NBS8062/NBS8372 Research Method Assignment 2 Brief 2025/26 | Newcastle University

NBS8062/NBS8372 Assessment Brief

The dissertation research proposal should clearly outline your dissertation project.

Your proposal should clearly outline your research area and your research aims and objectives. You will demonstrate your learning from this module by showing your critical engagement with relevant literature to your topic of interest and your understanding of relevant theory and methods. You will detail the methodological approach you are pursuing in your project, your use of data collection methods and approaches to data analysis. Finally, you will include a project plan for the completion of your dissertation project.

The word count is 2500 words.

This assignment counts for 70% of the final grade for the module.

DEADLINE for submission - 9th May 2025 by 12pm.

Students will receive formative feedback and support on ideas in the seminar and assignment clinic prior to deadlines. Students will also have the benefit of feedback from the initial research proposal assessment and initial contact with their Dissertation Supervisor.

Feedback will (normally) be returned within the 20-working day turnaround period.

Further guidance:

The dissertation research proposal must include the following three sections:

1. Introduction;
2. Literature Review; and
3. Methodology.
   

Students should also submit the required ethical approval form, risk assessment form, and GDPR form.

This final assessment of your learning in this module involves you applying your knowledge of research methods and methodology to the development of your own research project. You will need to clearly identify a research gap and clearly articulate your research focus, which you will do in the Introduction section.

Your Literature Review should demonstrate the development of your understanding of the selected topic through your engagement with relevant theory and literature. You should demonstrate critical engagement with a range of texts. We anticipate that there may be some degree of similarities between the use of literature in the initial research proposal and this section in your dissertation proposal, however we expect more extensive literature discussed in your dissertation proposal, which has helped you to narrow your research focus, sub-questions/hypotheses and methodological approach.

Compared to your initial research proposal, the Introduction section and the Literature Review section in this assessment should be more critical and in-depth. The research rationale should be very clear and specific. The literature review should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the relevant literature through highly original and critical discussion.

Your Methodology section should outline the overall logic and plan of your research project, including the underpinning philosophical approach, data collection methods and data analysis methods. You need to engage with literature on research methods as well as more topic-relevant empirical studies.

Please submit your work ONCE on or before 9th May 2025 at 12:00 BST. You do not need to submit a physical copy. All submissions received after 12pm will be automatically capped at 50%, providing it is received within 7 days of the submission date. All submissions received after 7 days will be automatically capped at 0%. By submitting your assignment, you have confirmed you understand the guidance provided and the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Assessment General Guidelines – Please see under Canvas

Please see FAQ under Canvas – Module tab under Course Information > Assessment Information for any additional queries regarding this assignment.

Extensions

No assignments will be accepted late unless an extension has been granted. See student progress for further information Newcastle University /progress/student- resources/help Computing problems are NOT acceptable grounds for late submissions.

Reassessment

Students who fail this assessment will be required to resubmit another assessment during the August resit period. Please note this may impact on the dissertation project timeframes (typically June-August with the Dissertation Deadline of Friday 1st September), so students will need to seek approval from Dissertation Supervisors to proceed with their project in advance of the resit deadline.

Any questions on this Assignment brief – please check out the FAQ under Canvas in the first instance before emailing the Module Teaching Team, Dr Josephine Go Jefferies (Qualitative) and Dr Ajinkya Tanksale (Quantitative) on
Queries relating to the content and development of your research proposal should be discussed with your Dissertation Supervisor.