University of Derby Postgraduate Research Assignment

Programme: MSc and Phd Programmes at the University of Derby

Module Title: Research Methods:Data Collection and Analysis

Module Code: 7RY009

Module Leader: Mike Veveris

Lecturer: Mike Veveris

Coursework Assignment No: 1

Assignment Title:

Research Philosophies and Methodology

Selection

Weighting: 50%

Issue Date: 27th September 2010

Hand-in Date: 12th November 2010

Introduction
In this assignment you will be critically evaluating current research philosophies appropriate to
the design of a research methodology within your chosen subject area.

Learning Outcomes
There are two Learning Outcomes that you have to satisfy for this assignment:

1. Critically evaluate different research philosophies and approaches for the design of a
research methodology for the purposes of a study at postgraduate / PhD level.

2. Develop and apply an appropriate research approach and strategy to address a set of
defined research objectives and questions for the purposes of a study at postgraduate /
PhD level.

The Brief

A written report of 2000 - 3000 words. The report should critically evaluate the different
available research philosophies and approaches which may be utilised when designing
a research methodology within your subject area (e.g. Engineering).
This report will demonstrate how the various approaches, paradigms etc. inform and
influence the research process pertinent to your subject area.

You must also submit your work to Turnitin (see “Submission Requirements” below)

Reading Materials
See Module Reading List in the Module Handbook

Note: These sources are guides only to commonly available material. Students will also be
expected to consult other relevant source material according to the nature of their
project/research.

Submission Requirements
A Report as described in The Brief above (3,000 words maximum).

TURNITIN
ALL students enrolled on this module are also required to submit their work to ‘Turnitin’-an
electronic plagiarism detection system, before electronically submitting their report. The
system compares your submitted work to billions of internet pages, student essays and journal
articles, etc. By using this system you will be able to identify if your essays/ reports contain
sections that are worded very similarly to other articles or essays or reports. For each module
(where required), you will be able to upload your work (as a doc. File) and you will receive a
report indicating where (if anywhere) your work is similar to other pieces of writing. Clearly,
there will always be some similarities- do not be concerned if some short phrases are
identified. Please note that this system does not make a judgement as to whether any
particular essay/ report is plagiarised, it just provides a report showing how much of any essay/
report is similar to other work, which aids the marker in identifying plagiarised work.

ALL YOUR ASSIGNEMTS, WHEN SUBMITTED SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A

‘TURNITIN’ RECEIPT ONLY.
In order to submit your coursework for this module on Turnitin you will need the following to
enrol on the module:

Turnitin ID: 140639

Password: 7RY009
This is the unique ID for
Research Methods: Data
Collection & Analysis

You will need this password once.

Once you register you’ll be able to
choose your own individual
password.

Please now refer to the following two documents on UDo to complete this process:

To Register yourself with Turnitin:

“Registering for Turnitin.doc”

To Submit Documents to Turnitin:

“Submitting Papers to Turnitin UK”

Submission Dates
See front sheet.

The work must be submitted electronically via e-mail to m.veveris@derby.ac.uk by no later

than midnight on the Submission Date specified on the front sheet.

Late submission will be penalised.

Assessment Criteria
PG Assessment Grades will be used. All grades given for assignment work are provisional
until confirmed or otherwise by the relevant examinations board.

Performance Criteria
For (A+ TO B+) the student will have demonstrated a very clear and thorough ability to
critically evaluate different research philosophies and approaches for the design of an
appropriate research methodology

For (B to C) the student will have demonstrated a very good ability to critically evaluate
different research philosophies and approaches for the design of an appropriate research
methodology

For (C- to D-) the student will have demonstrated a satisfactory to good ability to critically
evaluate different research philosophies and approaches for the design of an appropriate
research methodology

For (Fm to NR) the student will clearly not have demonstrated at least a satisfactory ability to
critically evaluate different research philosophies and approaches for the design of an
appropriate research methodology