Postgraduate Module Descriptor

ERPM005: Designing and Communicating Research

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop your knowledge and skills in designing and communicating educational research. Designing research will involve formulating different kinds of research questions and cover various design and methodologies. Communicating research includes skills and knowledge about literature searching, and communicating research to different audiences through different mediums.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Use and critically appraise a variety of educational research designs, dealing with complex issues, both creatively and systematically 2. Communicate research clearly in different formats and media for specialist and non-specialist audiences
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline 4. Identify the needs of different kinds of audience, the needs of different kinds of publication/media and adopt appropriate styles for these to communicate research;
Personal and Key Skills	5. Demonstrate sound personal judgment, even in the absence of complete data, but particularly in respect of ethically sensitive issues; 6. Clearly communicate and present ideas when writing and speaking and to listen effectively and persuade rationally; 7. Use a wide-range of IT effectively including specialist software for retrieval and storage of literature, critical appraisal of internet sources, and appropriate use of IT for communication and dissemination of research

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Set exercise	15 minute presentation (1000 words)	1,2,3,6,7	Oral and peer feedback
Draft section of written assignment	1,500 words	1,2,3,5	Written and oral

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Written assignment (portfolio of 2 pieces of work)	100	5,500 words	1-7	Written and grade

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Written assignment (portfolio of 2 pieces of work)	Written assignment (portfolio of 2 pieces of work) (5,500 words)	1-7	6 weeks from notification of failure or re-entry onto programme