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CVEN40860

Academic Year 2024/2025

Research Skills for Engineers (CVEN40860)

Subject:
Civil Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Civil Engineering
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr David AYALA CABRERA
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces research students to the essential skills to appropriate prepare their research. These are transferable skills such as research design, dissemination of findings, project management and data management, ethics and integrity are required in any research project (e.g. master's and PhD thesis). The aim of this module is to support the exploration and development of research proposals that will be the basis for effectively conducting their respective individual research in the context of civil engineering. This module is designed to introduce students to research aspects such as the evaluation appropriate selection of tools, resources and techniques for the design and management of a coherent and effective research proposal. The module requires significant independent reading, thinking, analysis, writing, as well as the projection of both the management and the dissemination of the research. The student will be supported through workshops, seminars and research proposal development with a specific focus on methods. A series of research design tasks, including presentation of selected research works conducted by doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers of the School in form of research seminar series will support the development of the research proposal.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successfully completing this module, you will be:

1. Constructing an appropriate research framework to conduct the research in a timeframe and that incorporates novelty and originality.
2. Developing a critical thinking, critical reading, critical analysis, writing, presentation skill, as well as the research design and management skill for the research projects.
3. Using tools, resources, techniques, and approaches of research as appropriate for a specific research project and have the confidence to apply them.
4. Identifying the relevance of an available information source and developing a coherent overview of the state-of-the-art (SoTA) that supports your research in the context of Civil Engineering.
5. Constructing robust and appropriate main objective and major tasks that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound (SMART guidelines).
6. Conceiving and developing a research topic and the most appropriate methodology for its execution.
7. Developing and communicating a coherent research proposal.
8. Advancing in the understanding of research themes in a specialist area of Civil Engineering.
9. Engaging of the demands and requirements of autonomous learning.

Indicative Module Content:


1. Introduction to Engineering Research
2. State-of-the-art (SoTA). Literature reviews: Search process (topics, keywords, bibliographies – relevance)
- Introduction to information resources (examples include journals, library resources, digital archives); online academic tools (Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, Scopus).
- Systematic reviews (e.g. Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis – PRISMA method).
3. Research approaches
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
4. Critical thinking and reading
5. Critical analysis, critical writing and writing strategies (e.g. literature map)
6. Research design: i) Research questions: Identification, hypotheses; ii) objectives, major tasks, and effectiveness; and iii) impacts.
7. Elements of a research proposal
8. Academic writing
9. Research Methods
10. Project management, Data management, Ethics & integrity.
11. Research Proposal presentations

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

116

Lectures

30

Tutorial

4

Total

150


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning;
peer and group work;
lectures;
critical writing;

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: A series of research design tasks, class participation Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
10
No
Participation in Learning Activities: Short presentation of proposed idea Week 12 Graded No
10
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Preliminary State-of the-art Report Week 8 Graded No
30
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Research proposal Week 12 Graded No
50
No

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, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 09:00 - 09:50