| CODE | DLT5002 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit covers the process of research and its management. Starting from (i) understanding a research area and (ii) writing a literature review, to (iii) examining and reporting on the research done, and (iv) its impact and evaluation aspects. Students will be exposed to common pitfalls and ways to ensure adequate coverage of existing research results. The study-unit will focus on research in a variety of fields (as covered in the MSc DLT programme) in order to ensure students have the necessary tools to understand the different aspects of existing work. They will be exposed to common pitfalls and ways to ensure adequate coverage of existing research results. The study-unit will focus on research in a variety of fields (as covered in the MSc DLT programme) in order to ensure students have the necessary tools to understand the different aspects of existing work. The study-unit will then delve into research planning and evaluation of research results, after which they will look into paper writing and publication. As part of this study-unit, the students will be required to write a dissertation proposal for the MSc (DLT) dissertation study-unit using the techniques covered in this study-unit. Study-Unit Aims: - To expose students to efficient research and reading techniques; - How to write a literature review; - Writing and referencing styles; - Evaluation techniques; - Statistical methods of analysis, presenting results; - Qualitative methods of analysis, and reporting them. The study-unit will also take a practical perspective towards achieving this, thus ensuring that the students are well equipped to carry out their MSc research project. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Differentiate between different research approaches in different relevant fields. - Determine and demonstrate: - What is expected from research activity at the level of an MSc; - How to search for and use relevant literature?; - How to correctly reference literature?; - How to conduct evaluations?; - Choosing the right form of evaluation, carrying it out and reporting the outcomes; - How to write a research proposal?; - How to avoid common pitfalls? 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Write a research proposal; - Perform common statistical analyses; - Write a literature review with correct citations and references; - Write a research proposal; - Write and submit for publication research results. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Depending on their undergraduate experience, students will individually (or in groups) be assigned selected relevant research papers to read and evaluate. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Gordon J. Pace Ioannis Revolidis (Co-ord.) Fiona Sammut David Paul Suda |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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