ASSISGNMENT BRIEF
Assignment type: PJ-Proj
Weighting of assignment: 80%
Size or length of assessment: 7,000 words
Unit learning outcomes: On completion of the unit, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of critical awareness and application of theoretical and methodological perspectives relevant to an investigation of our chosen research topic
- Synthesise, evaluate and defend the findings of your research and communicate the results in a focused, logically organised, appropriately concluded format and referenced according to the format and standard of the Harvard system.
What am I required to do in this assignment?
You are required to write a 7,000 word Independent Project (there is a 10% leeway so you can write 7,700 words), using one of the following methods:
- Substantive literature review
- Desktop research – secondary analysis project that addresses a proposition you wish to analyse in-depth
- Content Analysis of policy documents, print media, social media, TV and/or film
- A Discourse Analysis
Your project must include the following sections:
- Title page (with the title of research/research question, student number and word count)
- Abstract (approx. 200 words)
- Table of contents
- Introduction (research question, aims and objectives, background, a brief introduction of methodology, theory, relevant policy, and a paragraph outlining the project structure).
- Theory or policy (e.g. history of policy development) after introduction, rather than including them in the Introduction chapter. Theory and policy should be properly discussed in relation to your research topic, either in the introduction or in a separate section.
- Methodology – the discussion of the method you chose, your search strategy, ethics.
- Findings – present themes you found through the analysis of the literature (and other types of sources, depending on your research method). This section must provide answers to your question.
- Discussion – link your discussion to theory. Also think about what your findings mean to policy and practice.
- Conclusions (and recommendations/suggestions).
- References (Harvard referencing system must be used) Include page number i.e. (Dostoyevsky, 2020, p. 5).
You must use a minimum of 40 academic sources (i.e. peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books) in order to pass.
Your work must be Word processed, double spaced, Arial 11 Font. You must number the pages and you must also include a word count. Please do not use Internet Explorer to upload your work – occasionally it uploads a blank document if you do not close the file properly before uploading it.
Ensure that you include your in-text references. In all cases, in-text citations must match up with what appears in your reference list. Every in-text citation should correspond to a reference on the list at the end (and vice versa).
What do I need to do to pass?
In order to pass the assessment, you will need to:
- Produce a 7,000 word Research Project that is focused, logically structured, convincingly conclusive, referenced according to the format and standard of the Harvard system and that applies critical knowledge of relevant theoretical frameworks with evidence of critical appraisal and synthesis.
- Produce a comprehensive literature section/paper of the chosen area which displays a critical grasp of the findings and theoretical frameworks of that literature.
- Selecting appropriate methods, providing a rationale for their selection, applying these methods, presenting the data obtained in an appropriate format, evaluating the limitations of the chosen methods, addressing, and resolving ethical issues and drawing conclusions from the data.
Marking criteria
- Research question and theory
The student formulated a clear, focused, feasible research question and provides a strong rationale for the proposed research.
An appropriate theory has been chosen. Work demonstrates excellent understanding of the link between theory and the research project.
- Methodology
The student chose an appropriate research method among the four methods allowed, demonstrates excellent understanding of what the method entails, and clearly explains the search strategy, methods of analysis and the ethics.
- Findings and discussion
The student identified key themes that clearly answer the question and presented them in a logical manner using research evidence. There is in-depth discussion of the implications of the findings in relation to theory, policy, practice and/or wider literature. The work contains clear evidence of critical analysis.
- Grammar, spelling and expression
The work is both highly literate and articulate; the student communicates her/his ideas effectively. Sentences are clear, accurate and expressive. There are very few grammatical or spelling errors.
- Referencing and the use of literature
40 or more relevant academic sources are used and the sources are referenced according to the Harvard style both in the reference list and the text of the work
