module specification

In this module, you will have the opportunity to undertake an independent and in-depth study on a Civil Engineering topic that aligns with your interests. Building on the knowledge and skills developed in CO7P01, this module encourages you to explore a subject or problem within the field of Civil Engineering. The outcome of your research will be a dissertation, which you will submit at the end of the module. Throughout the module, you will receive guidance from a Project Supervisor who will provide support, feedback, and advise as you progress with your work. You will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills by applying rigorous research methods to your chosen topic.

As the primary driver of your project, you will be responsible for managing resources, scheduling meetings, and adhering to deadlines while collecting and analysing relevant data.
You can select a topic from a list of suggestions provided by academic staff or propose your area of research. Your project may involve laboratory work, numerical modelling, advanced design, field observations, or mathematical analysis, depending on the focus of your study. Regardless of the approach you take, a critical review of the relevant literature will form a key part of your dissertation, though you will be expected to go beyond this and contribute original research.

By the end of the module, you will demonstrate your ability to manage a research project from start to finish, producing a well-organised, critical dissertation that showcases your academic and professional development.

CO7P01

The module does not have any formal taught elements as research methods were taught in CO7P01. This module requires students to work with the supervisor in the collection of any outstanding primary data, the analysis of their research, and writing up their findings in the form of a dissertation (LO1, 2, 3 & 4).

Students are expected to arrange their supervisor meetings in good time and are able to have 1:1 meetings with their supervisor during this module to support them and provide formative feedback.

The module will be delivered through formal contact sessions supported by online content. The contact sessions will encourage students to discuss ideas and consider a variety of research strategies and data collection techniques. The online content will provide students with a formal, structured framework within which to approach their research.

Workshops will be held in which students will engage in discussions about topical areas within the field of Civil Engineering, which, coupled with independent research, will help guide students in their identification and justification of a subject to study.

The principal emphasis throughout the module is on self-directed learning. Students will be required to take responsibility for identifying their own research goals and planning their own research programme.

1:1 tutorials between supervisors and students will take place at appropriate intervals. It is the students’ responsibility to arrange and attend tutorials at a frequency appropriate to the stage of the work and at times mutually convenient to students and supervisors.

Some group tutorials will also be offered to support students in the preparation of their assessments, with opportunities for students to receive forward feedback.

On completion of the module, the learner, operating independently and applying their knowledge and skills, should be able to:

1. plan and execute an independent research project with a clear understanding of the relevant literature, presenting and interpreting research outputs effectively, drawing well-supported conclusions, and making informed recommendations for further investigation where appropriate.

2. demonstrate initiative, sound engineering judgement, and critical thinking throughout the research process, showcasing the ability to manage, plan, and execute a research project.

3. develop a critical appreciation of the research topic and its broader context, using engineering judgement to assess the implications of the research within the wider academic, professional, and societal landscape.

4. synthesize and critically appraise both their own findings and the work of others, producing a comprehensive dissertation that includes clear aims, objectives, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions.

There is no single text currently in publication that provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of this module. There are several books that cover various parts of the module in some detail, which are listed via the link below. Additional resources are to be determined based on the project/topic allocation.

Research Methods