¸£ÀûÔÚÏßÃâ·Ñ

Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE EMP5025

 
TITLE Research Skills

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Environmental Management and Planning

 
DESCRIPTION The scope of this study-unit is to provide students with the necessary skills and hands-on experience to design, conduct, interpret and document research undertaken by students both as part of their coursework and, importantly, in their day-to-day profession. The study unit will allow students to critically analyse different research methods and appraise academic literature whilst developing various practical skills that will be applied to their research interests.

Study-Unit Aims:

The overall aim of the study-unit is to provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of research methods whilst providing them with the practical skills to plan and undertake research and the opportunities to practice and develop these skills using material relevant to their field of study.

This study-unit will support students following the MSc in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment from the beginning of the study unit, where the focus will be on providing the students with the skills required to identify a research area and prepare a dissertation proposal, to practical skills such as searching and critically appraising scientific literature to support coursework and applying effective communication skills to present work both in the written and oral form.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. describe the scientific method, including hypothesis testing as applied to environmental monitoring research;
2. critically discuss and demonstrate an understanding of strategies and methods of undertaking research with a specific focus on environmental monitoring and assessment;
3. analyse the ethics associated with undertaking research;
4. comprehend the process of developing a successful research project proposal.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. explore and retrieve information relevant to a specific field of study and then provide a critical review of the literature to answer specific research questions;
2. formulate a research question together with aims and objectives associated with this research question;
3. critically evaluate and appraise various qualitative and quantitative research strategies and their appropriateness in addressing specific research questions;
4. demonstrate an understanding of data management methods, including the collection, management and analysis of data;
5. effectively communicate research findings in written, oral and visual form.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

1. BIGGS, R., 2021. The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods for Social-Ecological Systems. New York : Taylor & Francis.(Available through library electronic resources)
2. GRAZIANO, A., 2012. Research Methods : a process of inquiry. 8th ed.. edn. Pearson.(Available through library print resources)
3. HU, X., Smoothing a Critical Transition: Nontechnical Knowledge and Techniques for Student Researchers. Singapore: Singapore: Springer Singapore.(Available through library electronic resources)
4. PAJO, B., 2022. Introduction to research methods : a hands-on approach. 2nd ed.. edn. SAGE: SAGE.(Available through library print resources)

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Seminar and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (20 Minutes) SEM1 Yes 20%
Portfolio SEM2 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Louis Francis Cassar
Elisabeth Conrad
Belinda Gambin (Co-ord.)
Julian Mamo
Mark Scerri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

/course/studyunit