Module ARA3196 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
ARA3196: Independent Research
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Understanding what is a suitable research topic
- How to locate a suitable research topic
- Researching and writing a literature review
- Elements of a research proposal
- Deciding upon a methodology and approach
- Planning the dissertation and time management
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 295 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning & teaching activities | 5 | 5 hours of staff-led sessions teaching dissertation skills to students |
| Guided independent study | 280 | Researching and writing the research proposal and literature review |
| Guided independent study | 15 | Reading the assigned literature for staff-led sessions |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
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.
