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ENG30970

Academic Year 2026/2027

Dissertation Research Methods (ENG30970)

Subject:
English
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a practical module that is intended to provide the necessary preparation for working on your undergraduate dissertation next trimester. It will help you select and refine your research topic and develop your research strategy; it will support your reading and writing processes; and it will guide you as you begin research supervision. By the end of the module you will have a well-developed plan for your dissertation and will have begun working with your supervisor.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. To learn how to produce a focused, viable, and original research plan.
2. To develop skills in selecting and evaluating appropriate scholarly sources.
3. To discover how to choose appropriate research methodologies.
4. To further enhance high-level reading and writing skills.
5. To improve referencing and appropriate scholarly presentation skills.
6. To learn how to work effectively with supervisors.

Indicative Module Content:

I. GETTING STARTED
Choosing a research topic
Disciplinary approaches to research
II. READING
Compiling a reading list
Reading and notetaking
Synthesizing reading and finding your voice
Bibliographical exercise workshop
III. PLANNING
Making the most of supervision
Research presentation workshop
IV. WRITING
Writing as research method
Dissertation structure
Editing and revision

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Competent

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Competent

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 1

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 1

Reduce inequality within and among countries 1
 

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

17
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

47
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active learning workshops, individual writing and reflection, discussion, peer review, independent research.

School moderation policy: A proportion of written assignments in each module in the School of English, Drama and Film are subject to moderation, meaning they undergo a second layer of review by another grader. This is to promote consistency within and between modules in the same level and discipline.

AI Policy: AI Use Permitted for Limited Support. Students may use AI tools for limited support in this module (e.g. idea generation, practice questions, or as a study aid). However, students remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their learning. Any use of AI must be cited appropriately.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
:
-

Incompatibles:
HIS30550 - Research Skills Seminar


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Pre-recorded research presentation - three slides, three minutes. Please note that this is not a 'live' presentation. Week 14 Graded No
50
 No
Student Negotiated or Choice of Assessment: Bibliographical exercise - choice of annotated bibliography, literature review, or position paper Week 7 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

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
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

De Sousa Correa, Delia and W.R. Owens, eds, The Handbook to Literary Research. Abingdon: Routledge, 2010. [e-book available via UCD Library]

Griffin, Gabriele, ed. Research Methods for English Studies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2013. [e-book available via UCD Library]

For referencing, see the MLA style guide on the library website: https://libguides.ucd.ie/mlastyle

Name Role
Dr Max Bledstein Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Lauren Cassidy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Sarah Comyn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Paul Halferty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Maria Mulvany Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Salome Paul Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Nicolas Pillai Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Jeanne Tiehen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Karen Wade Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Emma Bennett Tutor
Dr Tupur Chattopadhyay Tutor
Assoc Professor Lucy Collins Tutor
Assoc Professor Luca Crispi Tutor
Assoc Professor Sharae Deckard Tutor
Professor Fionnuala Dillane Tutor
Professor Porscha Fermanis Tutor
Professor Jane Grogan Tutor
Professor Eamonn Jordan Tutor
Professor Margaret Kelleher Tutor
Professor Jorie Lagerwey Tutor
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Tutor
Dr Anthony McIntyre Tutor
Assoc Professor Anne Mulhall Tutor
Professor Diane Negra Tutor
Dr Harvey O'Brien Tutor
Dr Michelle O'Connell Tutor
Assoc Professor Niamh Pattwell Tutor
Dr Emma Radley Tutor
Dr Martha Shearer Tutor
Dr Ashley Taggart Tutor
Assoc Professor Nerys Williams Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 10:00 - 11:50
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