BMSW4003 Digital Skills and Research Methods
TASK DESCRIPTION
Task 2 – Individual Research report. – 2000 words.
Using the data collected as a group, you will analyse independently and write up a research report using the ‘Research Report’ template (provided in week 9 on Moodle).
You will be given opportunities to develop each section of your report using class tasks.
Your report will include:
- Title Page and Abstract
- Introduction
- Research design (research question, methods, ethical considerations)
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Reference List
- Appendix – A blank copy of your questionnaire.
General Submission Guidance
1. All of your presentations and report must include a title page that clearly states your names, your student numbers, the module code and title, your lecturer’s name, and your assignment title.
2. All of your submissions should be typed in Arial font.
4. All presentations must have a reference list and citations should be used throughout your work using Harvard referencing.
GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF TASKS
NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five generic assessment criteria overleaf.
1. Engagement with Literature Skills
Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the task(s) set. You should provide evidence that you have accessed an appropriate range of sources, which may be academic, governmental and industrial; these sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks,
current news articles, organisational documents, and websites. You should consider the credibility of your
sources; academic journals are normally highly credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and should be used sparingly. Any sources you use should be current and up-todate, mostly published within the last five years or so, though seminal/important works in the field may be
older.
You must provide evidence of your research/own reading throughout your work, using a suitable referencing system, including in-text citations in the main body of your work and a reference list at the end of your work.
Guidance specific to this assessment:
• Students must find, reference and utilise a minimum of 8 credible and reliable sources of information throughout the entire report.
• Students must cite literature throughout the report, supporting the points that they make and referencing any images or diagrams used.
• A reference list should appear at the end of the report.
2. Knowledge and Understanding Skills
At level 4, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with your area(s) of study. Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have acquired through your learning. You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the facts and information (knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the concepts, techniques, models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set. You should be able to explain the theories, concepts, etc. to show your understanding. Your mark/grade will also depend upon the extent to which you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.
Guidance specific to this assessment:
• Students must demonstrate an understanding of how students can collaborate digitally, and research is conducted.
• A secure understanding should be demonstrated by means of consistent reference to relevant published information sources.
3. Cognitive and Intellectual Skills
You should be able to present, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of your subject(s) of study. You should be able to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to your area(s) of study and/or work. Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking. For example, to examine and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and contrast information. This means not just describing what! But also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At what cost? You should provide justification for your arguments and judgements using evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others within the subject area and that you are able to make sound judgements and arguments using data and concepts. Where relevant, alternative solutions and recommendations may be proposed.
Guidance specific to this assessment:
• Students should pay close attention to words in bold in guidance above.
4. Practical Skills
At level 4, you should be able to apply the basic underlying concepts and principles to evaluate and interpret
these within the context of your area of study. You should be able to demonstrate how the subject-related concepts and ideas relate to real world situations and/or a particular context. How do they work in practice?
You will deploy models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in that context, to assess current situations,
perhaps to formulate plans or solutions to solve problems, or to create artefacts. This is likely to involve, for
instance, the use of real world artefacts, examples and cases, the application of a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one theory or organisation against others based on stated criteria.
Guidance specific to this assessment:
• The research report must include all sections that are outlined in the assignment brief . –
• All points must be made relevant to the task outlined in the assignment brief.
5. Transferable Skills for Life and Professional Practice
Your work must provide evidence of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring
the exercise of some personal responsibility. This includes demonstrating: that you can communicate the
results of your study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments; that you can
initiate and complete tasks and procedures, whether individually and/or collaboratively; fluency of expression; clarity and effectiveness in presentation and organisation. Work should be coherent and well-structured in presentation and organisation.
Guidance specific to this assessment:
• Follow the generic submission guidelines provided in page 2
• Students should present their work professionally.
