UFCF9Y-60-M CSCT Masters Project - Aryefact and Report Assessment | UWE Bristol

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 1: Overview of Assessment

This assignment assesses the following module learning outcomes:

learning outcomes:

MO1 Identify a research problem and scope research to suitably investigate it
MO2 Synthesise and critically evaluate recent research having a direct bearing on the problem space
MO3 Design and implement a technology solution or practical/analytical investigation to a high standard, with aspects of novelty and personal innovation.
MO4 Select and apply appropriate and contemporary best-of-breed tools, techniques and theoretical
models
MO5 Critically and reflexively evaluate the outcome and personal performance to standards of research quality (validity, reliability) and professional competence.
MO6 Embody an ethical approach to research conduct in a specialist area in computer science
MO7 Communicate research outcomes and learning effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences

The assignment is worth 40% of the overall mark for the module.

Broadly speaking, the assignment requires you to create an artefact, and then submit a report which describes the process of creating and evaluating your artefact.

The assignment is described in more detail in section 2.

This is an individual assignment.

Working on this assignment will help you to apply the learning from your MSc programme by creating an artefact which addresses a research question, and then communicating the reasoning behind the choices you made while creating your artefact, your evaluation of the success of your artefact, and the results of your research. You will demonstrate your understanding of research methods, including critical analysis of existing literature to inform your decision-making. You will also strengthen your understanding of ethical issues in your research area.

If you have questions about this assignment, please post them to the discussion board “FAQs: Artefact and Report” on Blackboard. This can be found under Learning Materials > 24Sep (2024-25) > Learning Materials by Questions > WHAT you will need to produce (Deliverables) >
Deliverable 2. Artefact and Report.

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 2: Task Specification

You are required to create an artefact in order to answer your research question. Your artefact could be a piece of software, a user interface, an app, a system, a framework, a model, a visualisation, a data model/pipeline, an analysis, an optimisation of an algorithm or protocol, an aggregator or dashboard, a detailed interactive prototype or the automation of a complex task.
Note that this list is not exhaustive – you may decide to create something else. 

However, the two most important aspects are:

1. It should be informed by research (academic, technical, user - based)
2. There should be an appropriate evaluation (model accuracy & performance, benchmarking/software
   tests, heuristic, stakeholder feedback etc).

Once you have created your artefact, you will write a report to communicate the problem domain, research and findings to an academic audience. Your report will summarise the project, and should be 5,000-6,000 words in length (Note: abstract, references and appendices, if any, do not count towards the overall limit).

See university word count policy UWE Bristol Report structure guidance will be provided on Blackboard.

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 3: Deliverables

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 4: Marking Criteria

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 5: Feedback mechanisms 

You will receive regular formative verbal feedback on your artefact and report from your supervisor throughout the project. Your supervisor will not read your whole report draft. You will need to negotiate with your supervisor what they will read, and when they would like to see it. Normally a supervisor will only read a small proportion of your work, and comment on it. They will not correct your work. The cut-off date for reading drafts is 2 weeks before the main sit submission date. 

Following the final submission, the feedback from your two markers will be collated and emailed to you.

UFCF9Y-60-M Aryefact and Report Section 6: Appendices

6.1 Completing your assessment

Where should I start?
Your supervisor will guide you through the process of creating your artefact and writing your report.
Information to help you will also be provided on Blackboard.

What do I need to do to pass?
To pass the artefact and report, you will need to create an artefact which addresses your research question, and then write a report which documents your design approach, implementation and evaluation of your artefact. You should present the ethical considerations of your project and artefact, together with evidence of your planning and management of the project. Please refer to the criteria listed in  Section 4: Marking Criteria. In order to pass this assessment, you will need to gain a mark of 50% or more.

How do I achieve high marks in this assessment?
To achieve high marks across all criteria, your work should be detailed, thoughtful, and consistently demonstrate a deep understanding of your project’s objectives and methodologies. Please refer to the criteria listed in Section 4: Marking Criteria.

How does the learning and teaching relate to the assessment?
You can discuss the artefact and report with your supervisor prior to the final submission deadline.

What additional resources may help me complete this assessment?
Please refer to the materials on Blackboard regarding the artefact and report. The FAQs: Artefact and Report discussion board can be used if you have questions about the proposal. Your supervisor will also be able to provide ongoing feedback on your artefact and report prior to the final submission deadline. You may also find the library resources on academic writing useful. Please see UWE Bristol Study Skills

What do I do if I am concerned about completing this assessment?
UWE Bristol offer a range of Assessment Support Options that you can explore through this link, and both Academic Support and Wellbeing Support are available. For further information, please see the Academic Survival Guide.

6.2 Assessment Content

In line with UWE Bristol’s Assessment Content Limit Policy (formerly the Word Count Policy), word count
includes all text, including (but not limited to): the main body of text (including headings), all citations (both in and out of brackets), text boxes, tables and graphs, figures and diagrams, quotes, lists.

6.3 Assessment Offences

How do I avoid an Assessment Offence on this module?
Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your own work for this module.

The most common forms of Assessment Offences for this assessment are plagiarism (in the report and in submitted code) and falsification of references.

UWE Bristol’s UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy requires that you submit work that is entirely your own and reflects your own learning. It is important to:

Ensure that you reference all sources used, using the UWE Harvard system. Use the guidance available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.

Avoid copying and pasting any work into this assessment, including your own previous assessments, work from other students or internet sources

Develop your own style, arguments and wording. Avoid copying and changing individual words but keeping essentially the same sentences and/or structures from other sources Never give your work to others who may copy it

If you are doing an individual assessment, develop your own work and preparation. Do not allow anyone to make amendments to your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight issues but not edit the work). When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own. Textmatching software and other methods are routinely used to check submissions against other submissions to the university and internet sources. Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.

6.4 Use of Generative AI (ChatGPT or similar)

Generative AI may be used to ensure that your report is clear. Suggested prompts are:

“"What would a logical structure look like for a report on…”
“Have I written the following objectives in a SMART way?”
The AI will then prompt you to enter your objectives, and will make suggestions about the wording you have used.
“Suggest ways to make this paragraph flow better: [paste paragraph].”
“Can you help me summarize my research methodology in a concise way?”
“How can I make this explanation clearer for readers who may not be experts in…”
“Could you help me verify if my report covers all elements of a thorough evaluation and reflection section?”

6.5 Guidance on Referencing:

Please note that the aim of referencing is to demonstrate you have read and understood a range of sources to evidence your key points. You need to list the references consistently and in such a way as to ensure the reader can follow up on the sources for themselves. For this module, you are required to use the UWE Harvard referencing style. Your report will be assessed against the criteria shown in Section 4: Marking Criteria, including the referencing style.