HUM5032 - Researching Humanities

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
The ability to produce an outline for a research project in the humanities, including hypothesis/key question, sub-questions and basic methodology.
The ability to assess critically qualitative and quantative sources, relevant to a research project in the humanities.
The skill of recognising and applying ethical research.
The ability to work independently and professionally as a researcher in the humanities, and to reflect effectively and critically on their personal development of research skills.

Content:

This module will develop the skills required to plan and begin an independent research project within a supportive learning environment, and reinforce research skills developed in other modules. The first sessions will cover the basic skills and requirements for undertaking a dissertation (for example: research ethics, primary documents and secondary literature, qualitative and quantative methods, writing an abstract/precis and other learning skills). In the second part of the module, students will focus on developing a research proposal for their L6 dissertation, and will include an individual tutorial with a member of the Humanities staff.

Learning and Teaching Information:

In the first sessions, the development of research project skills will be supported through weekly 2 hour workshops, allowing the students time to work independently. The workshops will focus on briefing students on how to prepare eg outlines for research projects, and will also allow students to present work-in-progress to their tutor and peers. In the second section, students will attend two 2 hour workshops, and four individual tutorials (15 minutes each) with their projected supervisor, with the aim of developing their own research proposals for their L6 dissertation/research report. The low level of contact hours is to allow personalised guidance at this point for each student.

Seminars
Contact Hours: 14
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Tutorial
Contact Hours: 1
Intended Group Size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 185

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio will include, for example, a consideration of research ethics, including a completed self-assessment form, a review of at least one source relevant to the dissertation proposal, an abstract/precis of the proposed dissertation and a short reflective report on the development of research and independent learning skills in the course of the module.

The research proposal will include the hypothesis, research questions and basic methodology for the dissertation, which the student intends to undertake at Level 6, as well as an annotated bibliography of relevant primary and secondary sources.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio; 2,000 words; during semester 2 50%
002 Research proposal; 2,000 words; end of semester 2 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Suzanne Owen
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S2

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