Module SOC3128 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SOC3128: Introduction to Open-source Intelligence (OSINT)
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation to module | 10 minutes | 1,2,3,7,9 | Verbal, written provided to the group |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 x problem sets | 50 | Problem sets (2,000 words in total, 50%) | 1,2,3,7,9 | Written feedback |
| Technical report | 50 | 2,000 words | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 x problem sets | Problem sets (2,000 words in total, 50%) | 1,2, 3,7,9 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Technical report | 2,000 words | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | August/September reassessment period |
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.
Akhgar, B., Bayerl, P., & Sampons, F. (2017) Open Source Intelligence Investigation: From Strategy to Implementation (first edition) Spinger: Cham
Bazzell, M. (2019) Open Source Intelligence Techniques: Resources for Searching and Analyzing Online Information (7th edition) Independently published
Bellingcat podcast: https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/podcasts/
Golenburg, A. & Finkelstein, J. (2020) Cyber Swarming, Memetic Warfare And Viral Insurgency: How Domestic Militants Organize on Memes to Incite Violent Insurrection and Terror Against Government and Law Enforcement available online: http://ncri.io/wp-content/uploads/NCRI-White-Paper-Memetic-Warfare.pdf
Human Rights Center (2020) Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations available online: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/OHCHR_BerkeleyProtocol.pdf
NATO (2001) NATO Open Source Handbook available online: http://www.oss.net/dynamaster/file_archive/030201/ca5fb66734f540fbb4f8f6ef759b258c/NATO%20OSINT%20Handbook%20v1.2%20-%20Jan%202002.pdf
OSINTCurio.us website: https://osintcurio.us/
Silverman, C. (2020) Verification Handbook: For Disinformation and Media Manipulation (First edition) available online: https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/datajournalismcom/handbooks/Verification-Handbook-3.pdf
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2011) Criminal Intelligence
Manual for Analysts available online: https://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/Law-Enforcement/Criminal_Intelligence_for_Analysts.pdf
