Assignment guidance for Introduction to research skills: 4SC012

Assignment guidance for Introduction to research skills: 4SC012

Module assessment details:

Assessment number 1

Assessment type Research Project

Learning outcomes covered LO1; LO2; LO3;

Weighting 100%

Number of words of assessment 2000

To pass 40%

Credits 20 credits module

Assessment:

A small-scale SECONDARY research project using secondary data and information. Present your research project following the assignment format given.

Using research skills you have learnt in this module, choose of the social care issues and present your research report. You will need to demonstrate the use of reliable online sources.

Learning outcomes

LO1: Identify an area of research

LO2: Describe different types of research processes

LO3: Outline the skills necessary to conduct research

Assignment guidance:

You are expected to do a Secondary desk based research project using gained skills from this module and submit research project report following the below format. Please check the learning outcomes and marking grid to gain familiarity of the expected standard.

Writing format: Assignment should be written in MS word or similar word processing software, font size 12, font type Arial and paragraphs must be 1.5 spaced. Avoid short paragraphs of 2 to 3 lines, try to make the paragraph size even through out the assignment. Please use the headings of given format.

Word counts are guidance only. You do not need to strictly follow the word count suggestions

On the assignment do not include your name. Only student number is allowed. Please include the total word counts at the end (excluding title)

Title: Write the title of your research. This is your research topic, not the research question. Make it simple and short. Word count not included for title.

Abstract: Summary of your research project. Maximum 4 to 5 lines. Write about your research topic, methods you are using and findings of your research project. Abstract is a snapshot of your research study. Abstract is used for attracting readers information.

[ Approximately 100 words]

Introduction: All academic piece of writing starts with an introduction. In this section you will introduce your research study to reader. Give a very brief description of research topic, why you are interested in this topic. Explain your research question and this report is an attempt to answer the research question by using research skills you gained.

[Approximately 200 words]

Background Literature: If you follow the research process then you should have done the background study on your topic. Write about the information you collected from literature exploration, what is already available. Give examples of some relevant research on your topic, what methods researchers have adopted, what are the research outcomes. How those research examples help you to understand your research topic, may be reframing your research question or refining your research methods. Note all the research papers or website you have accessed.

[ Approximately 250 words]

Methods: This section is to clarify your understanding of research process. Starting from research question, research type your are following (secondary research), what are the research methods you adopted to collect data and why. What are the search engines, what are the search criteria? Include sampling criteria for both inclusion and exclusion. How many documents you have found primarily and why have you rejected some (if any). What are the documents you are analysing and why? What are the sources of those documents? How did you find them as reliable for the study? How did you analyse your sample documents?

[ Approximately 500 words]

Findings: What is the key knowledge you have identified from your analysis. Use quotes or other evidence to support your findings.

[ Approximately 100 words]

Discussion: This section will allow to present your case study. Thomas (2017) explains what to present in discussion section. In the discussion you are coming to full circle and returning to your initial question and the context provided by your literature review. You present an argument to the reader showing how you answered your research questions, revealing how ideas have interconnected and what conclusions have emerged. It is a synthesis, a narrative, a discussion.

[ Approximately 600 words]

You can also write Discussion and Findings sections together.

Conclusion: Conclusion is ending your research story. Refer back to your introduction, have you achieved what you wanted to find? What are the difficulties you had in the process, acknowledge any limitation of your study. This is an area for future research recommendations.

[ Approximately 200 words]

Reference List: Word counts not included

Please present in alphabetical order following Harvard referencing style. See Cite them right page to explore further https://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills-for-learning/referencing/[Minimum 10 references approx.]

You need to use academic references and information gathered from reliable sources.