AEF801

RESEARCH METHODS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

To Index (Last Updated: 25.09.05)


GENERAL INTRODUCTION

This course Aims to develop students core research and project management skills: by providing students with a broad understanding of research processes, the nature of research problems and issues, and of systematic and logical approaches to research; and by equiping students with essential skills, techniques and approaches common to a wide range of research activities.

The Objectives are that, by the end of the module, students should be able to:

By the end of the module students should have developed all of their core skills as follows: written communication (via report writing); interpersonal communication (via working in allocated groups and liaisons with supervisors and third parties); oral presentation (via presentations); teamwork (via working in groups); planning and organising (via the 20 credit module running over two semesters and at a pace dictated by the group); problem solving (via exposure to real world problems with data and third parties); initiative (via students being in control of their own projects); adaptability (via exposure to real world problems with data and third parties); numeracy (via data collection and analysis); and computer literacy (via the use of word processors, statistical, bibliographic and presentation software).


Critical literature (and source) review is a key element of any research.  We start by carefully considering what it is we already know and thus what it is we need to find out about through research. The course begins with a critical review of some literature. Since 'real' research projects often involve working in groups and preparing written reports and oral presentations, group work is introduced at this stage, with each group being responsible for its own internal division of labour in preparation of the review (of a pre-specified topic).

Project proposals (development of feasible and practical research outlines adressing major questions involved in the topic) are treated here as the next step in the research process. Again group work on pre-specified topics is used at this stage, and oral as well as written presentation is required. Practice prior to assessment of this important stage is incorporated in the programme.


The immediate focus of the course is preparation for the dissertation.(See here for more guidance on DISSERTATIONS)  Accordingly, students are required to develop their own research proposals (using, as appropriate, topics suggested by staff) and subsequently developing research plans from these proposals. Individual reports will assist students in developing project plans for their dissertations and provide feedback at an early stage of their dissertation work. Gantt charts, peer review and liaisons with staff members all encourage (self) reflection on the processes and skills developed, while the outcomes of the dissertation itself provide the major final assessement of skills and training provided.


Methods and Timing of Assessment: There is no formal written examination for this course. Students work in allocated groups on a specific topic in semester 1 (see Exercise below). Group performance can be assessed by a written and oral reports. Individual student marks can be derived by scaling the mark awarded to the group by a weighting factor obtained by peer review (supplemented by relevant staff members' notes), to be agreed with students at the outset of the course. Individual performance is spearately assessed using the project proposal for the student's own dissertation. The timing of these assessments is detailed below (Index).  However, both timing and weights are subject to review and final ratification by the class and course leader during the course.

All written work will be presented in word-processed form, and students are encouraged to incorporate data presentation within these reports as appropriate. Oral presentations provide opportunities to develop power-point or similar skills.


Modus Operandi: The course is run largely on a seminar/workshop basis, within a timetabled slot of 2 hours per week (typically Mondays 3.00pm to 5.00pm, in  Room LT3, Bedson Teaching Centre). However, the first four weeks of the 1st semester are devoted to a Library Skills short course, organised seperately from the main curriculum.  Students are asked to prepare for these seminars and workshops by following up on the assignments and reading suggested by the staff responsible for each session.


The Course Outline is as follows, with links to additional information as available.

INDEX: Please follow up on the links indicated here (except to individual staff members) before each class -  you will find it helps!
NOTE ALSO: Staff suggestions for Dissertation Topics
CLASS TIME (Semester 1): Mondays, 3.00pm - 5.00pm, Room LT3, Bedson Teaching Centre unless otherwise noted

Week Beginning TOPIC ASSIGNMENT / WORKSHOP TUTORS
25th. Sept  MSc. Induction Week: 
MRN/DRH
3rd. October to  24th October inc.: Robinson Library & Research Resources Induction

Notice the Place

Mrs. Moira Bent, Liason Librarian,
Robinson Library.
3rd October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm
Robinson Library, Room 204
Introduction: Library resources and services, the catalogue and Research Information at Newcastle (ResIN)

10th October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm Robinson Library, Room 204 ResIN 1: Databases and electronic journals

17th October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm Robinson Library, Room 204 Endnote - a reference organisation software package
24th October: 3.00pm - 5.00pm
Robinson Library, Room 204
ResIN 2: Searching the web, grey literature, specialised resources


Distribution of previous MSc dissertations
Task: assessment of quality of past dissertations (to be done in groups - due 7th November)
31st October
Introduction to Research Methods 


7th November
What is Research Best Practice?
Group workshop discussion of Research Issues  MRN
14th November
Project Planning & Implementation (notes forthcoming) Group Discussions  MRN
21st November
Review and Discussion of Research Proposal development under TASK Group Discussions (read Exercise as well as the background material in the link opposite before this session)
28th November
Quantitative Research:  Overview Group Discussions 
5th December
Qualitative Research: Overview  see here for the power point file Group Discussions MB - an alternate?
12th December
Can we actually do social science research?  [Read about the Nature of Explanation before this session] Group Discussions: Some methodological considerations.







WEEK BEGINNING: Christmas Vacation Happy Christmas to all readers and workers.
9th January
Group work on Socrates Project Proposal Exercise No Formal Class: Written Genus/Socrates project proposals with appropriate support due by  Friday13th. January (10%) - max 6 pages A4 text (figures, charts, tables, reference lists etc.  can be added)
16th January
Preparation of Dissertation Proposals Staff suggestions for dissertation projects circulated]
23rd January
Preparation of Dissertation Proposals

30th January
Qualitative Methods:  Interviews:  Principles and a case study from the Agri-food industry in Eastern Europe
Dr. Mat Gorton
6th February
Qualitative Methods:  Focus Groups:  Principles and a case study

13th February
Qualitative Methods:  Participative Approaches:  Principles and a case study   Dr. Chris Ray
20th February
Qualitative Methods:  Analytical techniques
Ms. Mary Brennan
27th February
Questionnaire Design:  Principles
Dr. Mitchell Ness & Mr. Guy Garrod
6th March
Questionnaire Design: 
Practice 1

Dr. Mitchell Ness & Mr. Guy Garrod
13th March
Questionnaire Design: 
Practice 2

Dr. Mitchell Ness & Mr. Guy Garrod
20th March
 Quantitative Research: Analysis Principles & Practice (a Case Study)
DRH

Easter Vacation Happy Easter to all our readers

Easter Vacation Happy Easter to all our readers
24th April
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation

1st May
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation

8th May
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation


15th May
Dissertation Proposal & Plan Preparation

21st. May to 9th. June (4 wks.) Final Examination & Assessment period Written Dissertation Proposals & Plans due 12.00pm Friday 9th. June (90%), absolute max. 6,000 words, excluding references, tables and figures

[No formal University exam. for this course]


Monday 12th June - Friday 8th September (12 weeks) Preparation of Dissertations

September 8th. Submission of Completed MSc. Dissertation (Submission Form Here as Word Document)
Good Luck!

Some General References:

Some Specialist Texts: Additional references will be provided in class


GROUP PROJECT PROPOSAL EXERCISE:  

MODUS OPERANDI - HOW THIS EXERCISE IS EXPECTED TO WORK:


Working in groups of your own choosing, (or, if necessary and more acceptable, as individuals) you are asked to prepare an outline Proposal for submission according to the tender procedures outlined below. These will be judged by the Commissioning agent (DRH) as cooperative efforts and rewarded accordingly. Tender groups will be given the opportunity of discriminating individual rewards from the team average if they so wish, according to procedures to be negotiated between the Commissioning agent (DRH) and the team members.

Guidance: You are NOT expected to spend time doing any of this research at this stage. You ARE asked to think about and discuss the ways in which you might approach one (or more) of these issues and about how such approaches might meet the sponsors requirements. The purpose of this exercise is to give you an opportunity to think about the processes of research in connection with a specific problem area, and to practice (in outline form) the specification and planning of a research project.

GENETIC MODIFICATION - SIN OR SAVIOUR?

CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS


In a pathbreaking collaboration, Mansinto (the world-leading company in biotechnology) and Greenfriends (the multinational charity devoted to protection of the planet, its environments and people, especially from themselves) have pooled resources and launched a joint appeal to fund genuine, disinterested and objective research into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of genetic engineering and modification.

This call is devoted to the social science of genetic modification. A companion call (Genetic Modification - science or alchemy?) is focused on the natural and physical science aspects of the issue. The collaborators have established an independent and international trust (Genius), under United Nations auspices, to manage the research portfolios under this programme. Any and all correspondence related to this initiative will be addressed to Genius.

Socrates (the Social Science Commission of Genius) suggests that the following topics might provide the core of the social science portfolio in its initial stages, though welcomes constructive and thoughtful contributions from the research community in developing its research agenda.

Socrates also suggests that exploration of the social science of genetic modification might usefully be categorised under three functional headings:
  1. environmental consequences and interactions;
  2. food health and safety issues;
  3. business performance and competition regulation issues, including the allocation, appropriation and protection of intellectual property rights.
Socrates wishes to commission a limited number of complimentary research projects exploring these conflicts and potential synergies, in the form of scoping studies. Appropriate research proposals from academic and market research organisations are now invited.


Any correspondence between names in this document and the real world is purely coincidental. The issues, however, are real.


Socrates/Genius: Further Particulars and Details of tender procedures.


Tenders should include: There will be an open discussion of the issues and topics identified in this call for tender to be held in the Commission offices at a time to be notified, at which interested parties are invited to participate in further refinement and elaboration of the invitation, under the guidance of the Socrates Commission.

Participants are requested to prepare for this meeting by exploring the literature and their current understandings of the issues prior to this seminar. Following this seminar, and preparation of the review above, interested parties are invited to tender a specific research proposal of the following form.

Outline Proposals, of no more than 8 pages of A4 text, excluding diagrams and tables, should indicate for the proposed research study:

Your written proposal is due in the Commission's offices (SAFRD General Office) by 12.00pm, Friday 16th. December 2005 .



A useful starting point for web-based material and links is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biotechnology resource page. You might well begin with Gordon Conway's speach to Monsanto's directors. You can also visit Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) for an alternative view.

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