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IS40820

Academic Year 2024/2025

Research Theory and Practice (IS40820)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Páraic Kerrigan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module serves as an introduction to the core aspects of the research process. It introduces the core facets of research practice, design and management, while also developing key skills associated with the research process. Students are introduced to key theoretical perspectives involved in the philosophy and politics of research, while providing a broad overview of the varying factors that make up research practice, such as research ethics, sampling and generalisability and developing research topics. To that end, while providing a broad overview of the research process, the course specifically focuses on the early stages of research practice, providing training in referencing and academic integrity, writing research questions, aims and objectives, critical reading skills, academic writing, critiquing literature, conducting a literature review and presenting research. Students will have the opportunity to use the skills from the module to develop a proposal for their respective programmes requirements around research and project management.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the research process.
2. Apply accepted techniques associated with academic writing.
3. Select, evaluate and critique information sources for academic research.
4. Demonstrate the ability to complete an academic literature review.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

100

Lectures

24

Total

124


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, Critical Reading and Writing, Reflective Learning, Class Debates


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
Assignment(Including Essay): This assignment will take the form a workbook to be completed weekly. Week 9 Graded No
40
No
Assignment(Including Essay): This final assignment will take the form of a literature review. Week 12 Graded No
60
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.

Name Role
Dr Elizabeth Farries Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

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) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 15:00 - 16:50