CE3BRD: BEng Research Method and Dissertation

Module code: CE3BRD

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Michael Peters, email: m.d.peters@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Dylan Tutt, email: d.e.tutt@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: Yes

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Understanding the process of doing research is essential for preparing for your dissertation. The first part of this module will give students the grounding in research methods, analysis and the process of writing a dissertation required. It is delivered by active research staff with a mix of lectures, group work and hands-on activities. You will gain the key research skills required, have the opportunity to develop your ideas and prepare a dissertation proposal. Additionally, you will find out about the range of research activities going on within the School. The second part of the module involves implementing your research strategy and developing the written dissertation. Each student is allocated a member of academic staff as their supervisor, and there is a supervisory framework involving ‘milestone’ written documents that will help in making progress towards the production of the final dissertation. In class lectures and seminars corresponding to key points in the milestone framework will help reiterate the process and reinforce important aspects associated with the research and writing up. 

Aims: 

• Develop the knowledge and skills necessary for students to prepare a research proposal in preparation for undertaking their dissertation. 
• Provide guidance and support in the design and implementation of a coherent research study leading to the development of a logically structured written dissertation. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Develop a clearly focused, coherent and achievable research proposal.
2. Conduct a literature review, taking maximum advantage of published sources through structured literature searches; critically review literatures and refine the research questions. Record and acknowledge sources appropriately and consistently.
3. Collect (secondary or primary) data relevant to the research question, whether through library research, observation and photographs, lab work, interviews or surveys.
4. Use appropriate data analysis techniques, whether statistical, quantitative or qualitative.
5. Present the study well, using language that is well considered, grammatically correct, fluent or succinct; with the work structured, with headings, sub-headings and paragraphs and a clear summary.

Module content

• The nature of academic research and the research process.  
• Developing a research topic; formulating clear research questions; identifying research aims and objectives. 
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis techniques.  
• Putting it all together - developing a research proposal.  
• Students will put into practice what they learn and develop their research proposals. 
• The dissertation component of the course is supportive of student-led hands on learning through research.  
• Development of research skills, advanced library skills and guidance, and trouble-shooting on the dissertation process. 
• A rolling dissertation surgery is available for all students at any point prior to submission, involving 15 minute one-to-one clinics with the module convenor. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

In relation to the initial research skills training, classes will include lectures, practical exercises and group work. 

Subsequently, the dissertation work itself is student-led and the student’s individual study is central to the learning and teaching on this module. Hence the main teaching and learning methods include: 

• Hands-on learning through individual study 
• Dissertation supervision involves a series of one-to-one meetings with the allocated supervisor who will provide guidance and support, helping to chart out feasible and achievable steps in the process of completing the research and writing of the dissertation. Formative feedback on the written ‘milestone’ documents is an integral part of the supervision process helping the students to develop their research and writing skills. 

Further help for hands-on learning is also made available through the course, with: 

• Handbook to guide students and their supervisors in preparation of the dissertation: this includes details of the recommended supervision framework and milestone documents, guidance on structure and content expected in different chapters, templates for data collection and details of dissertation submission and formatting. 
• Class sessions and seminars during Semester 2; 
• A ‘rolling’ dissertation surgery where students can book a 15 minute appointment with the module convenor at any point prior to submission, to discuss particular aspects of their own dissertation. 

Study hours

At least 25 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 all of the following to pass this module:

1. A mark of 40% in the Dissertation
2. An overall module mark of 40%

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 assessment of the four milestone documents will aid students’ development of research and writing skills.

Reassessment

Additional costs