CULP40050 Research Methods/Seminar

Academic Year 2022/2023

The objectives of this module are twofold:

• First, to familiarise students with research methods appropriate to the disciplines of cultural policy and arts management, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how advanced academic research is conceptualised, structured and written.

• Second, this module aims to prepare and support MA students in the development of their dissertation topics, and in the case of Graduate Diploma students, develop their ambitions and capacity to undertake and interpret research in the field.

Teaching and Learning
The module coordinator will assist students in refining their research interests, and provide the necessary support for students to identify how research methodologies map onto the actual practice of research. Class sessions will cover the function and crafting of a literature review; analysing published research; theoretical framing and identifying research methods; the basics of quantitative and qualitative research methods; information management; research ethics; evaluation of results; and writing/referencing skills.

Readings and exercises are designed to prepare students for undertaking research work, and to provide critical feedback from classmates and the instructor in advance of commencing research. For those students undertaking the MA dissertation, these sessions in Autumn will help inform the submission of the Research Proposal (an assessed component of the final dissertation) which will be due in January 2022 and discussed in class.

Reading, Writing & Research Guide
Book chapters, articles and scanned material will be introduced where appropriate to the weekly topics. There are many other works that deal with the specifics of quantitative and qualitative research, and a few of the citations most accessible to students of Arts Management and Cultural Policy are listed in the bibliography at the end of this course outline.

Class preparation
Attendance is expected at all sessions. Students should come to class with the week’s reading completed in advance, and ready for class discussion in the workshop sessions. Readings, notices about assignments and lecture notes will be posted on Brightspace.


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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
• identify an appropriate research topic.
• understand the basics of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• interrogate one’s own positionality as a researcher and understand how this relates to the ways in which one might carry out a research project
• develop research questions, objectives and hypotheses.
• plan, organise, and analyse a research project.
• evaluate research and relate theory to practice.

Indicative Module Content:

Content of the module includes:
- Developing research topics
- Formulating objectives and hypotheses
- Writing a literature review
- Introduction to Quantitative & Qualitative Methodologies - including observations, focus groups, interviewing, case studies
- Ethics in research
- Creative research methods
- Evaluating and analysing research
- Organising research
- Principles of academic writing
- Preparation of the proposal, thesis, and assessment

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

7

Project Supervision

1

Specified Learning Activities

26

Autonomous Student Learning

26

Online Learning

9

Total

69

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is a combination of lecture and seminar discussion and is highly interactive. It is meant to be directly supportive of developing the MA research thesis, and an emphasis is placed on supportive learning and problem-solving. Students will participate in class-time group work that involves task-based learning: collectively reviewing examples of methodologies; discussing various approaches to research; and conducting hypothetical assessments. Individual consultations are held with each student towards the end of the trimester for in-depth conversations about personal research interests.

Assessments are highly structured and cumulative in nature, intended to build students' research confidence and help them progress towards a developed research proposal in January. A group presentation in spring (which is co-assessed) allows for classmates' input and feedback, and is a capstone activity of the MA taught programme. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

An honours university degree at minimum level of 2.2 and work experience in the cultural sector. Selection is by short-listing and interview.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Research Methods/Seminar (AH40050)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Reflexivity in Research assignment Unspecified n/a Graded No

40

Assignment: Research Ethics Proposal Unspecified n/a Graded No

60


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback for this module's assignments is based on the principle of developing students' understanding of research methods, identifying personal research topics, and developing capacity to undertake further research. Short assignments of initial research ideas and an annotated bibliography will be the basis of a one-to-one meeting with each student, where feedback on potential thesis direction and/or research ambitions will be given. A methods assignment prompts students to develop a hypothetical methodology for a pre-specified research question, testing their ability to devise an appropriate and justified research strategy. An article critique tests critical analysis skills and capacity to interpret published research.

Name Role
Dr Annette Clancy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Victoria Durrer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr John O'Brien Lecturer / Co-Lecturer