Unit information: Research Skills in 2011/12

Unit name	Research Skills
Unit code	COMSM2202
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Reinhard
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Computer Science
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed to introduce the fundamental skills that you will need to embark on your MSc project. In order to identify and understand prior works a key phase in any project is background research. For academic projects this results in the creation of a comprehensive literature review. The reading and background research you conduct during this time will form the basis of your thesis by establishing a project history and placing your work in context to previous research and methodologies. This process, of reading, distillation and writing will help you to formulate and understand the aims and objectives of your project in more depth than the initial project proposal created by your supervisor before you embark on the real scientific research in the summer.

Working closely with your project supervisor, the Research Review you submit will contain a comprehensive literature review centered around your project and will introduce and explain your intended individual project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Your Research Review will be marked as to whether it satisfies the following criteria:

• You should demonstrate that you understand the aims and objectives of your Individual Project.
• You should show an ability to research and collate information.
• You should show an ability to digest and critique existing literature.
• You should clearly explain where or why your Individual Project will add value.
• You should demonstrate an ability to structure and write a comprehensive scientific report.

Teaching Information

Although the majority of the time allocated for this unit is intended for independent study and for you to liaise with your project supervisor you must attend the lectures on researching and report writing. These are usually given as a set of lectures during the Spring term. There will be around 10 lectures covering aspects such as:

• Types and styles of projects. What makes a good project?
• How to write.
• How to use references.
• How your final thesis should be structured and presented.
• How to avoid plagiarism.
• Evaluation and metrics and how to measure performance

Assessment Information

Submission of a Research Review document (100%) with direct feedback given during a short compulsory feedback interview with representatives of the marking panel. This interview is to assist the student in making decisions for their summer major project, but is not assessed.

Reading and References

Relevant conference and journal papers will be project specific and chosen in close collaboration with your project supervisor. Other references will be recommended in the unit lectures.