module specification

This module supports the development of the research project, proposed in the Research Methods module, contextualized in the Contextual Studies module, in relation to methods that are explored and tested in the related Practice module/s. It focuses on the early development stage of the Research Project and involves practice-based and practice-led research, as well as research involving a range of other qualitative and quantitative methods.

This module sets out the groundwork for the process of reflection upon practice and review in relation to research questions, aims and methods. Work will be developed towards an assessment that will function as a formal review point of the project.

This module aims to:

• Enable students to commence and develop a research project within a supportive academic context and research culture, fostering an analytical and evaluative approach;
• Enable students to commence and develop a body of project work, which may contribute to continuing research and/or professional practice;
• Enable students to reflect critically on practice;
• Enable students to develop precision in the use of materials, techniques, and forms; developing their understanding and mastery of a range of media;
• Facilitate the development of critical thinking and analysis and contextual awareness in relation to the project;
• Enable students to engage with a range of critical debates and vocabularies applicable to their project;

Students will follow their individually negotiated work programmes and meet regularly with their supervisor(s). The module is concerned with the student commencing and developing their individual projects. At subject level, individual and group tutorials students will generate the content of discussion. Student led presentations in broad-based groups will provide opportunities to explore the interdisciplinary nature of enquiry and research in terms of both critical debate and support.

The Learning and Teaching strategy for the module is to base learning around the student’s project. There are a range of learning and teaching methods employed including:

Peer review encourages students to analyse and critically evaluate and engage with their own work and the work of others and develop advanced communication and presentation skills.

Student presentations support students to interrogate their project and develop presentation skills and also provide a platform for debate and engagement.

Self-directed study is core to the module and used as the basis for tutorial discussion. Students will be encouraged to engage with evaluation as an ongoing process.

Practice-based facilities enable students to test out and produce work in an appropriate medium based on their own project plans.

In addition, students are encouraged to make maximum use of the resources available to them in terms of the IT provision both within the Faculty and the library. Blended Learning /weblearn includes the provision of course and module information on the web, lecture notes, feedback, and blogs are used to enhance independent learning.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Initiate and manage a sustained, structured and systematic approach to the independent study of an approved programme of work;
2. Engage effectively with the context of the project using appropriate critical language; providing evidence of awareness of critical debates and issues which relate to the project.

3. Report and communicate the progress of research and present findings in a manner that is appropriate to the nature of the proposal and agreed criteria.
4. demonstrate an appropriate use of practitioner skills in relation to practical, technical and theoretical understanding in a manner that reflects the proposal and agreed criteria;
5. Utilise enhanced research and strategic skills of organisation, experimentation, reflection and analysis;
6. 6. Employ independent learning and research strategies to support the project.

Assessment includes a combination of diagnostic, formative and summative methods. Students are expected to participate reflectively in assessment. Assessment for this module is based on a presentation of Project Work in progress with a Critical and Evaluative Research Report (word length in line with the Faculty Assessment tariff)

Project work: a body of research and practice in progress demonstrating the development of the project, with related supporting material such as documentation evidencing the working method.


Critical and Evaluative Research Report (3000) will act as a guide to the project submission and, operates as a space for the description of and reflection upon the ways the project has developed. Data from experiments will be written up and analysed. It is also an opportunity to evaluate the extent to which, various experiments achieved their aims and, the effectiveness of methods used.

Work will be assessed against the learning outcomes in relation to the following criteria:
• Appropriate use of research methods
• Quality of analysis and interpretation
• Subject knowledge and relevance
• Quality of communication and presentation
• Appropriate technical competence
• Appropriate use of problem solving, testing and experimentation
• Management of own learning and personal professional development
• Effective collaborative and/or independent working methods

Texts will be recommended on an individual basis as appropriate. Students will be expected to read widely in and around their subject area and to keep up with current specialist journals and exhibitions and/or live events and screenings.

Orna, E. Stevens, G (1995) Managing Information for Research, Buckingham and Philadelphia, Open University Press.
Pegley, O. (2007) ‘Capturing and Analysing own design activity’, Design Studies, Vol 28, No. 5, September.
Biggs, M and Karlsson, H. (ed.) (2010) The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts, London and New York: Routledge.
Schon, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner. How Professionals Think in Action, Basic Books.

Scrivener, S. (2002) ‘Reflection in and on Action and Practice in Creative-Production Doctoral Projects in Art and Design’, Research into Practice: Working Papers in Art and Design [online journal].

Willis, P. (1980) ‘Notes on method’ in Hall, S. et al. (ed.), Culture, Media, Language, Unwin Hyman.
Gray C. and Malins J. (2004) Visualizing Research, Aldershot, Ashgate.

Ritter, R. M. (2002) The Oxford Manual of Style, London, New York, Sydney, Toronto, Oxford University Press.
Leavey, P. (2009) Method meets Art: Arts-based Research Practice, New York and London: The Guilford Press.