| CODE | DGA1003 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods in Art and Design | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Digital Arts | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Research in art and design involves a cyclic process of practice and reflection which develops both an aesthetic sensibility and the capacity to be creative through an informed standpoint. The study-unit introduces the student to the practice-based and practice-led research methods for design, moving image and digital media practice. Students will be initiated to practice-based learning, art and design research methods, collection techniques and analysis/interpretation techniques. The study-unit focuses on the exploration, application, testing and evaluation of practice-led research methodologies and theoretical approaches in art & design. Students will be led to establish an appropriate research question and a contextual research list in the chosen area of research. The study-unit aims to: 1) Provide an introduction to key aspects of undergraduate research, including research tools, methods, ethical and legal questions. 2) Initiate students in the development of their research project and approach. 3) Encourage students to reflect critically on the processes of research. 4) Assist students in the articulation of a critical language appropriate to their research aims and interests. 5) Encourage the development of a supportive research environment. 6) Enable students to learn from cross-disciplinary communication, which means being familiar with the range of research practices applicable to the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and art and design. 7) Provide pointers to further investigation into appropriate research methods. The study-unit will cover: 1) The practicalities of practice-based research, including setting and achieving realistic goals, planning, working in a team, using resources, presentation skills, and meeting institutional requirements and expectations of good practice. 2) Techniques for advancing knowledge and understanding, such as setting up a programme of reading, contextual review, observation studies, and creative practice and design as research. 3) Development of a critical framework in which to review research and research methods. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is designed to support undergraduate students in developing their research project and to assist them in defining their mode of enquiry. The study-unit guides students through a range of issues and considerations which should inform their general approach to research. It will give students a general introduction to art and design research, its methodologies, its challenges and its organisation. Students will be introduced to a range of research tools and will be equipped to plan and organise their research, as well as to communicate their findings. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able: • To start developing the required skills in preparing and documenting a research presentation within a seminar context. • To provide an introduction to the broader aspects of developing a theoretical and critical line of enquiry on a range of research related questions related to their subject discipline. • To investigate contemporary strategies used by artists and designers to disseminate their research methods and creative practice to audiences through media’s communications vehicles as well as through galleries, site-based / public projects and other interventions. Reading List Main Text Gray, Carole and Malins, Julian (2004). Visualizing Research: A guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Ashgate. Reading List Barrett, Estelle and Bolt, Barbara (2007). Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry. I.B. Tauris. Macleod, Katy (2006). Thinking through Art. Routledge. Balkema, Annette W. (2004). Artistic Research. Rodopi. McNiff, Shaun (1998). Art-based Research. Kingsley. Other journal articles related to the topic will be made available on the study-unit e-Learning website. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar and Presentation | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Trevor Borg (Co-ord.) Maria Theuma |
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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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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