AD1ARS: Agricultural Research Skills

Module code: AD1ARS

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Gillian Rose, email: g.rose@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Sustainable farming practices are based on the application of scientific research. This module will introduce you to a range of research topics and methods currently used within the agriculture industry. You will plan, conduct and analyse a group research project working alongside a member of our research staff. After critically analysing your results, you will present your research in the form of a scientific poster to your peers and the wider School staff. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Execute a collaborative research project, including formulating a relevant research question and related hypotheses, accurately collecting and recording information, storing, manipulating and analysing research data 
2. Present scientific research findings written and verbally 
3. Manage, evaluate and reflect on skills development, identify where more training/support is required and demonstrate a clear plan to develop skills 

Module content

Semester 1 

University-level agricultural research and associated academic skills will be explored through a series of taught sessions. Students will be allocated a research topic and will work in a team alongside a member of staff to create a research question and hypotheses. A detailed review of literature will provide the background to the research topic and a Gantt chart will enable effective time management. A range of essential skills will be introduced including teamwork, scientific writing, reading peer reviewed papers and citing/referencing using the Harvard style. 

Semester 2 

Students will conduct their group research project with support from a member of staff. Results will be presented in a scientific poster presentation session with an accompanying verbal presentation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught in a long-thin format over 2 semesters.  

The module introduces the research process and academic skills development in a series of lectures.   

With the support from their research supervisor, students should confidently lead and drive their group research project, engaging with group meetings and seminars. 

Study hours

At least 10 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Formative feedback on one chapter of the dissertation, date to be agreed with supervisor
• Formative feedback on one draft of the scientific poster

Reassessment

Additional costs