices.
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
Description When Set Comment
PortfolioMEthics: evidence that university research ethics processes have been followed.
Oral PresentationMRecorded final presentation of project.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will develop an outline proposal for their project at the end of Part 1. This will be assessed by their project supervisor in terms of the student’s ability to design and communicate a compelling research plan, and used to give initial feedback on their research topic and plans.

The final dissertation will be a substantial piece of research reporting intended to mirror the content and form of a HCI research paper (i.e. for CHI/CSCW/DIS). This 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, while providing experience in communicating research to the academic community at a professional standard.

Alongside this, an unassessed final presentation will give students experience of summarizing their research in an oral presentation, again in a format comparable to academic HCI venues. This will a pass/fail assessment intended to provide an overview of the project for the makers.

Students will also be required to submit evidence that their work complies with university research ethics requirements.

Reading Lists

Timetable