RDEV40670 Food & Agribusiness Research Project

Academic Year 2022/2023

This is an undergraduate module specifically for Stage 4 students in the BAgrSc Food and Agribusiness Management (FAM) programme. It focuses on developing a socio-economic/business research capacity through students receiving lectures, workshops and computer based learning on key research skills. As part of the module, students will apply their research skills (together with learning outcomes achieved in other modules) in a research project under the general supervision of one of the FAM programme team. The key research skills developed include: approaches to research (quantitative, qualitative and mixed method); problem/topic identification; development of research objectives; undertaking a literature review; sampling; design of research methods; data collection; data analysis; presentation of results.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to: 1. Develop a research proposal on a topic generally relevant to the FAM programme; 2. Learn how to design, develop and deliver a quantitative and a qualitative study; 3. Critically assess approaches and methods of quantitative and qualitative research; 4. Critically interpret selected academic (and other) literature in a literature review; 5. Analyse data using appropriate methods 6. Interpret and sythesise research findings in the context of the literature and form appropriate conclusions, policy recommendations and a small number of ideas for further work.

Indicative Module Content:

Developing a research proposal
Literature review
Approaches to research - qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods)
Methods of collecting data
Sampling
Data analysis (qualitative and quantitative; introduction to software for data analysis)
Presenting results

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Computer Aided Lab

20
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

150
Total

230
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered over two semesters. There will be two hours per week timetabled contact time with a mixture of lectures, workshops and computer aided labs, all with the purpose of systematically guiding the student through the development of their research proposals, planning data collection, analysing data collected and presenting their findings. The two assignments and the presentation all contribute towards the development of the final research project. Feedback on these components will include recommendations for improvements of their planned research. Students will collect data in their own time, typically over the break between semesters 1 and 2.

Each week the student will be expected to tailor the content delivered to their own research, through task-based activities. Students will also be allocated a supervisor (second half of semester 1) who will individually mentor the student on their own research project. 
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: Written development of proposed data sources and research tools Week 11 n/a Graded No

8
Assignment: Literature review Week 9 n/a Graded No

8
Project: Final research project (approximately week 10 semester 2) Unspecified n/a Graded No

70
Presentation: Presentation of inital research findings (week3-5 second semester) Unspecified n/a Graded No

8
Assignment: Research proposal Week 4 n/a Graded No

8

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, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive class and individual feedback on the three assignments in semester 1 and the presentation in semester 2. Students will also have the support of a supervisor to give individual feedback on a draft of the final project.

Bryman, A (2016). Social Research Methods. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.