| CODE | BEN5003 | ||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods and Tools | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty for the Built Environment | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit consists of a number of lectures and seminars intended to provide students, following the master degree programmes in the Faculty, with an understanding of research methodologies required, and tools available, to undertake research in the art and science in architecture and engineering. The study-unit will offer guidance on how to undertake literature reviews, how to plan a research project, how to collect, process and analyse data, both quantitative and qualitative, and how to use appropriate conventions to write up research reports. The study-unit is intended as a preparation for the final year requirements for the relative degree courses, and particularly the preparation of a Dissertation research proposal, and, at a later stage, the preparation of the Final Project brief. Study-unit Aims: The objectives of this study-unit is to give students a knowledge base of research methodologies and tools which they will require in their own research, and particularly the writing of a final year Dissertation, and preparation of a Final Project. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify research problems, and choose appropriate techniques of research; - Tackle ethical issues that may arise in research; - Distinguish between different research strategies, such as qualitative, correlational, experimental, historical, or by case study; - Demonstrate an understanding of the techniques of data collection, and the relevance and significance of proper sampling and sample size; - Identify the proper use of different research tools, such as interviews, questionnaires, and experimental investigation; - Critically assess the results of research investigations, and identify the limitations of such results; - Comprehend the conventions in academic writing; - Recognise the value of intellectual property and data protection. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Plan a research assignment, including the formulation of a research question, the development of a proposal or hypothesis, and the design of a process to test such hypothesis; - Undertake a literature review, and handle and critically evaluate sources, as well as properly reference such sources. - Use electronic library resources; - Design a sampling programme, an interview or a questionnaire; - Analyze research results, quantitatively or qualitatively as appropriate; - Write research reports clearly, in a style appropriate to purpose and in accordance with accepted standards; - Use appropriate IT to optimize the creation of research documents, and the presentation of research results. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Groat, L., Wang, D., (2002) Architectural Research Methods, J.Wiley & Sons, New York. - Fellows, R., Liu, A., (2008) Research Methods for Construction, Wiley-Blackwell. - Borden, I., Ruedi Ray, K., (2006), The Dissertation: an architecture student's handbook, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. - Naoum, S.G., (2007) Dissertation Research and Writing for Construction Students, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. - Bui, Y.N., (2009), How to Write a Masters' Thesis, Sage. - Levin, P. (2005), Excellent Dissertations, Open University Press. - Greetham, B. (2001), How to Write Better Essays, Palgrave. Supplementary Texts: - Berdie, D.R., Anderson, J.F. (1974) Questionnaire Design and Use, Scarecrow Press, New Jersey. - Campbell, T.D., Stanley, J.C., (1996) Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research, Rand McNally, Chicago. - Harrigan, J., Neel, P., (1996) The Executive Architect, J.Wiley and Sons, New York. - Heiman, G.W., (1996) Basic Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences, Houghton Mifflin Co., USA. - Yin, R., (1994), Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - Zeisel, J., (1981) Inquiry by Design, Brooks/Cole Publishing Co., Calif. - Dunleavy, P. (2003) Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Palgrave Macmillan. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar & Independent Study | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Ruben Paul Borg Shirley Cefai Paul Gauci Reuben Grima Alexia Mercieca Wendy-Jo Mifsud Antoine Zammit |
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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