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Postgraduate Module Descriptors 2012/13
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COM403: Research Method and Professional Issues

Module Title Research Method and Professional Issues
Module Code COM403
Module Tutor Fiona Collard
School Computing and Technology
CAT Points 20
Level of Study 7
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Brief Description This module introduces the skills and professional codes of conduct for practitioners and researchers in the computing-related disciplines. This module also aims to give students an in-depth study in the skills required to read, understand, and undertake academic research. These include proposal writing and elements of project management, including working with research supervisors. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are studied including data collection and analysis. Research paradigms and ethical issuers for computing-related research with or without human participants are outlined and explored.
Indicative Syllabus Professional codes of conduct, law and ethics, the research process, critical reading of academic literature, academic writing and research reporting, research proposals, qualitative and quantitative research methods, qualitative and quantitative data collection, collation, and analysis.
Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, the student should be able to:

  1. identify and evaluate professional and ethical issues related to the IT industry
  2. recognise legal obligations relating to the IT industry and understand how to meet these obligations;
  3. appreciate the importance of standards and be able to evaluate the appropriateness of applying standards in a particular circumstance;
  4. identify, through bibliographic search and critical analysis, suitable research materials;
  5. critically analyse and evaluate academic research papers;
  6. write in an academic style following the university standard referencing system1. identify, through critical analysis and application, the key elements of a project and write these in the format of a proposal;
  7. critically analyse and evaluate data from both qualitative and quantitative research;
  8. identify and implement a suitable research paradigm for a specified project within IT;
  9. critically analyse and propose solutions for issues associated with managing projects within IT.


Learning and Teaching Activities

Approximately 30 hours staff/student contact, 70 hours of directed study and 100 hours of independent study
Assessment (For further details see the Module Guide) 001: 60% Coursework: Standard: 3500 words or equivalent
002: 40% Written Exam: End of year, unseen, closed book: 2.00 hours
Special Assessment Requirements None
Indicative Resources

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.

Important

Please note the course resources in this website are archived versions from previous years.

Course resources for the current years of entry are available to staff and students on Infonet.

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Old Archive

Course resources prior to 2012/13 can still be found in the original Maps and Descriptors Archive.

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