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Study information

Independent Research

Module titleIndependent Research
Module codeARA3196
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff

Dr Ahmed Dailami (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

20

Module description

This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out an in-depth and sustained research project on a subject of interest to you, resulting in the production of a dissertation. This independent research project is an important step in developing your specialism in the field of Arab & Islamic Studies. You should choose your topic in consultation with an academic supervisor—normally from the Institute—who will then guide you through the research and writing process.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This project aims to allow you to acquire knowledge of a particular subject, to benefit from one-to-one tuition from a specialist in the field, and to develop your research skills. These include the ability to collate, assess, analyse and order material from relevant types of sources, and the ability to communicate ideas, arguments and findings in academic prose.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Acquire knowledge of the issues which form the subject matter of the dissertation;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 2. Acquire knowledge of relevant literature in the field;
  • 3. Collate, analyse and assess material from a range of sources, including primary sources (where relevant).
  • 4. Understand and use relevant terminology, and engage with different theoretical approaches and debates in the field.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Develop the capacity to work independently and to organise your own time to produce a substantial piece of research to a deadline;
  • 6. Collate and critique material to produce a coherent, well-planned, well-presented and well-argued piece of academic research.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that your engagement with your supervisor and online course information will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Identifying a suitable research topic
  • Writing a research proposal
  • Researching and writing a literature review
  • Deciding upon a methodology and approach
  • Planning the dissertation and time management
  • Academic writing and development of a coherent narrative

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
42960

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning & teaching activities4Tutorials with supervisor. These tutorials are meant, initially, to establish the viability of the planned research, and to provide advice on its focus and direction, and then to provide advice on different aspects of the ongoing work and to monitor the students' progress
Guided independent study296Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Research proposal outline700 words1-5Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Research project1007,000 words1-6Written
0
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Research Project (7,000 words)Research Project (7,000 words)1-6January assessment period in the following year (as August/September submission)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Atkinson, P. A. (et al.) (2007), Handbook of Ethnography, Sage

Brady, H. E. and Collier, D. (2004), Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards , Rowman and Littlefield

Burnham, P.,Gilland, K.,Grant, W.and Layton-Henry,Z.(2004), Research Methods in Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Burton, D.(ed) (2000), Research Training for Social Scientists , SAGE.

Creswell, J.W. (2008), Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches , Sage

DiYanni, R. (2007), Writing about the Humanities (3rd ed.), Prentice Hall

Dunleavy, P. (2003), Authoring a PhD , Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

King, G, Keohane, R.O.and Verba,S. (1994), Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton University Press.

Silverman, D. (ed) (2004), Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice, SAGE

Storey, W.K. (2008), Writing History. A Guide for Students (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press

Turabian, K. (1996), A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

Dissertation, skills, approaches, research

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

24/02/2014

Last revision date

11/08/2023