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HPSC0097-毕设代写
时间：2024-04-30
Department of
Science and Technology Studies
HPSC0097
Research Project 2023-2024
Syllabus
Course Description
Moodle Page Search HPSC0097 Research Project
Assessment Research Proposal and Oral Presentation: 2000 words (20%)
Research Report: 10, 000 words (80%)
Credits 60 (representing 600 hours of study)
Timetable See UCL Timetable
Course Convener Dr Rory Jubber
Convener Contact rory.jubber@ucl.ac.uk
Office Location Room 1.1, 22 Gordon Square
Office Hours Please email the course convener in advance to secure a meeting during
office hours.
Tuesdays 15:00-16:00
Wednesdays 15:00-16:00
The master’s degree culminates in a research project that involves doing some research and
presenting that research in a report (dissertation). You will be guided through the process by an
academic supervisor and supported by training workshops in research and writing skills, ethics,
and academic integrity.
Students are expected to conduct some original research as part of the overall project. This
normally involves reviewing relevant literature, identifying a research question, choosing an
appropriate research method to answer that question, gathering data (or ideas), and developing
an argument or series of insights that are relevant to significant conversations within
discipline. The definitions of novelty, relevance, and method differ across disciplines.
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Schedule
Date Activity
Term 1 Informal conversations about projects. Talk with peers and staff
about project ideas.
Wednesday 15 Nov 2023
13:00-14:00
188 Tottenham Court Road
Room 01/02
Getting Started on the Research Project
In-person session. All students attend.
With Rory Jubber
Term 2 Workshops to help develop ideas and manage formalities
Thursday 1 February 2024 Desk vs Empirical Projects
In-person session. All students attend.
With Rory Jubber
Friday 2 Feb 2024
16:30-17:30
room TBC
Research Review: Methods, Safety, and Data
This session focuses on ethics for projects that (1) collect data
from human subjects, (2) collect sensitive data, or (3) involve
unusual safety concerns. Preview guidance
With Joe Cain
Monday 12 Feb 2024,
17:00
Research Topic Statement Due
Thursday 22 February
First-Year Part time Students Session
This session will focus on advising first year part time students on
preparing for the research project for the following academic
year.
Monday 4 March 2024 Supervisor assignments distributed.
Convenor to distribute supervisor assignments. Once notified
students to contact their assigned supervisor and arrange one
conversation before the end of Term 2.
Term 3 Students are expected to organise in-person, fortnightly meetings
with their project supervisor during Term 3. Students also will
have access to workshops in Term 3
Wednesday 24 April Philosophical Dissertation Research and Writing
With Rory Jubber
Monday 29 April Science Policy Dissertation and Writing
Thursday 2 May Sociological Dissertation Research and Writing
6 May 2024, 17:00 Deadline for Research Review applications
Cut-off date for those needing research review. No applications
accepted after this date.
Thursday 9 May Historical Dissertation Research and Writing
With Frank James
14 May 2024, 17:00 Research Proposal Due
28-30 May 2024 Through these days students will participate in oral
presentations with their supervisor and another examiner.
Oral presentations will take place in staff offices.
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Summer
During Summer Students should organise in-person or online fortnightly meetings
with their project supervisor.
31 July 2024, 17:00 Cut-off date for supervisory obligations.
14 August 2024, 17:00 Research Report Due
All due dates are 17:00 London time.
1. Essential information
1.1 Module Assessment
There are three key components of the Research Project:
I. Research Topic Statement
Word count: 300 words
Portion of overall marks: None but submission is mandatory
Due date: Monday 12 February 2024
Students are required to submit their Research Topic Statement to provide a summary of their chosen
research topic, identify their preferred supervisor and justify how the project can either be construed as an
STS or HPS research project. A form will be provided for you to follow.
II. Research Proposal and Oral Presentation
Word count: 2000 words with 15-minute oral presentation
Portion of overall marks: 20%
Due date: By 17:00 on 14 May 2024 (with oral presentations running from 28 May- 30 May 2024)
You will submit a 2000-word proposal on your research project which will clearly articulate your research
question, methodological approach and chapter planning.. The submission of the proposal will be
followed by an oral presentation on the proposal where you will field questions on the project proposal by
two examiners, one of whom will be your supervisor.
III. Research Report
Word count: 10,000 words
Portion of overall marks: 80%
Due date: By 17:00 on 14 August 2024
The research report (commonly called, 'the dissertation') is the written text about your research that you
will submit.
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1.2 Supervision
The supervisor is your first point-of-contact. The supervisor oversees the student’s project management.
They interact with the student on approximately a fortnightly basis to ensure project progression. They
can offer intellectual guidance and networking. The supervisor offers to review draft material of project
work subject to limits described elsewhere in the syllabus. The supervisor is assigned before the end of
Term 2. Students have one supervisor.
1.2.1 Identifying and Approaching a Potential Supervisor
You will need to identify and speak with a potential supervisor for your project. It is important to identify
someone who you feel will be a good match for your topic. To help you identify the right person you can
check the STS Academic Staff Website which lists each member of staff's research interests.
You will need to contact this person and arrange a meeting to discuss the quality, scope, and feasibility of
your ideas and how they fit with the requirements of the research project. You can approach more than
one potential supervisor in stage prior to the submission of the Research Topic Statement on 12
February.
The principal form of academic input for the research project comes through discussions with your
supervisor. These meetings should be face-to-face, either in person or by video or audio call.
Email alone is insufficient as a supervisory tool.
1.2.2 The Role of the Supervisor - Their Responsibilities and Yours
The main responsibilities of the supervisor are to assist you with your project management and to advise
you on criteria for assessment. Students are encouraged to consult others in the course of their project,
within STS and elsewhere. However, this assistance is voluntary and at the discretion of all parties.
Please note that after 31 July 2024 supervisors are not obligated to meet or provide feedback. This
means that the period from 1 June 2024 until 31 July 2024 constitutes a critical window during the
summer in which you can seek written feedback on draft work and arrange meetings with your
supervisor.
You can expect your supervisor to read and comment on a full draft of your research proposal and of your
project report. You can expect four hours of supervision time from your supervisor, some of which will be
one-to-one and some of which may be in groups.
Discuss with your supervisor how best to use this time. Aside from the 31 July endpoint, we do not lay
down any expectations here because how and when you can best use your time with your supervisor
varies with the nature of your project. Your supervisor will advise you on this but be proactive about this. It
is a good idea to discuss a timeline for your project with your supervisor and to establish a definite
timetable of draft submission dates and supervision meetings. Again, the nature of this timetable will vary
with the type of project. Please ensure that you discuss with your supervisor when you will hand a
research proposal draft and a project draft to them for comment. Commenting on these drafts is a
significant task and supervisors need to schedule time for this in advance.
As independent learners, students must take responsibility for arranging these meetings. It is wise to
schedule supervisions well in advance. It is unwise to disappear for long periods of time, then reappear
with a large set of needs. Project management is part of the STS criteria for assessment for this
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module. Supervisors also may make themselves available for additional consultation, but this is done at
their discretion and with no obligation.
1.3 Module convenor
The convenor is your second point-of-contact. They organise the module, guide students through initial
stages of development, monitor supervisory contributions, and troubleshoot should problems arise. They
also oversee the assessment process and ensure comparability of marking.
Students continue to have access to their personal tutor until the end of their degree. The personal tutor
is a key point-of-contact for pastoral support and careers guidance.
1.4 Attendance requirements
HPSC0097 requires students to be attendance in-person in London until after the oral presentations(see
Schedule above). This is to ensure substantial in-person interaction between student and supervisor, as
well as in-person interaction between the student, their peers, and others in the STS community.
After the oral presentations, attendance in-person in London is recommended but not required.
Supervisions may take place remotely.
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3. Aims and Objectives
3.1 Aims
The research project is the culmination of a master’s programme. The overall aims focus on research,
research planning, and research reporting. Students will be encouraged to:
1. Undertake independent research that makes an original contribution to knowledge, or produces a novel
synthesis of existing materials relevant to significant conversations in the discipline
2. Plan their project in advance, using a proposal to describe their undertaking, describe how it will be
managed, and reflect upon its value
3. Work independently and manage a complex project within strict time constraints
4. Comply with relevant ethical, safety, and documentation processes as appropriate to the work
5. Select and deploy research methods that are appropriate to the data collection within the project
6. Relate their original research to existing literature on the subject and relate their work to general
themes in their relevant scholarly literature
7. Balance description, analysis, and synthesis within the context of scholarly writing
8. Assemble their rationale, methods, findings, and analysis into a substantial piece of writing that
presents a clear thesis and a cohesive evidence-based argument or analysis
9. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their research and methodology, understanding how they
might improve their efforts in future work
3.2 Objectives
By the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an ability to plan a research project, such as is required in a research proposal prior to
the launch of their work.
2. Demonstrate an ability to comply with ethical, safety, and documentation processes appropriate to their
project.
3. Demonstrate expert knowledge in the subject of their research project, such as through an integrated
literature survey.
4. Demonstrate expert knowledge in the research methods appropriate to generating reliable data for
their research questions.
5. Demonstrate the ability to project manage and to make constructive use of expertise associated with
their project, while working as an independent learner.
6. Demonstrate an ability to relate their original data to existing literature, or to create a novel synthesis of
existing materials.
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7. Demonstrate an ability to assemble their findings into a substantial piece of writing that presents a clear
thesis and a cohesive, evidence-based argument.
8. Demonstrate an ability to balance description, analysis, and synthesis within their project report.
9. Demonstrate an ability to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their research and methodology,
with constructive advice on how they might improve their efforts in future work Typically, the model for a
research report will be an academic journal article or an MPhil thesis.
4. Module Timeline
HPSC0097 is a long-term commitment, it is a 60-credit module and 600 hours of work are expected. That
equates to 16 weeks of full-time labour, and it is equivalent to the workload of four regular modules in the
degree.
For time management purposes, the module divides into five phases.
Phase 1: Informal Conversations
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss possible project ideas with tutors, fellow students, and other
science communication professionals. All projects begin with open-ended conversations and scoping
exercises. These should be non-committal. Informal conversations begin in Term 1. They should become
increasingly focused as the term continues. All STS staff welcome conversations, and all staff know
students will be seeking to have them. It’s the student’s responsibility to initiate discussions. To start a
conversation, email a member of staff and request time for a short conversation.
To assist in project scoping, the convenor will organise a series of advice sessions during Term 2 and 3.
These will build on modules and other activities around the department. Student hoping to undertake an
empirical project may benefit from our module, HPSC0126 Social Research Methods and Data Analysis
in STS.
Phase 2: Title, Topic and Supervisor Allocation
The first formal step in the module requires the student to submit the “Research Topic Statement”. This
will be a form available via Moodle. This is not assessed but its submission is required. The Research
Topic Statement is due on 12 February 2024.
The main purpose of Research Topic Statement is for students to identify a topic that falls within HPS or
STS and to allocate an appropriate supervisor to the student based on their project idea The project
choice is understood to be a provisional but serious attempt to define a topic. At the least, it should give a
general indication of focus and method.
Students who do not submit the Research Topic Statement will be assigned a supervisor without
consultation. They may also have a project assigned to them by the supervisor.
Phase 3: Term 3 Activities, Research Proposal and Oral Presentations
Through term 3 there will be a number of discipline specific workshops that will offer advice to students on
how to conduct research within and writing on the various disciplinary areas that comprise HPS and STS.
Students should attend the workshops in which their research project falls. In cases where a project falls
across multiple disciplines, the student should attend all relevant workshops (consult the schedule for the
dates of various disciplinary workshops.)
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All students submit a Proposal in Term 3. This is assessed. The format is a “Project Proposal Form” that
will be made available on Moodle. Criteria for assessment will be described during Term 2.
The aims of the proposal and oral presentations are straightforward:
1. propose the project idea.
2. set out a plan for its execution.
3. describe the rationale for why the project should be done.
4. provide some specific theoretical grounding for the project.
5. to answer in person questions from your supervisor and another examiner during the oral
presentation. These questions will be based on the content of your proposal.
All projects evolve, and students can expect their final work to deviate somewhat from their research
proposal. Supervisors will monitor that evolution. Supervisors must be involved in any process that leads
to a fundamental change in project ambitions or design.
Where projects require review for methods, safety, or data management, students should attach as
appendices the ethics applications prepared for review. These do not contribute to word counts.
Applications do not need to be approved at the time the proposal is submitted. However, the specific cut-
off date for ethics applications for review is 6 May by 17:00. Students that do not apply for ethics approval
within this deadline will not be allowed to conduct empirical research.
The purpose of the project proposal is to steer students towards refining their research questions,
reviewing existing scholarship and ensuring their project is underway. A further purpose is to require the
student to identify the methods they believe will be most relevant for engaging the research questions to
be investigated and to demonstrate their skills in project management.
STS staff will provide substantial feedback with respect to project definition, relevant literature, framing,
and methods. As a minimum, by the time the proposal is submitted for review, everything should be in
place to start the project..
Writing a proposal is an important transferable skill. You may well have to write project proposals when
you get a job, or for PhD applications. It is important to understand how to write such proposals to have
the best chance of success. This is not straightforward. There are often important balances to be struck
(e.g. scope of project vs. completion on time) and it is important to get your main idea across clearly and
concisely.
The main reason for the attendance requirement in Term 3 is to ensure students have access to in-
person consultation with supervisors and others who might contribute materially and intellectually to the
project.
Phase 4: Do the Work
Students are expected to commit substantial time to their project during Term 3 and during the summer.
HPSC0097 is a 60-credit module and 600 hours of work are expected. That equates to 16 weeks of full-
time labour, and it is equivalent to the workload of four regular modules in the degree. If you are devoting
significantly less time and effort to your project, you should review your commitments and discuss the
load with your supervisor.
In-person engagement with staff and others in the STS community is expected in London until the end of
Term 3. Afterwards, depending on the project, remote supervision may be acceptable.
Phase 5: Submit
Projects are due in August (see Schedule). Digital upload is required. Students are not required to submit
paper copies. Criteria for assessment will be discussed in Term 3.
Please do not leave large amounts of work on your project to the last minute. Part of what is being tested
here is your ability to manage a substantial research project and to complete the project on time. Such
time management is critical to many commercial and academic projects.
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5. Ethics
Ethics is a subject you must discuss with your project supervisor at the very start of your work. Where
required, approvals must be in place prior to data collection. Students who fail to obtain appropriate
approvals before data collection risk a mark of zero for their project, as unethical research cannot be
accepted and demonstrating knowledge of ethical practices is a key learning objective for the module.
Research review is the process of you asking for permission to undertake the research you want to do. All
research is reviewed by the supervisor. In some cases (e.g., when research involves more than low risk,
when humans are subjects, or when laws place restrictions on what research we can allow) we use
formal review processes. STS includes three subjects in its process of review:
• methods – how will you conduct data collection and analysis?
• safety – what might risk your safety or the safety of others, including your research subjects?
• data – will your data need special handling owing to a sensitive or legal issue?
Your supervisor is the first point-of-contact on research review. They will advise on which elements, if
any, of your project require special application. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance rests
with the student as the researcher. Training in research review is part of your degree programme.
STS resources on research review are online:.
6.1 Consider Methods
Without exception, any research involving “intervention or interaction with living human participants or the
collection or study of data derived from living human participants” must receive ethical approval of
methods prior to the start of data collection.
The main purpose of “Consider methods” review process is to protect our research subjects and to
ensure we use methods that carry least risk. The main consequence for researchers who use methods
review is an increased confidence that their approved methods will be safer and more efficient than might
otherwise be the case.
Social Science Methods
Your project uses social science methods when it seeks to collect data from individuals about personal
identity and their sense of self, provokes introspection or self-evaluation, or reaches into sensitive areas
(as defined by UK law). Projects using social science methods are subject to “Consider Methods” in the
STS research review process.
Examples of social science research questions:
• “How do you think your sexuality influences your interpretation of the data?”
• “In three words, tell me how you felt when you thought they had stolen your data?”
• “Why do you believe that is the morally right thing to do?”
• “How does it feel to wake up every day knowing you have this disease?”
When categorisation is ambiguous, STS normally applies a precautionary principle, considering the
research to be of a social science nature.
Methods Not Allowed in HPSC0097
Some methodological choices are prohibited in HPSC0097.
• You cannot involve children (anyone under age 18 years old) in any way.
• You cannot involve anyone who can be considered vulnerable according to UK law.
• You cannot use empirical social science methods in a country outside the UK.
The reasons vary. In general, the reason is practical: the time required to obtain methods approval is too
long given the time available for the project. Moreover, supervisors cannot be expected to commit the
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resources needed for appropriate safeguarding and fellowship. The restriction on international work is in
place because UCL insists we avoid practices that might be considered imposed, extractive, or
exploitative. UCL also insists on local engagement in research practices, meaning UCL students cannot
simply helicopter into a community, collect data, and leave. As a practical matter, we cannot put
appropriate monitoring systems in place for HPSC0097 projects, so we cannot support projects with data
collection involving humans undertaken outside the UK.
6.2 Consider Safety
UCL has a duty of care to students during their research. When research requires students to work off-
site or in unusual circumstances, a review of safety is required. “Consider Safety” is the process STS
uses to review safety. The goal of a safety review is to identify significant risks and to consider how best
to mitigate or reduce those risk. The safety of people working with you on the project requires
consideration, too.
Examples of notable safety risks in project work:
• travel to a location abroad or a location unfamiliar to you
• work unaccompanied with people you barely know or work in locked premises
• work in environments where hazardous material or equipment is used
• work when you carry expensive equipment through unfamiliar locations
Mitigation is the process of finding ways to reduce the risks you identify. Examples of mitigations:
• travel to an unfamiliar location: mitigation might involve travelling with a friend, sharing travel
details with a trusted person, maintaining a checking-in timetable with a trusted third party or with
UCLSafeZone
• work unaccompanied with people you barely know: mitigation might involve keeping only to open
public spaces and not working behind locked doors without additional people present
• work in hazardous environments: secure safety equipment and training prior to entry
• carry expensive equipment: use a taxi service to nearest trusted location or arrange a courier to
transfer equipment at a later date
In many cases, mitigating risk is simply a matter of astute planning. However, risk mitigation is never
trivial. It is core to best practice in all research.
6.3 Consider Data
Some data collected in research must be handled in secure ways. This is a legal requirement. STS uses
the “Consider Data” process to identify how a student researcher will comply with data handling
requirements. It also is designed to help students think about professional data handling and
preservation.
6.4 STS Research Review Procedures
STS research review procedures are described at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/ethics.
Some key points in our advice to students on compliance:
1. allow at least two weeks between submitting an ethics application and the date of your first
planned data collection
2. your supervisor must approve your research review applications before you submit it to the
department
3. take credit for doing this well. Note the ethics approval number in the introduction of your project
report. You may also include blank copies of consent forms, interview schedules, questionnaires
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etc. if you feel they provide evidence of your prowess operating in an appropriately ethical
manner. Appendices do not count towards your overall word count.
4. do not include confidential information in your dissertation (such as signed consent forms,
interview transcripts, or completed questionnaires) without first removing revealing information.
Anonymise quotations from research interviews.
As independent researchers, students must comply with UCL policies. This is absolutely vital, and
because UCL has legal duties in this area, a project will be penalized for failing to have approvals in
place. For instance, researchers who use living humans as research subjects in any way, but who fail to
secure approvals prior to data collection, will receive a mark of zero for this module, at the discretion of
the STS Board of Examiners. Unethical research will not be rewarded.
6. Important Policy Information
Refer to the STS Student Handbook. We follow the rules of that handbook.
6.1 Engaging with AI
UCL provides guidance for “Engaging with AI in Your Education and Assessment”.
AI classification
This module has a Category 2 rating regarding use of AI tools.
Category 2: AI tools can be used in an assistive role*
Students are permitted to use AI tools for specific defined processes within the assessment.
AI tools can be utilised to support the development of specific skills as required by the assessment.
Students can leverage AI for tasks such as data analysis, pattern recognition, or generating insights.
There will be some aspects of the assessment where the use of AI is inappropriate.
Examples of where AI might be used in an assistive category include:
• drafting and structure content
• supporting the writing process in a limited manner
• as a support tutor
• supporting a particular process such as testing code or translating content
• giving feedback on content, or proofreading content.
6.2 Extensions and Mitigations
This is a long-term project, and time management is a learning objective. Short-term extensions normally
are not considered.
Information about extensions and mitigations is provided in the STS Student Handbook. Individual tutors
cannot grant extensions on their own initiative, so please do not ask. STS respects all SORAs and ECs
approved elsewhere in the university; normally, these are communicated to STS automatically.
6.3 Project Feedback
Your feedback and first marks on coursework will be accessible via Moodle, normally four weeks (20
working days) after the submission date. We aim to give formative feedback sooner, normally two weeks.
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Please note that first marks are provisional and might change after second marking and moderation by
external examiners. Marks are confirmed and fixed in summer at the STS Board of Examiners.
Please focus on the feedback provided by the first marker. This is provided to help you improve in future
work. You should discuss all your feedback with your personal tutor with the aim of identifying
weaknesses and possible routes for improvement.
6.4 Course Communications
Communicate with your supervisor through the channel they recommend.
Communications from the convenor will use several paths:
• Moodle Announcements: the principal means for communications in this module.
• If we have a matter for you specifically, we’ll communicate via your UCL email address. We don’t
use other email addresses. I’ll put “0097” in the subject line to help you filter.
Hint: If you want help managing email using filters, see UCL IS’s “how-to” guides:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/how-to-guides
If you need to communicate with the convenor, use email.
7. FAQs
Do I need a project supervisor?
Yes. A supervisor is required.
Do I need a supervisor in STS?
Yes. They must be a member of STS academic staff. This is required to ensure comparability and clarity
about the scale of the project as well as to allow for certain quality assurance processes to be in place.
The main responsibilities of the supervisor are to assist the student with project management and to
advise towards the criteria for assessment.
Can I have two supervisors?
No. HPSC0097 does not permit second supervisors, subsidiary supervisors, or external supervisors. The
supervisor’s role primarily is project management and coordination. You don’t need two people for that.
We do encourage you to discuss your work informally with staff and peers in the STS community. They
are under no obligation to dedicate their time to support you, but conversation and engagement are key
skills in a research community. You also are welcome to enlist others to consult you informally on your
project. This includes content or technical experts, other students working in adjacent projects, other
students who have relevant experiences, and external professionals. You also are encouraged to consult
support services at UCL, such as the Academic Communication Centre (ACC).
How much time/help can I expect from my supervisor?
You can expect around eight hours of supervision time from your supervisor. This time will be distributed
evenly over the life of the project (normally with fortnightly sessions) and not compressed into a crunch
period. Some time will be one-to-one; some will be in groups. Please discuss with your supervisor how
best to use this time.
You can expect your supervisor to read and comment on your project proposal, any research review
application, and a draft of your final products, provided the latter is offered before an agreed date
(normally 4 weeks before the due date).
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We consider you to be independent researchers, and it is important that you take control of and are
responsible for the management of your own project. This includes organising meetings with your
supervisor and discussing your needs.
Email alone is insufficient as a complete supervisory tool. It very likely will be used to supplement face-to-
face supervisions.
What do I do if my supervisor is not available when I need them?
Contact the convenor should access to your supervisor become a persistent problem.
You should ask your supervisor about their availability during summer months. Staff are entitled to take
leave, and staff have heavy research commitments during the summer. This means their availability can
be quite different from your expectations. It’s perfectly polite to ask.
Tutors are expected to give students substantial advanced warning about periods when they will be
unavailable for prolonged periods during the summer. Students are expected to respect these periods of
absence and plan their needs accordingly. One distinction is crucial: (1) when staff are on leave, they are
off work (i.e., not expected to maintain contact with their supervisees or to undertake UCL duties);
however, (2) when staff are working remotely, they are on work (i.e., expected to maintain contact and to
be available for normal duties even if performed remotely).
What do we do in supervisions? Is it like a class?
No, it is not like a class lecture or seminar. What you do in supervisions depends largely on you. As
independent learners, students must take responsibility for arranging these meetings and for proposing
the agenda. Describe your needs and be clear where you want assistance. Give your supervisor
advanced warning of some of your questions. This is part of the process of “managing your supervisor”,
and it is a strategy designed to make the most of the small amount of face-to-face time you have
available to work with them.
It is wise to schedule supervisions well in advance. It is especially unwise to disappear for long periods of
time, then reappear with a large set of needs when a deadline is fast approaching.
What happens if I lose my material mid-way through the project?
You still have the deadline to meet. In sum, it’s your responsibility to maintain back-ups.
Protect yourself against loss of research material and writing by maintaining a system for secure,
redundant, up-to-date back-up. Loss or theft will not be accepted as a reason for failing to meet a
deadline. Storage of materials on UCL’s IS network is strongly advised. A copy of physical items, such as
written notebooks, can be deposited with supervisors for the duration of the project.
As a warning, loss of project materials through accidents and theft have occurred in the past; these have
had devastating effects on the unprepared. All students are advised to create redundancies to protect
their project. Again, you are in charge of this project and we look to you to show best practice.
Which words count in the word count and which do not?
Words counted towards the total word count include the main body of the report and supporting footnotes
or endnotes. The word count does not include: bibliography, front matter (title page, keywords, abstract,
table of contents, acknowledgments), appendix material, supplemental data packages, tables, table and
figure legends, or documentation of ethics protocols or approvals.
Work with your supervisor to ensure you are within the range of tolerance. Our basic expectation is that
you produce a scale of work that is commensurate with the 60-credit value of the module. Our longer-
range ambition is to see work done to a high professional standard appropriate to the task.
Can I re-use other coursework in my final project?
Students cannot get credit for work twice. This applies across degrees and jobs as well as across
modules. Text and ideas in the Proposal may reappear in the final project if significantly developed or
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further elaborated; however, UCL’s policy on self-plagiarism prevents the same work receiving credit
twice. This means rote duplication is not allowed.
Research reports cannot reuse research undertaken previously used for module credit without explicit
agreement. This applies to material submitted for credit in other degree programmes, other institutions, or
other employment. Translations alone are unacceptable, too.
Students should work closely with their supervisors to ensure compliance: better to ask than to guess.
Relationships must be explicit – meaning, you must document relationships clearly and openly.
Do I need to keep a project notebook?
Notebooks are not required, but STS strongly recommends you keep a regular written account of your
work, such as a daily record or a scheduled diary. Digital or paper. Make regular entries that are
substantial records of your work. A project notebook can be an invaluable way to record your reflections
about the work as it develops (and before you forget the insights you have). It also can prove useful
should examiners query research methods, research integrity, or research process.
Project notebooks are a standard part of best practice in many working environments. They help you
keep track of work and of the many details that come and go quickly and are hard to recall later. They
help account for your time to managers. In our world where remote working is an important part of
employment, these kinds of records can boost the confidence your boss has in you as an employee.
Why have the 31 July cut-off for supervisory obligations?
Staff need time to undertake other work over the summer, and staff need time for their annual leave. This
cut-off creates a fair and uniform buffer zone for all staff supervising projects. It also highlights the need
for good project and time management from students during Term 3 and the 10 weeks of summer leading
up to the project due date.
You also can expect your supervisor to be unavailable for other parts of Term 3 and the summer. We
expect you to manage your time, and we expect you to work with your supervisor to ensure approximately
fortnightly sessions over the period of the project.
Science and Technology Studies
HPSC0097
Research Project 2023-2024
Syllabus
Course Description
Moodle Page Search HPSC0097 Research Project
Assessment Research Proposal and Oral Presentation: 2000 words (20%)
Research Report: 10, 000 words (80%)
Credits 60 (representing 600 hours of study)
Timetable See UCL Timetable
Course Convener Dr Rory Jubber
Convener Contact rory.jubber@ucl.ac.uk
Office Location Room 1.1, 22 Gordon Square
Office Hours Please email the course convener in advance to secure a meeting during
office hours.
Tuesdays 15:00-16:00
Wednesdays 15:00-16:00
The master’s degree culminates in a research project that involves doing some research and
presenting that research in a report (dissertation). You will be guided through the process by an
academic supervisor and supported by training workshops in research and writing skills, ethics,
and academic integrity.
Students are expected to conduct some original research as part of the overall project. This
normally involves reviewing relevant literature, identifying a research question, choosing an
appropriate research method to answer that question, gathering data (or ideas), and developing
an argument or series of insights that are relevant to significant conversations within
discipline. The definitions of novelty, relevance, and method differ across disciplines.
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Schedule
Date Activity
Term 1 Informal conversations about projects. Talk with peers and staff
about project ideas.
Wednesday 15 Nov 2023
13:00-14:00
188 Tottenham Court Road
Room 01/02
Getting Started on the Research Project
In-person session. All students attend.
With Rory Jubber
Term 2 Workshops to help develop ideas and manage formalities
Thursday 1 February 2024 Desk vs Empirical Projects
In-person session. All students attend.
With Rory Jubber
Friday 2 Feb 2024
16:30-17:30
room TBC
Research Review: Methods, Safety, and Data
This session focuses on ethics for projects that (1) collect data
from human subjects, (2) collect sensitive data, or (3) involve
unusual safety concerns. Preview guidance
With Joe Cain
Monday 12 Feb 2024,
17:00
Research Topic Statement Due
Thursday 22 February
First-Year Part time Students Session
This session will focus on advising first year part time students on
preparing for the research project for the following academic
year.
Monday 4 March 2024 Supervisor assignments distributed.
Convenor to distribute supervisor assignments. Once notified
students to contact their assigned supervisor and arrange one
conversation before the end of Term 2.
Term 3 Students are expected to organise in-person, fortnightly meetings
with their project supervisor during Term 3. Students also will
have access to workshops in Term 3
Wednesday 24 April Philosophical Dissertation Research and Writing
With Rory Jubber
Monday 29 April Science Policy Dissertation and Writing
Thursday 2 May Sociological Dissertation Research and Writing
6 May 2024, 17:00 Deadline for Research Review applications
Cut-off date for those needing research review. No applications
accepted after this date.
Thursday 9 May Historical Dissertation Research and Writing
With Frank James
14 May 2024, 17:00 Research Proposal Due
28-30 May 2024 Through these days students will participate in oral
presentations with their supervisor and another examiner.
Oral presentations will take place in staff offices.
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Summer
During Summer Students should organise in-person or online fortnightly meetings
with their project supervisor.
31 July 2024, 17:00 Cut-off date for supervisory obligations.
14 August 2024, 17:00 Research Report Due
All due dates are 17:00 London time.
1. Essential information
1.1 Module Assessment
There are three key components of the Research Project:
I. Research Topic Statement
Word count: 300 words
Portion of overall marks: None but submission is mandatory
Due date: Monday 12 February 2024
Students are required to submit their Research Topic Statement to provide a summary of their chosen
research topic, identify their preferred supervisor and justify how the project can either be construed as an
STS or HPS research project. A form will be provided for you to follow.
II. Research Proposal and Oral Presentation
Word count: 2000 words with 15-minute oral presentation
Portion of overall marks: 20%
Due date: By 17:00 on 14 May 2024 (with oral presentations running from 28 May- 30 May 2024)
You will submit a 2000-word proposal on your research project which will clearly articulate your research
question, methodological approach and chapter planning.. The submission of the proposal will be
followed by an oral presentation on the proposal where you will field questions on the project proposal by
two examiners, one of whom will be your supervisor.
III. Research Report
Word count: 10,000 words
Portion of overall marks: 80%
Due date: By 17:00 on 14 August 2024
The research report (commonly called, 'the dissertation') is the written text about your research that you
will submit.
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1.2 Supervision
The supervisor is your first point-of-contact. The supervisor oversees the student’s project management.
They interact with the student on approximately a fortnightly basis to ensure project progression. They
can offer intellectual guidance and networking. The supervisor offers to review draft material of project
work subject to limits described elsewhere in the syllabus. The supervisor is assigned before the end of
Term 2. Students have one supervisor.
1.2.1 Identifying and Approaching a Potential Supervisor
You will need to identify and speak with a potential supervisor for your project. It is important to identify
someone who you feel will be a good match for your topic. To help you identify the right person you can
check the STS Academic Staff Website which lists each member of staff's research interests.
You will need to contact this person and arrange a meeting to discuss the quality, scope, and feasibility of
your ideas and how they fit with the requirements of the research project. You can approach more than
one potential supervisor in stage prior to the submission of the Research Topic Statement on 12
February.
The principal form of academic input for the research project comes through discussions with your
supervisor. These meetings should be face-to-face, either in person or by video or audio call.
Email alone is insufficient as a supervisory tool.
1.2.2 The Role of the Supervisor - Their Responsibilities and Yours
The main responsibilities of the supervisor are to assist you with your project management and to advise
you on criteria for assessment. Students are encouraged to consult others in the course of their project,
within STS and elsewhere. However, this assistance is voluntary and at the discretion of all parties.
Please note that after 31 July 2024 supervisors are not obligated to meet or provide feedback. This
means that the period from 1 June 2024 until 31 July 2024 constitutes a critical window during the
summer in which you can seek written feedback on draft work and arrange meetings with your
supervisor.
You can expect your supervisor to read and comment on a full draft of your research proposal and of your
project report. You can expect four hours of supervision time from your supervisor, some of which will be
one-to-one and some of which may be in groups.
Discuss with your supervisor how best to use this time. Aside from the 31 July endpoint, we do not lay
down any expectations here because how and when you can best use your time with your supervisor
varies with the nature of your project. Your supervisor will advise you on this but be proactive about this. It
is a good idea to discuss a timeline for your project with your supervisor and to establish a definite
timetable of draft submission dates and supervision meetings. Again, the nature of this timetable will vary
with the type of project. Please ensure that you discuss with your supervisor when you will hand a
research proposal draft and a project draft to them for comment. Commenting on these drafts is a
significant task and supervisors need to schedule time for this in advance.
As independent learners, students must take responsibility for arranging these meetings. It is wise to
schedule supervisions well in advance. It is unwise to disappear for long periods of time, then reappear
with a large set of needs. Project management is part of the STS criteria for assessment for this
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module. Supervisors also may make themselves available for additional consultation, but this is done at
their discretion and with no obligation.
1.3 Module convenor
The convenor is your second point-of-contact. They organise the module, guide students through initial
stages of development, monitor supervisory contributions, and troubleshoot should problems arise. They
also oversee the assessment process and ensure comparability of marking.
Students continue to have access to their personal tutor until the end of their degree. The personal tutor
is a key point-of-contact for pastoral support and careers guidance.
1.4 Attendance requirements
HPSC0097 requires students to be attendance in-person in London until after the oral presentations(see
Schedule above). This is to ensure substantial in-person interaction between student and supervisor, as
well as in-person interaction between the student, their peers, and others in the STS community.
After the oral presentations, attendance in-person in London is recommended but not required.
Supervisions may take place remotely.
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3. Aims and Objectives
3.1 Aims
The research project is the culmination of a master’s programme. The overall aims focus on research,
research planning, and research reporting. Students will be encouraged to:
1. Undertake independent research that makes an original contribution to knowledge, or produces a novel
synthesis of existing materials relevant to significant conversations in the discipline
2. Plan their project in advance, using a proposal to describe their undertaking, describe how it will be
managed, and reflect upon its value
3. Work independently and manage a complex project within strict time constraints
4. Comply with relevant ethical, safety, and documentation processes as appropriate to the work
5. Select and deploy research methods that are appropriate to the data collection within the project
6. Relate their original research to existing literature on the subject and relate their work to general
themes in their relevant scholarly literature
7. Balance description, analysis, and synthesis within the context of scholarly writing
8. Assemble their rationale, methods, findings, and analysis into a substantial piece of writing that
presents a clear thesis and a cohesive evidence-based argument or analysis
9. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their research and methodology, understanding how they
might improve their efforts in future work
3.2 Objectives
By the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an ability to plan a research project, such as is required in a research proposal prior to
the launch of their work.
2. Demonstrate an ability to comply with ethical, safety, and documentation processes appropriate to their
project.
3. Demonstrate expert knowledge in the subject of their research project, such as through an integrated
literature survey.
4. Demonstrate expert knowledge in the research methods appropriate to generating reliable data for
their research questions.
5. Demonstrate the ability to project manage and to make constructive use of expertise associated with
their project, while working as an independent learner.
6. Demonstrate an ability to relate their original data to existing literature, or to create a novel synthesis of
existing materials.
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7. Demonstrate an ability to assemble their findings into a substantial piece of writing that presents a clear
thesis and a cohesive, evidence-based argument.
8. Demonstrate an ability to balance description, analysis, and synthesis within their project report.
9. Demonstrate an ability to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their research and methodology,
with constructive advice on how they might improve their efforts in future work Typically, the model for a
research report will be an academic journal article or an MPhil thesis.
4. Module Timeline
HPSC0097 is a long-term commitment, it is a 60-credit module and 600 hours of work are expected. That
equates to 16 weeks of full-time labour, and it is equivalent to the workload of four regular modules in the
degree.
For time management purposes, the module divides into five phases.
Phase 1: Informal Conversations
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss possible project ideas with tutors, fellow students, and other
science communication professionals. All projects begin with open-ended conversations and scoping
exercises. These should be non-committal. Informal conversations begin in Term 1. They should become
increasingly focused as the term continues. All STS staff welcome conversations, and all staff know
students will be seeking to have them. It’s the student’s responsibility to initiate discussions. To start a
conversation, email a member of staff and request time for a short conversation.
To assist in project scoping, the convenor will organise a series of advice sessions during Term 2 and 3.
These will build on modules and other activities around the department. Student hoping to undertake an
empirical project may benefit from our module, HPSC0126 Social Research Methods and Data Analysis
in STS.
Phase 2: Title, Topic and Supervisor Allocation
The first formal step in the module requires the student to submit the “Research Topic Statement”. This
will be a form available via Moodle. This is not assessed but its submission is required. The Research
Topic Statement is due on 12 February 2024.
The main purpose of Research Topic Statement is for students to identify a topic that falls within HPS or
STS and to allocate an appropriate supervisor to the student based on their project idea The project
choice is understood to be a provisional but serious attempt to define a topic. At the least, it should give a
general indication of focus and method.
Students who do not submit the Research Topic Statement will be assigned a supervisor without
consultation. They may also have a project assigned to them by the supervisor.
Phase 3: Term 3 Activities, Research Proposal and Oral Presentations
Through term 3 there will be a number of discipline specific workshops that will offer advice to students on
how to conduct research within and writing on the various disciplinary areas that comprise HPS and STS.
Students should attend the workshops in which their research project falls. In cases where a project falls
across multiple disciplines, the student should attend all relevant workshops (consult the schedule for the
dates of various disciplinary workshops.)
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All students submit a Proposal in Term 3. This is assessed. The format is a “Project Proposal Form” that
will be made available on Moodle. Criteria for assessment will be described during Term 2.
The aims of the proposal and oral presentations are straightforward:
1. propose the project idea.
2. set out a plan for its execution.
3. describe the rationale for why the project should be done.
4. provide some specific theoretical grounding for the project.
5. to answer in person questions from your supervisor and another examiner during the oral
presentation. These questions will be based on the content of your proposal.
All projects evolve, and students can expect their final work to deviate somewhat from their research
proposal. Supervisors will monitor that evolution. Supervisors must be involved in any process that leads
to a fundamental change in project ambitions or design.
Where projects require review for methods, safety, or data management, students should attach as
appendices the ethics applications prepared for review. These do not contribute to word counts.
Applications do not need to be approved at the time the proposal is submitted. However, the specific cut-
off date for ethics applications for review is 6 May by 17:00. Students that do not apply for ethics approval
within this deadline will not be allowed to conduct empirical research.
The purpose of the project proposal is to steer students towards refining their research questions,
reviewing existing scholarship and ensuring their project is underway. A further purpose is to require the
student to identify the methods they believe will be most relevant for engaging the research questions to
be investigated and to demonstrate their skills in project management.
STS staff will provide substantial feedback with respect to project definition, relevant literature, framing,
and methods. As a minimum, by the time the proposal is submitted for review, everything should be in
place to start the project..
Writing a proposal is an important transferable skill. You may well have to write project proposals when
you get a job, or for PhD applications. It is important to understand how to write such proposals to have
the best chance of success. This is not straightforward. There are often important balances to be struck
(e.g. scope of project vs. completion on time) and it is important to get your main idea across clearly and
concisely.
The main reason for the attendance requirement in Term 3 is to ensure students have access to in-
person consultation with supervisors and others who might contribute materially and intellectually to the
project.
Phase 4: Do the Work
Students are expected to commit substantial time to their project during Term 3 and during the summer.
HPSC0097 is a 60-credit module and 600 hours of work are expected. That equates to 16 weeks of full-
time labour, and it is equivalent to the workload of four regular modules in the degree. If you are devoting
significantly less time and effort to your project, you should review your commitments and discuss the
load with your supervisor.
In-person engagement with staff and others in the STS community is expected in London until the end of
Term 3. Afterwards, depending on the project, remote supervision may be acceptable.
Phase 5: Submit
Projects are due in August (see Schedule). Digital upload is required. Students are not required to submit
paper copies. Criteria for assessment will be discussed in Term 3.
Please do not leave large amounts of work on your project to the last minute. Part of what is being tested
here is your ability to manage a substantial research project and to complete the project on time. Such
time management is critical to many commercial and academic projects.
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5. Ethics
Ethics is a subject you must discuss with your project supervisor at the very start of your work. Where
required, approvals must be in place prior to data collection. Students who fail to obtain appropriate
approvals before data collection risk a mark of zero for their project, as unethical research cannot be
accepted and demonstrating knowledge of ethical practices is a key learning objective for the module.
Research review is the process of you asking for permission to undertake the research you want to do. All
research is reviewed by the supervisor. In some cases (e.g., when research involves more than low risk,
when humans are subjects, or when laws place restrictions on what research we can allow) we use
formal review processes. STS includes three subjects in its process of review:
• methods – how will you conduct data collection and analysis?
• safety – what might risk your safety or the safety of others, including your research subjects?
• data – will your data need special handling owing to a sensitive or legal issue?
Your supervisor is the first point-of-contact on research review. They will advise on which elements, if
any, of your project require special application. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance rests
with the student as the researcher. Training in research review is part of your degree programme.
STS resources on research review are online:
6.1 Consider Methods
Without exception, any research involving “intervention or interaction with living human participants or the
collection or study of data derived from living human participants” must receive ethical approval of
methods prior to the start of data collection.
The main purpose of “Consider methods” review process is to protect our research subjects and to
ensure we use methods that carry least risk. The main consequence for researchers who use methods
review is an increased confidence that their approved methods will be safer and more efficient than might
otherwise be the case.
Social Science Methods
Your project uses social science methods when it seeks to collect data from individuals about personal
identity and their sense of self, provokes introspection or self-evaluation, or reaches into sensitive areas
(as defined by UK law). Projects using social science methods are subject to “Consider Methods” in the
STS research review process.
Examples of social science research questions:
• “How do you think your sexuality influences your interpretation of the data?”
• “In three words, tell me how you felt when you thought they had stolen your data?”
• “Why do you believe that is the morally right thing to do?”
• “How does it feel to wake up every day knowing you have this disease?”
When categorisation is ambiguous, STS normally applies a precautionary principle, considering the
research to be of a social science nature.
Methods Not Allowed in HPSC0097
Some methodological choices are prohibited in HPSC0097.
• You cannot involve children (anyone under age 18 years old) in any way.
• You cannot involve anyone who can be considered vulnerable according to UK law.
• You cannot use empirical social science methods in a country outside the UK.
The reasons vary. In general, the reason is practical: the time required to obtain methods approval is too
long given the time available for the project. Moreover, supervisors cannot be expected to commit the
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resources needed for appropriate safeguarding and fellowship. The restriction on international work is in
place because UCL insists we avoid practices that might be considered imposed, extractive, or
exploitative. UCL also insists on local engagement in research practices, meaning UCL students cannot
simply helicopter into a community, collect data, and leave. As a practical matter, we cannot put
appropriate monitoring systems in place for HPSC0097 projects, so we cannot support projects with data
collection involving humans undertaken outside the UK.
6.2 Consider Safety
UCL has a duty of care to students during their research. When research requires students to work off-
site or in unusual circumstances, a review of safety is required. “Consider Safety” is the process STS
uses to review safety. The goal of a safety review is to identify significant risks and to consider how best
to mitigate or reduce those risk. The safety of people working with you on the project requires
consideration, too.
Examples of notable safety risks in project work:
• travel to a location abroad or a location unfamiliar to you
• work unaccompanied with people you barely know or work in locked premises
• work in environments where hazardous material or equipment is used
• work when you carry expensive equipment through unfamiliar locations
Mitigation is the process of finding ways to reduce the risks you identify. Examples of mitigations:
• travel to an unfamiliar location: mitigation might involve travelling with a friend, sharing travel
details with a trusted person, maintaining a checking-in timetable with a trusted third party or with
UCLSafeZone
• work unaccompanied with people you barely know: mitigation might involve keeping only to open
public spaces and not working behind locked doors without additional people present
• work in hazardous environments: secure safety equipment and training prior to entry
• carry expensive equipment: use a taxi service to nearest trusted location or arrange a courier to
transfer equipment at a later date
In many cases, mitigating risk is simply a matter of astute planning. However, risk mitigation is never
trivial. It is core to best practice in all research.
6.3 Consider Data
Some data collected in research must be handled in secure ways. This is a legal requirement. STS uses
the “Consider Data” process to identify how a student researcher will comply with data handling
requirements. It also is designed to help students think about professional data handling and
preservation.
6.4 STS Research Review Procedures
STS research review procedures are described at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/ethics.
Some key points in our advice to students on compliance:
1. allow at least two weeks between submitting an ethics application and the date of your first
planned data collection
2. your supervisor must approve your research review applications before you submit it to the
department
3. take credit for doing this well. Note the ethics approval number in the introduction of your project
report. You may also include blank copies of consent forms, interview schedules, questionnaires
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etc. if you feel they provide evidence of your prowess operating in an appropriately ethical
manner. Appendices do not count towards your overall word count.
4. do not include confidential information in your dissertation (such as signed consent forms,
interview transcripts, or completed questionnaires) without first removing revealing information.
Anonymise quotations from research interviews.
As independent researchers, students must comply with UCL policies. This is absolutely vital, and
because UCL has legal duties in this area, a project will be penalized for failing to have approvals in
place. For instance, researchers who use living humans as research subjects in any way, but who fail to
secure approvals prior to data collection, will receive a mark of zero for this module, at the discretion of
the STS Board of Examiners. Unethical research will not be rewarded.
6. Important Policy Information
Refer to the STS Student Handbook. We follow the rules of that handbook.
6.1 Engaging with AI
UCL provides guidance for “Engaging with AI in Your Education and Assessment”.
AI classification
This module has a Category 2 rating regarding use of AI tools.
Category 2: AI tools can be used in an assistive role*
Students are permitted to use AI tools for specific defined processes within the assessment.
AI tools can be utilised to support the development of specific skills as required by the assessment.
Students can leverage AI for tasks such as data analysis, pattern recognition, or generating insights.
There will be some aspects of the assessment where the use of AI is inappropriate.
Examples of where AI might be used in an assistive category include:
• drafting and structure content
• supporting the writing process in a limited manner
• as a support tutor
• supporting a particular process such as testing code or translating content
• giving feedback on content, or proofreading content.
6.2 Extensions and Mitigations
This is a long-term project, and time management is a learning objective. Short-term extensions normally
are not considered.
Information about extensions and mitigations is provided in the STS Student Handbook. Individual tutors
cannot grant extensions on their own initiative, so please do not ask. STS respects all SORAs and ECs
approved elsewhere in the university; normally, these are communicated to STS automatically.
6.3 Project Feedback
Your feedback and first marks on coursework will be accessible via Moodle, normally four weeks (20
working days) after the submission date. We aim to give formative feedback sooner, normally two weeks.
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Please note that first marks are provisional and might change after second marking and moderation by
external examiners. Marks are confirmed and fixed in summer at the STS Board of Examiners.
Please focus on the feedback provided by the first marker. This is provided to help you improve in future
work. You should discuss all your feedback with your personal tutor with the aim of identifying
weaknesses and possible routes for improvement.
6.4 Course Communications
Communicate with your supervisor through the channel they recommend.
Communications from the convenor will use several paths:
• Moodle Announcements: the principal means for communications in this module.
• If we have a matter for you specifically, we’ll communicate via your UCL email address. We don’t
use other email addresses. I’ll put “0097” in the subject line to help you filter.
Hint: If you want help managing email using filters, see UCL IS’s “how-to” guides:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/how-to-guides
If you need to communicate with the convenor, use email.
7. FAQs
Do I need a project supervisor?
Yes. A supervisor is required.
Do I need a supervisor in STS?
Yes. They must be a member of STS academic staff. This is required to ensure comparability and clarity
about the scale of the project as well as to allow for certain quality assurance processes to be in place.
The main responsibilities of the supervisor are to assist the student with project management and to
advise towards the criteria for assessment.
Can I have two supervisors?
No. HPSC0097 does not permit second supervisors, subsidiary supervisors, or external supervisors. The
supervisor’s role primarily is project management and coordination. You don’t need two people for that.
We do encourage you to discuss your work informally with staff and peers in the STS community. They
are under no obligation to dedicate their time to support you, but conversation and engagement are key
skills in a research community. You also are welcome to enlist others to consult you informally on your
project. This includes content or technical experts, other students working in adjacent projects, other
students who have relevant experiences, and external professionals. You also are encouraged to consult
support services at UCL, such as the Academic Communication Centre (ACC).
How much time/help can I expect from my supervisor?
You can expect around eight hours of supervision time from your supervisor. This time will be distributed
evenly over the life of the project (normally with fortnightly sessions) and not compressed into a crunch
period. Some time will be one-to-one; some will be in groups. Please discuss with your supervisor how
best to use this time.
You can expect your supervisor to read and comment on your project proposal, any research review
application, and a draft of your final products, provided the latter is offered before an agreed date
(normally 4 weeks before the due date).
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We consider you to be independent researchers, and it is important that you take control of and are
responsible for the management of your own project. This includes organising meetings with your
supervisor and discussing your needs.
Email alone is insufficient as a complete supervisory tool. It very likely will be used to supplement face-to-
face supervisions.
What do I do if my supervisor is not available when I need them?
Contact the convenor should access to your supervisor become a persistent problem.
You should ask your supervisor about their availability during summer months. Staff are entitled to take
leave, and staff have heavy research commitments during the summer. This means their availability can
be quite different from your expectations. It’s perfectly polite to ask.
Tutors are expected to give students substantial advanced warning about periods when they will be
unavailable for prolonged periods during the summer. Students are expected to respect these periods of
absence and plan their needs accordingly. One distinction is crucial: (1) when staff are on leave, they are
off work (i.e., not expected to maintain contact with their supervisees or to undertake UCL duties);
however, (2) when staff are working remotely, they are on work (i.e., expected to maintain contact and to
be available for normal duties even if performed remotely).
What do we do in supervisions? Is it like a class?
No, it is not like a class lecture or seminar. What you do in supervisions depends largely on you. As
independent learners, students must take responsibility for arranging these meetings and for proposing
the agenda. Describe your needs and be clear where you want assistance. Give your supervisor
advanced warning of some of your questions. This is part of the process of “managing your supervisor”,
and it is a strategy designed to make the most of the small amount of face-to-face time you have
available to work with them.
It is wise to schedule supervisions well in advance. It is especially unwise to disappear for long periods of
time, then reappear with a large set of needs when a deadline is fast approaching.
What happens if I lose my material mid-way through the project?
You still have the deadline to meet. In sum, it’s your responsibility to maintain back-ups.
Protect yourself against loss of research material and writing by maintaining a system for secure,
redundant, up-to-date back-up. Loss or theft will not be accepted as a reason for failing to meet a
deadline. Storage of materials on UCL’s IS network is strongly advised. A copy of physical items, such as
written notebooks, can be deposited with supervisors for the duration of the project.
As a warning, loss of project materials through accidents and theft have occurred in the past; these have
had devastating effects on the unprepared. All students are advised to create redundancies to protect
their project. Again, you are in charge of this project and we look to you to show best practice.
Which words count in the word count and which do not?
Words counted towards the total word count include the main body of the report and supporting footnotes
or endnotes. The word count does not include: bibliography, front matter (title page, keywords, abstract,
table of contents, acknowledgments), appendix material, supplemental data packages, tables, table and
figure legends, or documentation of ethics protocols or approvals.
Work with your supervisor to ensure you are within the range of tolerance. Our basic expectation is that
you produce a scale of work that is commensurate with the 60-credit value of the module. Our longer-
range ambition is to see work done to a high professional standard appropriate to the task.
Can I re-use other coursework in my final project?
Students cannot get credit for work twice. This applies across degrees and jobs as well as across
modules. Text and ideas in the Proposal may reappear in the final project if significantly developed or
HPSC0097 Research Project
2023-24 syllabus
14
further elaborated; however, UCL’s policy on self-plagiarism prevents the same work receiving credit
twice. This means rote duplication is not allowed.
Research reports cannot reuse research undertaken previously used for module credit without explicit
agreement. This applies to material submitted for credit in other degree programmes, other institutions, or
other employment. Translations alone are unacceptable, too.
Students should work closely with their supervisors to ensure compliance: better to ask than to guess.
Relationships must be explicit – meaning, you must document relationships clearly and openly.
Do I need to keep a project notebook?
Notebooks are not required, but STS strongly recommends you keep a regular written account of your
work, such as a daily record or a scheduled diary. Digital or paper. Make regular entries that are
substantial records of your work. A project notebook can be an invaluable way to record your reflections
about the work as it develops (and before you forget the insights you have). It also can prove useful
should examiners query research methods, research integrity, or research process.
Project notebooks are a standard part of best practice in many working environments. They help you
keep track of work and of the many details that come and go quickly and are hard to recall later. They
help account for your time to managers. In our world where remote working is an important part of
employment, these kinds of records can boost the confidence your boss has in you as an employee.
Why have the 31 July cut-off for supervisory obligations?
Staff need time to undertake other work over the summer, and staff need time for their annual leave. This
cut-off creates a fair and uniform buffer zone for all staff supervising projects. It also highlights the need
for good project and time management from students during Term 3 and the 10 weeks of summer leading
up to the project due date.
You also can expect your supervisor to be unavailable for other parts of Term 3 and the summer. We
expect you to manage your time, and we expect you to work with your supervisor to ensure approximately
fortnightly sessions over the period of the project.
