Assignment Brief
Module title
Applied Research Methods
Module code
Module leader
Assessment title
001 – Initial Proposal Planning
Launch date
Submission deadline
06.10.25
Expected date for return of marks and feedback
Module outcomes assessed
- Critically explore appropriate and relevant fields and areas as a foundational step in developing a comprehensive research proposal.
- Critically evaluate current research and scholarly literature to establish a robust theoretical foundation for a research proposal.
- Develop a series of detailed planning documents in accordance with the proposed research topic.
- Design a robust research framework that includes a clearly defined research question, supporting objectives, a relevant research methodology, and an identified philosophical stance.
Assessment weighting
40%
Word count (if relevant)
1200 words (+/- 10%)
Assessment task details – provide a description of the task
As part of this module, you are required to select a research topic as part of the proposal process for your dissertation. In this assignment, you are expected to present the various planning and documentation processes that were used to formulate your dissertation topic.
This coursework will comprise of 40% of your grade for the module.
Task
You are expected to create a 1200 word (+/- 10%) academic report detailing the following:
A research title / research question for your proposed research.
A short justification (academically referenced) as to why this research is needed.
The core aim for the research project
A short literature review (600 words) highlighting the core 6 academic papers prominent to the field.
A summary of what your contribution to knowledge will be.
An appendix section containing the following:
Initial mindmap of topics / ideas
Evidence of search criteria
Literature review tables
The core purpose of this assignment it to allow students to showcase the initial planning surround selecting and narrowing the scope for their academic projects.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Guidance
For this assessment, students must adhere to the following guidelines regarding the use of AI tools:
Permissible Uses of AI Tools:
Spell Check: AI can be utilised to correct spelling mistakes.
Grammar Check: You may use AI tools to check for grammatical errors.
Idea Generation: AI can assist in brainstorming ideas and generating general concepts.
Outline Assistance: AI may help in structuring your outline or organising thoughts.
Prohibited Uses of AI Tools:
Content Creation: The actual writing and development of the assessment content must be entirely your own work. This includes but is not limited to creating sentences, paragraphs, or any substantial part of your assignment.
Paraphrasing: AI should not be used to rephrase or rewrite existing content from other sources.
Research or Factual Information: The collection and presentation of information or research data must be independently conducted.
Important Note on AI-Generated Content:
If you use generative AI tools to produce any form of content, it must be quoted and cited as you would for any other academic source. Failure to properly cite AI-generated content will be considered plagiarism, just as if the work had been copied or paraphrased from another source.
Disclaimer Regarding AI Tools:
Please be aware that AI tools like ChatGPT can make mistakes due to limited data, misinterpretation, or ambiguity. They may provide outdated, incorrect, or contextually inappropriate information. Therefore, it is crucial to critically evaluate any output generated by AI tools.
By submitting this assignment, you confirm that your work adheres to these guidelines.
Submission instructions – What should be the format of the submission? / Where should it be submitted?
A Word or PDF document only (only one document to be submitted), containing your assignment and a reference list. Any additional material should be put in an appendix at the end of the report. References should be presented using the IEEE referencing format. Please submit online via the appropriate Turnitin submission on the module space
Hints and tips
All submitted work is expected to observe academic standards in terms of referencing, academic writing, use of language etc. Failure to adhere to these instructions may result in your work being awarded a lower grade than it would otherwise deserve.
All references must be presented using IEEE formatting.
Marking and moderation
Marking will be conducted during a 3-week period after your submission date. During that time a sample of work will be sent for internal verification. Marks will be released after the 3-week period. Please refer to the full marking criteria and the end of the document for a breakdown of the marks allocated to this assignment. A rough guideline for the boundaries is presented below:
A mark in this range (>=70%) will be awarded to any student who demonstrates an excellent understanding of the problem and delivers a complete and good solution to all tasks and have excellent conclusion. The student’s arguments will be supported by relevant examples and be correctly referenced.
A mark in this range (60 – 69%) will be awarded to any student who demonstrates a good understanding of the problem and delivers a good solution to all tasks and very good conclusion. The majority of the student’s arguments will be supported by relevant examples and be correctly referenced.
A mark in this range (50 – 59%) will be awarded to any student who demonstrates a reasonable understanding of the problem and delivers a satisfactory solution to all tasks and have good conclusion. Most of the student’s arguments will be supported by relevant examples and be correctly referenced.
A mark in this range (40 – 49%) will be awarded to any student who demonstrates some understanding of the problem and delivers a satisfactory solution to all tasks and a brief conclusion. Work of a reasonable standard, but lacking examples and correct referencing will fall into this category.
A Refer (0 – 39%) will be given to work that is unsatisfactory or contains serious errors/limitations.
Employability Skills Applied
On successful completion of this module, a student will have had opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the following Employability Skills;
Adaptability & Flexibility (Managing Change, Coping with Ambiguity, Transferable Skills)
X
Career Development (Career information, Access to opportunity, Career readiness)
X
Critical Thinking (Problem Solving, Analytical Skills, Critical Thinking)
X
Digital Capabilities (Digital Tools & Software, Data Analysis, Digital Citizenship)
X
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (Innovation, Commercial Awareness and Influencing)
X
Interpersonal Skills (Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Networking, Bilingualism)
X
Personal Skills (Initiative, Leadership, Social intelligence)
Resilience (Positive Mindset, Self Awareness, Motivation & Purpose)
Social Impact and Sustainability (Social Responsibility, inclusivity, Cultural Awareness and application of the UN Sustainable development goals
Teamwork (Collaboration Skills, Active Listening, Planning & Organising)
