A constructivist approach will be taken whereby the active learner makes judgements about when and how to modify their knowledge.
• Learning environment (lectures) – this time will be spent prompting learning of particular knowledge by students
• Supervision Sessions – students engage with a supervisor who gives ‘light-touch’ guidance to the students over the full course of the project
Module Aim:
The main aim of this project is to enable the student to understand the research process and produce a dissertation thesis. The project will help the student to identify a research problem and carry out an independent research project within the field of media/public relations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1
Undertake primary and secondary research on a topic involving multiple disciplines within the course
LO2
Analyse and present the findings of their research
LO3
Critique recommendations on the basis of their analysis
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
Module Content & Assessment
Indicative Content
Overview
Students will receive a 10 hour workshop in Research Methodology at the beginning of the year. This workshop will cover;
• The Research Process
o Defining the problem and research objectives
o Developing the research plan
o Implementing the research plan
o Interpreting and reporting the findings
• Secondary research – development and analysis
• Primary research
o Qualitative and quantitative research techniques
This will provide the students with the research skills to use in addition to the skills and knowledge gained from their other subjects.
The students will be given a hand-out at the beginning of the academic year containing precise details on the requirements for the dissertation.
Each student will be allocated a project supervisor with whom they will agree the research topic. The research topic must be of an interdisciplinary nature and combine subject matter from a number of different subjects. A timetable of weekly meetings will be developed at which progress or problems will be discussed and dates for deliverables agreed.
Deliverables as follows:-
• Project requirements explained – request for project proposals
• Project proposal discussed with student
• Research methodology
• Review of secondary research
• Implementation of primary research plan
• Student submits final project
Assessment Breakdown
%
Continuous Assessment
40.00%
Project
60.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Other
Percentage mark of each deliverable:-
Initial topic/research proposal
Research Methodology
Literature Review
Findings/Analysis
Project Management (includes attending scheduled meetings with supervisor, attendance at research lectures, submission of continuous chapters on time etc..) Presentation of work
1,2,3
40.00
n/a
Project
Assessment Type
Assessment Description
Outcome addressed
% of total
Assessment Date
Project
Submitted at agreed date
1,2,3
60.00
Sem 1 End
No Practical
No End of Module Formal Examination
SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment