AD3INP: Independent Research Project

Module code: AD3INP

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer / Semester 1 / Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Anna MacReady, email: a.l.macready@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: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of the Dissertation project is to provide an evidence-based answer to a particular research question which you will identify. This question should arise from existing knowledge as represented in the literature, and its derivation should be clearly explained in the report. You will develop an initial idea, a plan, and conduct a research project using either primary or secondary data. The evidence used to address your research question may be empirical, or based on a broader synthesis of information from a variety of sources. Your dissertation should include a theoretical framework which is based on a sound review of the literature. Your analysis may use either primary or secondary data, but in either case a clear description of the methods employed must be given. Your data collection techniques (survey, focus group, interviews, etc.) must reflect those taught in research skills and methods modules, and you must obtain ethical clearance. If the project is not empirical it should be based on a structured argument which addresses the research question. This should include a review of alternative viewpoints regarding the research question and a judgement as to how these alternative viewpoints illuminate the issue. Your dissertation should draw on academic texts (e.g. books and, ideally, journal articles) to provide a synthesis of the literature. There should be a clear connection between the literature review, the development of key ideas, propositions, methods and hypotheses, and the interpretation of the results in your discussion.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Manage a project from conception to completion including identifying an appropriate topic, following instructions including and editing/formatting details and managing the process within the required timeframe.  
2.  Critically evaluate literature from a range of relevant sources and use this to develop research questions and hypotheses for the project.  
3. Identify, appraise and select appropriate research methods, using qualitative and/or quantitative methods to collect data where relevant and critically analyse the results/outcome, using statistical tests where appropriate.  
4. Present and discuss the outcome of the project in the form of a written dissertation, using appropriate use of IT and acknowledging sources using the Harvard referencing system 

Module content

Semester 2 (Part 2)

• You will be introduced to the dissertation process and the skills required to undertake this through a briefing session and online materials. This will include a resumé of key requirements and expectations and access to screencasts of the research plan content to be taught in Part 3.

Semester 1+2 (Part 3)

• You will submit your first assignment, the research plan, in week 4 of Semester 1. Your plan will include your aims and objectives, research question, hypotheses (if planning quantitative research), methodology, conclusions, and time plan for completing the necessary work. An outline of your provisional chapter structure at this stage is optional.
• You will attend lectures and/or workshops providing quantitative and qualitative method advice, academic writing skills, and dissertation structure.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students are given advice and guidance on their project at various stages via a briefing and a series of lectures. You will also be allocated a supervisor to guide your progress and who will normally supervise the work. As a guide, you should discuss your progress with your supervisor on 2 occasions per Semester.

One project research proposal must be submitted for feedback on the idea, approach, writing style and quality of content in week 5 of Semester 1.

Research and writing of the project continues throughout the Semesters 1 and 2.

Students will be introduced to the dissertation in the Semester 2 of Part 2.

The study hours listed for Semester 2 include hours in Part 2 and hours in Part 3.

Study hours

At least 14 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.

You will submit your Initial Idea Form by the end of Part 2 Semester 2 teaching period for feedback from your Programme Director/Module Convenor to help direct your reading and literature search over the Summer break. This information will be used to allocate your supervisor at the start of Semester 1. 

You are recommended to submit your Ethics application, including all data collection methods and materials, by the end of the Part 3 Semester 1 teaching period for feedback from your supervisor during the Semester 1 assessment period.  

Reassessment

Additional costs