MUS40340 Doing Research

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module provides an introduction to research methods through a practical seminar-based approach. Students will familiarise themselves with library and online research resources and will receive guidance on the use of archival sources and fieldwork. Students will be encouraged to use the seminars to engage critically with debates and discourse on the aims and goals of musicology today.

The research seminars will also focus on writing skills for academic purposes, including style guides (MHRA and Ethnomusicology), abstracts, literature reviews and dissertations. Attention will also be devoted to oral presentation skills, new media and approaches to research-funding applications.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students should be:
- confident and competent in the use of library and online research tools
- able to find books, scores and other printed materials in a research library
- able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable resources
- able to produce a comprehensive literature review on a given topic
- fully conversant with at least one reputable style guide

Indicative Module Content:

Guide to library and online research resources
Diverse approaches to research
Critical use of information and interpretation of evidence in building an argument or thesis
Academic writing skills - especially in the construction of bibliographies, academic papers, abstracts, conference papers and literature reviews
Developing confidence and competence in the use of style guides

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

10
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Active task-based learning
Reading and reflection
Discussion of examples of work
Critical writing
Problem-based learning 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Literature review/Status quaestionis. Students will be assigned or choose a research topic and will be required to produce a literature review. Week 12 n/a Graded No

30
Portfolio: Compiling a bibliography/reference list.
Writing an abstract.
Preparation of oral presentation.		 Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Based on attendance, preparation and participation in seminars. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
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
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.