MSc Advanced Process Integration and Design / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Research Techniques & Methods (Proposal)

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEN64432
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit is a preparation for the MSc dissertation. Students choose a research topic from a selection of laboratory-based and computational projects offered by different academic supervisors, and often work closely with a postgraduate or postdoctoral researcher or industry.

 

Towards the end of semester 2, the student will submit a research report. This will include a critical literature survey to give the context and motivation for the proposed project and its specific objectives. It will cover the state-of-the-art of the research topic and a discussion of missing knowledge. With consultation with the supervisor(s), it may contain preliminary research results. It will outline the approach that would be taken to achieve those objectives, the required timescales and resource requirements, and the benefits that would result if the project were undertaken. The report will be subject to a strict length limitation of 15 pages, requiring a conciseness of style resulting from a maturity of understanding of the subject.  This report will count for 15 credits.

 

Aims

The unit aims to:

Develop students’ skills in the preparation of a research project.

Encourage students to engage deeply with the literature relevant to the subject of their research project and find relevant literature.

Develop students’ understanding of the methods of research through the execution and reporting of an appropriate research project in a chosen subject area.

 

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding          

-           Provide a critical literature survey, a motivation for the project, a clear set of objectives, a plan, with timescales, for achieving these objectives and an account of the resources required.

Intellectual skills        

-           Formulate objectives that lead logically from an evaluation of the relevant literature and analysis of the problem

-           Select or propose appropriate methodologies and formulate these into a workplan to address the objectives

-           Evaluate the timescale and resource requirements to deliver the workplan (suitable to address identified objectives, and budget the time and resource requirements to execute the workplan).

-           Identify the benefits and beneficiaries of a proposed project.

-           Undertake a literature review as a basis for identifying potential research areas, presenting the justification for the proposed research, and formulating objectives arising as a logical consequence of the literature review.

Practical skills

-           Carry out a literature search using library and IT facilities.

-           Consider safety aspects of the proposed programme of work

Transferable skills and personal qualities     

-           Write a concise, structured report in an acceptable engineering format.

Teaching and learning methods

A combination of lectures (e.g. on library skills), meetings with the supervisor, self-directed learning and hands-on practical experience.

 

Knowledge and understanding

See above

Intellectual skills

See above

Practical skills

See above

Transferable skills and personal qualities

See above

Assessment methods

 

Assessment task

Length

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

Project proposal

 

15 pages

100%

 

Feedback methods

Feedback will be made available via the virtual learning environment following marks release.

Recommended reading

To be discussed with supervisor.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Tutorials 15
Independent study hours
Independent study 135

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Andrew Masters Unit coordinator

Return to course details