ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET(AS2)

The Learning Outcomes this assignment will address are that students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate, analyse and interpret subject-specific information from a wide range of appropriate sources.

Students should provide a completed assignment cover sheet (cover slide for a presentation) with all the essential details (including module, student name and ID number). All assignments should be submitted in electronic format via college systems on or before the submission deadline. The e-submission system will not allow late submissions. Students should upload his/her individual report to Turnitin for checking and submission. Important - Submission Guidance:

Assignment Aim:

The aim of this assignment is to test your knowledge and ability to critically appraise and question ‘evidence’ at a number of levels, and to demonstrate an understanding of the assumptions and practices that drive research designs at a postgraduate level. It also addresses your analytical and critical thinking abilities and your analysis of qualitative and quantitative data appropriate to a master’s level degree.

Specifically, to:

1. Critically evaluate, analyse and interpret subject-specific information from a wide range of appropriate sources.

As well as to:

1. Demonstrate your postgraduate academic skills of reflection, interpretation and analysis for study and research.
2. Your ability to critically analyse a range of different approaches to solving problems and make recommendations as to their suitability.
3. Your ability to evaluate appropriate media to communicate research, interpretation and analysis plans effectively.

Assessment Description

This assessment is for you to produce your written Research Proposal (maximum 2,500 words) reflecting your refined research question and proposal, with research design suitable for submission for ethical approval. This is the first stage of the research project and will include critical argument and a coherent research design with consistent underpinning methodology supported by literature. Self- assessment to include evaluation against the performance during the presentation.

Assignment Question

Produce a Research Proposal – maximum 2,500 words – setting out your refined research question and proposal, with research design suitable for submission for ethical approval. This is the first stage of the research project and will include critical argument and a coherent research design with consistent underpinning methodology supported by literature. Self-assessment to include evaluation against the performance during the presentation

Assignment Format Guidanc 

Title Slide: The details of the module, student name and ID number.

Introduction: The background, the context and the aim of the project.

Key Sections: Setting out the rationale, objectives and implementation for your project research, etc.

References: Identification of literature and other sources used and referred to in the text. Ensure that all references are quoted at the end of any quotations, definitions and web- sourced materials. Submission of a report without references will not be allowed. Use the Harvard referencing system for your referencing.

Appendices: Do not provide appendices, unless agreed with your module tutor.

Helpful Guidelines for your proposal

Your lecturer will provide you with the required guidelines and format, however the following will help your thinking.

• Provide an overview of your research question / topic, explaining why it is of academic and or practical importance.
  • Outline the main objectives of your research, providing details of two or three key aspects.
  • Write a short literature review, indicating the importance of previous related research or investigated literature and how your own research question might make a useful contribution to the area.
  • State the main research techniques (interviews, case studies, modelling, etc.) you might use.
  • Indicate your suggested data collection procedures, indicating sources and any possible difficulties.
  • Explain any analytical techniques you intend to use.
  • State your proposed timetable of activities.
  • Finally, list the references in your proposal or provide a short bibliography.

A typical 2,500-word proposal would reflect the following format:

Your proposal should be a maximum of 2,500 words, in addition to your timetable and references or a short bibliography. The proposal might not be perfect at this stage and may change once you start to undertake the research.

• Project Title - The title of your project must reflect the content. (20 words).
  • Aims and Objectives - Overall aim and approximately 3 or 4 objectives that the research will address. (300 words).
  • Literature review - Describe using referenced material (about six key texts). Explain how your proposed research will fit into the existing body of academic knowledge and practice in the professional field and how your research will enhance knowledge or contribute to new understanding within the subject area (1300 words).
  • Research Approach or Methodology - Describe the methods you intend to use to deliver your aim and objectives. Provide detail of data sources and any specialist resources or facilities you may require (600 words).
    • Expected Outcomes - Summarise the outcomes/personal development that you hope will result from the project. (300 words)

Total words - 2520 words.

Helpful Guidelines

What are the characteristics that will attract a high mark?

• Background reading is critical for this assessment, and you are encouraged to engage with a range of contemporary sources - in addition to books available in the library please also ensure that you are using the electronic resources. Critically evaluate, analyse and interpret subject-specific information from a wide range of appropriate sources
• We will be looking for reference to specific and relevant examples that serve to address the main points you are addressing in your reports.
• Avoid a case study by case study approach and instead develop your discussion around key themes. Case studies should serve to highlight both the positive and negative impacts of your arguments.

Structure of the reports

• To start, make sure you have understood what the report topic title is asking you to consider, and plan your report accordingly.
• Your individual reports should be clearly structured, with clear progression between the different segments or elements.
• There should be no repetition or overlap between the different sections and ensure that you clearly focus in terms of topic.

Depth and knowledge of the subject

• Background reading is critical for this assessment, and you are encouraged to engage with a range of contemporary sources - in addition to books available in the library please also ensure that you are using the electronic resources.
• We will be looking for reference to specific and relevant examples that serve to address the main points you are addressing in your report and ensure that your sources are up to date.
• Your discussion should consider both positive and negative aspects.
  • Try and avoid being too descriptive and demonstrate a level of research, critical thinking and analysis commensurate with this master’s level degree; start by identifying the key themes and use these as the structure for your report.
  • Avoid a case study by case study approach as this tends to lead to a level of repetition and does not allow the level of comparison/critique that would be expected.

Ability to convey information accurately and succinctl

• It is important that the overall structure of your report flows coherently so think carefully about how the respective parts of the report fits together.
• Check all spellings and grammar!
• Check all referencing to ensure you adhering to the Harvard convention.

Plagiarism and Collusion Explained

Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the work of others, intentionally or unintentionally, without acknowledging the source of that information or inspiration. “Even if the words are changed or sentences are put in a different order, the result is still plagiarism” (Cortell, 2003).

Collusion is described as the submission of work produced in collaboration with others for any given assignment based on the assessment of individual work when one person shares his/her work with others who submit part or all of that work as their own work.Critically evaluate, analyse and interpret subject-specific information from a wide range of appropriate sources In this assignment, it is acceptable to discuss various ideas and concepts with others, but the substantive application and coverage in your submission must be your own work.

Guidelines on Harvard Referencing System

Any information or work that is not yours needs to be referenced as per the Harvard Referencing System or else may be considered as plagiarism. Copying from someone’s work can be unintentionally done if you are unaware of the rules for acknowledging and referencing direct quotations.

The Harvard system of citation requires you to use a given convention that places primarily the authors’ surnames and year of publication within the text.

For example:

According to Bell (1999), as you write your report, you will use a citation to indicate in your text the source of the information. This is called in-text referencing.

The authors and publication information cited within the main body of your work must be listed in the reference list. For example:

Bell, J.; (1999), ‘Doing your Research Project’, (3rd Ed), Buckingham: Open  University Press.

Critically evaluate, analyse and interpret subject-specific information from a wide range of appropriate sources. Detailed guidance on the Harvard Referencing System (HRS) is available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).For further details and guidelines on Harvard Referencing, visit the following link: http://tinyurl.com/jtq47gm or follow the instructions on Harvard Referencing Guide provided by London Met University Library