| CODE | IFS0421 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods, Data Acquisition and Analysis | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 3 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | International School for Foundation Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit identifies the different methods of research and the relevant procedures of data acquisition and processing. IFS0421 also deals with important criteria required to write effective reports for dissemination of research findings. This study-unit guides the student in how to search and critically review existing literature, and how this leads to the identification of research gaps. The topic of referencing existing literature according to standardised formats is also discussed. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to depict the full research process to students that are new to the area. The topics considered include: - Research Methods; - Data Acquisition; - Processing of data; - Documentation; - Search and Review of Scientific Literature (Critique); - Referencing. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify the difference between qualitative and quantitative research; - Name and explain different methods of data acquisition; - Select appropriate methods of data acquisition according to the type of research; - Apply simple statistical analysis; - Use spreadsheet software to process and graphically represent quantitative data; - Cater for the occurrence of uncertainties in data sets; - Appreciate the importance of dissemination of information; - Follow a formal template for scientific report writing; - Identify different sources for searching of reliable technical information; - Critically review published information from different sources and use this to evaluate research gaps; - Reference appropriately the information obtained from published sources according to standard templates; - Outline the typical process of publishing scientific papers and journals. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand the typical research process from the selection of the research topic based on the identified research gap, the selection of the research type, the process of acquiring and processing data, and documentation; - Understand the importance of dissemination of scientific literature. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Lecture Notes |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Raylene Abdilla Agnetha Agius Sandra Agius Darmanin James Bugeja Carl Caruana Lucienne Gatt Omar N'Shea Edward Wilkinson |
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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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