TCP8911 : Research Design
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Dr Diego Garcia Mejuto
- Demonstrator: Dr Neil Adrian Powe
- Lecturer: Dr Jane Midgley
- Owning School: Architecture, Planning & Landscape
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
• To develop knowledge and skills in methods of evaluation, analysis and research that benefit planning practitioners.
• To aid students in developing appropriate research strategies for their specialised study and their dissertation at postgraduate level.
• To introduce students to a range of different types of research for different purposes and contexts.
• To introduce students to the basic principles of commissioning research for a range of professional purposes.
• To stimulate students into thinking about their dissertations early and identifying and refining a research topic.
This module prepares students to undertake research for their final dissertation and for planning policy development and practice. It explores a range of approaches to the design and undertaking of methodologically robust research, it raises students’ awareness of the rigorous standards expected of both practice and academic research., and it also helps students identify and refine their final dissertation topic.
The module also helps students identify and refine their final dissertation topic
Outline Of Syllabus
• Introduction to the module and to research design
• The researcher: positionality and ethics
• Basic principles of research
• Framing research and building a literature review
• Broad methodological approaches and frameworks
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Sampling and data collection method
• Data analysis
• Triangulation of data and evidence
• Presenting your research (dissertation and other conventions)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 7 | 2:00 | 14:00 | A combination of short recordings of lecture material, quizzes and text published on VLE each week |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Workshops supported by members of staff to help students make progress in the assessment (PIP) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Surgery session to provide advice on draft research proposals before the deadline (PIP) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Optional drop-in sessions in the weeks where no other synchronous sessions are planned (PIP) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 56:00 | 56:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Synchronous introductory talk to introduce the content, approach and pattern of student learning PIP |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lecture materials, provided throughout the module and including small associated tasks, provide the substantive content of the module. The delivery of these materials and the preparation of the assessment is supported by a series of synchronous online weekly present-in-person sessions. These comprise an introductory module talk, three workshops with staff members starting in week 4 and separated by several weeks, a final surgery session, and optional drop-in sessions in the weeks where no other synchronous activity is planned.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 1 | M | 100 | research proposal (3000 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The assessment supports and tests the achievement of all knowledge and skills learning outcomes. A single research proposal is an appropriate way of both assessing the student’s knowledge of the research process, a research topic of their choice and the different methodological practices used in the social sciences, and assessing the student’s ability to critically review the existing literature on a topic and to develop an appropriate research design and methodology to investigate it. In addition, the assessment ensures that the student is capable of developing a postgraduate research dissertation. This module must be passed before a student can progress to TCP8099 Dissertation.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- TCP8911's Timetable