| CODE | EMP2024 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods: Theory and Applications | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide students with a grounding in research methods and is structured in two parts. The key elements of the research process will first be briefly outlined, including identifying a research topic, conducting a literature review, choosing a methodology and writing a proposal. The study-unit will also introduce students to the individual project that they will complete during the third year of the programme, and guide them through the necessary steps to select and scope a project and write a proposal. The University of Malta's code of practice for research will also be explained, as will the process for evaluating ethical implications of a research project. The study-unit will then introduce students to a range of data collection and analysis techniques, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, textual analysis, the use of visual data, and case study approaches. The analysis of qualitative data will also be addressed. Students will be introduced to the use of relevant software packages for qualitative analysis, such as NVIVO. The unit will also discuss the integration of quantitative and qualitative research methods through mixed method approaches. Practical exercises will be used throughout the unit. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with a fundamental understanding of a range of research techniques; - To provide students with essential background for them to be able to start thinking about possible projects they might wish to carry out in their final year, and for them to be able to start planning and writing a proposal; - To encourage students to think through the research process holistically, from the stage of designing a study through to data collection, analysis and subsequent writing up of results. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of sources and types of evidence; - Demonstrate an understanding of the process and outputs of a literature review; - Describe the various ways in which quantitative and qualitative data may be combined through mixed methods research. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Plan a coherent research project, formulate a project proposal and present this to an audience; - Clearly articulate research aims and objectives; - Design a survey questionnaire and interview guide; - Evaluate the ethical implications of research; - Critically evaluate the appropriateness, weaknesses and strengths of different research techniques; - Carry out thematic analysis of qualitative data. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Walliman, N. (2011). Research methods: the basics. Routledge. ISBN: 9780415489942. |
||||||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Attendance to scheduled sessions (lectures, field work, seminar, laboratory sessions and any other teaching session in whatever mode) is obligatory and only students having a satisfactory attendance will be assessed in the study-unit. Students, who do not attend at least 85% of the teaching time allocated to the study-unit, will not be allowed to sit for any of the assessment components mentioned below. | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Seminar | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Elisabeth Conrad |
||||||||||||
|
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. |
|||||||||||||