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IS40820

Academic Year 2026/2027

Research Theory and Practice (IS40820)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Anthony Kelly
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 provides 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 programme’s requirements around research and project management.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate research paradigms, methodologies, and ethical frameworks across the research process.

2. Construct persuasive, well-structured scholarly arguments while adhering to advanced academic writing conventions and citation standards.

3. Select, evaluate, and critique diverse academic literature to assess the validity and relevance of research findings.

4. Synthesise prior research to construct a critical literature review that identifies theoretical perspectives, empirical contradictions, and research gaps.

Indicative Module Content:

- Why We Study Research Theory and Practice
- The Philosophy and Politics of Research
- Developing Research Ideas
- Critical Thinking and Argument Analysis
- Formulating Research Questions, Aims, Objectives, and Methodologies
- Sampling and Generalisability
- Ethics in Research and Populations
- Research Data Management
- The Literature Review I
- The Literature Review II

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.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Lectures

24
Total

125

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 Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): This assignment will take the form a workbook to be completed weekly. Week 9 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): This final assignment will take the form of a literature review. Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


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 Anthony Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Kayley Moylan Tutor
Aisha Nazim Tutor

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
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