Accessibility statement

Cyber Security Research Skills - COM00097M

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  • Department: Computer Science
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Angus Marshall
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

In the context of cybersecurity: to allow students to develop an understanding of writing styles and methods appropriate to a variety of academic and business circumstances, to introduce mechanisms for evaluating the quality of published information, to develop an understanding of peer-review processes for research and funding and to develop skills in communicating advanced topics to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student will be able to demonstrate understanding of:
* the role and nature of critical feedback when reviewing scientific literature submitted for peer review, including how to give such feedback
* how to communicate cybersecurity issues to a variety of audiences, including security experts and the general public
* how to write and evaluate business cases and funding proposals for a range of purposes
* how to use impact factors, other metrics, and the content of written work itself to evaluate its value in research
* the role and content of CyBOK and similar projects

Module content

* Writing styles and circumstances - popular press vs. internal reports vs. papers for publication.
* Writing tools and reference/bibliography management - Word processing, LaTeX, BibTeX, reference managers
* Other forms of communication - video, radio, interview, popular press
* Funding and business cases/cases for support
* Review processes for funding and publication

All the above will be explored through topics chosen from the CyBOK with appropriate papers and exercises built around those topics. Topics will normally be chosen from those not studied in detail elsewhere in the MSc Cybersecurity curriculum (e.g. Privacy and online rights, Security Operations & Incident Management, Cyber-Physical Systems Security)

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project Proposal		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Portfolio of work developed during the module - to include at least one of each of: paper review or paper, business case or review of funding application, online media (video, podcast etc) presentation of a topic. 100% of module mark.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project Proposal		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Within the standard timescale through written feedback provided via the online system.

Indicative reading

CyBOK: https://cybok.org/
The Digitally-Agile Researcher 1st Ed., Natalia Kucirkova, Oliver Quinlan 2017, OU Press (McGraw Hill)
Reading, Writing and Reasoning, 3rd Ed., Gavin Fairbairn, Christopher Winch, 2011, OU Press (McGraw Hill)
How to Research, 4th Ed., Loraine Blaxter, Christina Hughes, Malcolm Tight 2010, OU Press (McGraw Hill)
Gaining Funding for Research, 1st Ed. Dianne Berry, 2010 | Published: July 16, OU Press (McGraw Hill)


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.