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Designing Research - ARC00052I

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Steph Piper
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

Planning, goal setting and problem solving are key skills within and beyond University. This module will introduce students to the principles of organising and carrying out a research project, and will assist students in planning their 3rd year dissertation projects. We will go over some tips and tricks for successful dissertation research and students will generate a research design for their dissertations. Students say of this module that they find it helpful for planning their projects and getting feedback on their ideas.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • Introduce students to the principles of planning and implementing a research project

  • Prepare for independent research by guiding students in the development of a research design for their dissertations.

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Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

  • Formulate an achievable research question

  • Construct a bibliography related to the research question

  • Set out the methods required to carry out the research

  • Identify and locate appropriate sources of information and data

  • Recognise the possible ethical implications of undertaking research

  • Analyse and synthesise a range of published literature, through the production of a detailed literature review

  • Plan time effectively

Module content

Students will be taught over 4 weeks in the first part of term. A series of lectures will introduce students to the fundamental principles of doing research, as well as tips and strategies for their dissertations. Students will submit a research design for their 3rd year dissertation projects as the assessment for this module. Seminars will give students an opportunity to discuss their research ideas and research designs with other students, as well as receive feedback from module staff. They will also be given the opportunity to meet with their supervisor, and are then expected to complete the research design independently.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2500 Word Research Design		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2500 Word Research Design		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Formative: Progress will be monitored and recorded in the first half of the term and you will have the opportunity to ask further questions about how to improve your work before your summative assessment.

Summative: Written feedback sheets will be uploaded to your e:vision account (your personal University of York online services account) within 20 working days of the submission deadline, along with your overall mark for the module. If you have any questions about your mark and/or your written feedback, you will be able to sign up for office hours with the marker.

Indicative reading

Reading in this module may be particular to your chosen dissertation topic, although you may like to look at these resources:

  • Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G. and Williams, J.M. (2008) 3rd ed. The Craft of Research. London, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press

  • MacKenzie, R.A. (2009) The Time Trap. New York: American Management Association

Detailed reading for the module will be available via YorkShare (the University's virtual learning environment). When you have enrolled on a module, you will be able to access the full reading list.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.