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Design & Research Practice for Interactive Technologies - COM00127M

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  • Department: Computer Science
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Burak Merdenyan
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The aim of the module is to provide the students with practical experience of designing, conducting, evaluating and presenting (both orally and in written form) a substantial piece of human-computer interaction research. This piece of work will build on methods which the students will have studied in the previous two modules on the MSc, UCDE and RESM. Students will work in small groups of three to four and will be given an initial research topic (there will be some choice). They will then be expected to research what previous work has been conducted on the topic, critique that work and develop a design for a further study. The study may use any of the methods they have been taught in UCDE and RESM. At this point the students will give short presentations to the whole cohort on their background research and planned study (Week 5). The students will then conduct the study and analyse the data appropriately.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:
(Subject content)

  • Research and critique a range of research papers in human computer interaction
  • Design a study to appropriately answer a particular research question, including choosing an appropriate research method
  • Implement the appropriate research governance measures of ethical conduct including preparing information sheets, informed consent forms, debriefing materials and applying for ethical approval of research
  • Undertake the practical conduct of a study in human-computer interaction
  • Analyse qualitative and quantitative data gathered in their own research
  • Analyse the implications of a study and make suggestions for further research
  • Analyse limitations of research studies and suggest alternatives
  • Present their research plans and results to a group of peers and teachers and answer questions about the presentation
  • Prepare a written report in a standard format of an empirical research study

(Academic and graduate skills)

  • Critically discuss research findings from the literature and their own work
  • Present research plans and findings both orally and in written format

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Groupwork
Group Open Assessment: 10-15 pages		 N/A 90
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation		 N/A 10

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Individual Resubmission: 10-15 pages		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be provided through the department’s online feedback system that provides provisional marks and written feedback.

Indicative reading

Harris, P. Designing and Reporting Experiments in Psychology, 3rd edn OUP, 2008

Cairns, P., Cox, A. (eds), Research Methods in Human Computer Interaction, Cambridge University Press, 2008

Charmaz, K. Constructing Grounded Theory, 2nd edn, Sage, 2013

Robson, C. Real World Research, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, 2011


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.