CS957 Research Methods 2a Formative and 2b Summative Assessments & Proposal Guidelines for MSc & PGDip Students (2024-2025)

Assessments Overview

In the CS957 Research Methods module, you have one formative and one summative assessment to complete.

2a Formative assessment:

An online quiz in Week 9 of semester. Your mark will not impact on your overall PASS /FAIL mark for this module, but you must pass this quiz with a mark of at least 50% to release the submission link for the summative assessment. Multiple attempts at the quiz are allowed to achieve a passing mark of at least 50%. More information on the formative assessment will be shared ahead of Week 9 – please review MyPlace notices carefully to keep up to date with this information.

2b Summative assessment:

A written research proposal that will form the basis for the dissertation component of your MSc degree programme to be completed in Semester 3 (note – PGDip ILS students do not complete a dissertation but are required to write a research proposal for CS957 assessment purposes as per this briefing document). You will submit this proposal in Week 11 of semester 2. The tutorial activities for this module will help you to work on the assessment incrementally throughout the semester. Your research topic and the focus of your proposal will be based on your allocated project from the suggestions indicated in the topics list on the CS958 Myplace pages (arrangements for PGDip students will be communicated separately).
The aim of the proposal assessment is to provide you with practical experience of the preparation of a research proposal to enable you to maximise the time available for your dissertation in Semester 3 in the summer months of 2025.

You are permitted to have one 30-minute meeting with your allocated dissertation supervisor as you begin to write your proposal in Semester2.

Research Proposal (Summative Assessment)

For the summative assessment for CS957 Research Methods, you are required to prepare a structured proposal for a three-month research project.

Your proposal must follow the layout and structure of the provided template described under section 4d Research Proposal Template and Content Expectations.

The marking criteria is based on your ability to demonstrate the expected competencies in each required proposal section.
The marking criteria have been specified according to the proposal template – so if you follow the template and address the specified assessed competencies, the greater your chances of achieving an overall pass for this assessment.

 Learning outcomes

On completion of the formative and summative assessments in this module, you will have experience of:

• Defining a research problem based on reading relevant literature.
• Identifying and defining research questions which address the research problem.
• Setting objectives and defining deliverables which address the research questions and producing a project plan.
• Selecting appropriate research method(s) for undertaking the research.
• Identifying risks and associated contingencies for the successful delivery of a research project.