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MUS40340

Academic Year 2025/2026

Doing Research (MUS40340)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Matthew Thomson
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 enables students to gain skills in research methods for three different approaches to music research: historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and composition/practice-based research. In practical seminars, students will learn to employ strategies for designing and carrying out a large research project in each of these three methodologies. Through these strategies, they will begin to design the project which will form their major submission at the end of the MMus course. They will then gain experience in crafting the genres of text often needed for applications for doctoral programmes and research funding, including research questions, abstracts, bibliographies, and literature reviews. Finally, they will gain skills in presenting their research to others in engaging and attractive ways, through 'pitch presentations'.

This module uses the yellow ("Check") mode of the College of Arts and Humanities "traffic light system" with regard to the use of AI (see https://www.ucd.ie/artshumanities/study/aifutures/trafficlightsystem/). Specifically, its use for translation and brainstorming are permitted (see the webpage for details). However, each use must be documented in an appendix (indicating which AI app was used, the date of access, and citing the specific prompt(s)).

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students should be able to:
- produce a coherent plan and outline for a research project in at least one of composition/practice-based research, ethnomusicology, or historical musicology.
- analyse the prompts given in doctoral or funding applications and identify the characteristics of strong responses to such prompts.
- produce at least two genres of text usually required in doctoral or funding applications.
- recognise and implement strategies for presenting their research to others in an engaging way.

Indicative Module Content:

1. Introduction to designing and presenting a research project.
2. Designing and presenting a research project in Ethnomusicology (led by Dr Jaime Jones)
3. Designing and presenting a research project in Historical Musicology (led by Dr Matthew Thomson)
4. Designing and presenting a research project in Composition/Practice-Based Research (led by Dr Seán Clancy)
5. 'Pitch Presentations'.

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 Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Text 2: Choose one of the genres of text considered in the three methodological sessions and produce it for your own project. Week 14 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Individual 'pitch' presentation, introducing your project to your classmates. Week 11 Graded No
30
 No
Reflective Assignment: Students will submit a a short self-reflective journal entry for each session, outlining how their reading and discussion for that session will affect their future approach to research. 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
Assignment(Including Essay): Text 1: Choose one of the genres of text considered in the three methodological sessions and produce it for your own project. Week 12 Graded No
30
 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
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

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) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 12:00 - 13:50
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