AP3A110-Independent Research Project

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Gillian Rose
Email: g.rose@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module builds on the skills, knowledge and experience that you’ve gained throughout your degree course. You will identify a suitable research topic, develop an hypothesis, plan and conduct a research project. Using your statistical skills you will analyse the results of your research project and rely on your critical analyses skills to interpret the data. Your research will be presented to your peers and the wider School of Agriculture, Policy and Development via a scientific poster presentation and you will produce a written dissertation.

Aims:

This module develops independent research skills, culminating in a scientific poster presentation and a written dissertation.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Formulate a relevant research question and related hypotheses


2. Execute a collaborative research project


3. Accurately collect and record information, store, manipulate and analyse research data


4. Demonstrate the ability to write scientifically


5. Confidently present research findings and answer questions


6. Understand the importance of academic integrity


7. Show an awareness of ethical considerations, data protection procedures and relevant health and safety issues in planning research


8. Critically analyse, summarise and present information from a range of sources


9. Develop sound conclusions


10. Correctly acknowledge sources using the Harvard reference system


11. Manage, evaluate and reflect on skills development, identify where more training/support is required and demonstrate a clear plan to develop skills


12. Produce a written dissertation that effectively communicates a research project and its findings


13. Follow editorial rules and conventions

Additional outcomes:

This module develops a range of transferrable and employability skills including project management, communication, critical analysis, numeracy, leadership, decision making and time management.

Outline content:

Spring Term (Part 2)

Students will be introduced to the dissertation process and the skills required to undertake this through a series of taught sessions.  Students are encouraged to attend the Part 3 dissertation poster session and to engage the students in dissertation-related conversation.  Students must complete the Dissertation Survey on Blackboard to choose their topic, allowing a supervisor to be allocated.  The first assessment, Justification of Research, is due at the end of the summer term of Part 2.  Students may begin their dissertation over the summer vacation.

Autumn Term

Students will start/continue with their independent research project, being responsible for managing their time effectively to produce a high quality research project.  Support is provided by their allocated supervisor.

Spring Term

Students will continue with their research project, supported by their supervisor.  A poster presentation will encourage further dissemination and discussion with a range of staff and students.  The culmination of the module is a written dissertation.

Global context:

Students will research their allocated subject in the context of global research.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module will be taught using a series of lectures to prepare and support students in the dissertation process.  Students will use the skills and knowledge developed during Parts 1 and 2 of their studies to support them.  Independent study is relied on in this module.  Contact hours below are indicative only and will vary from project to project.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	6	4
Project Supervision	2	2
Guided independent study:
Carry-out research project	152	154
Dissertation writing	40	40
Total hours by term	200	200	0
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	10
Dissertation	80
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

There are 3 summative components:

1. Justification of (10%, submitted Week 11, Spring term Part 2)


2. Scientific poster presentation (10%, Spring term Part 3)


3. Written Dissertation (80%, Week 1 Summer term Part 3)

Formative assessment methods:

One chapter can be submitted for review and feedback, date to be agreed with supervisor.

One draft of the scientific poster can be submitted for review and feedback, date to be agreed with supervisor.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment of the failed element.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: None

2) Specialist equipment or materials: None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None

4) Printing and binding: None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: None

Last updated: 27 September 2023