CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23
Academic Session 2022/2023 - CS957 Research Methods
MSc Advanced Computer Science
MSc Advanced Computer Science with Big Data
MSc Advanced Software Engineering
MSc Digital Health Systems
MSc Information and Library Studies
MSc Information Management (with Placement)
FUSE Future Ultrasonic Engineering CDT
(PhD students taking the module for RDP credits)
1. Assessment Overview
In the CS957 Research Methods module, you have one major assessed coursework to
submit at the end of the module. You are strongly advised to work on the assessment
incrementally throughout the semester.
For the assessment, you are required to write a research proposal that will form the
foundations for the dissertation component of your MSc degree programme.
Therefore, your research topic and the focus of your proposal will be based on your
allocated project from the suggestions indicated in the topics list on MyPlace CS958, or
on your self-selected project if you have had that approved by the CS958 Dissertations
Module Lead.
The aim of this assessment is to provide you with practical experience of the preparation
of a research proposal to enable you to maximise the time available for your dissertation
in Semester 3 in the summer months of 2023.
You are permitted to have one 30 minute meeting with your allocated dissertation
supervisor as you write your proposal. Your allocated supervisor will mark your proposal
submission.
This assessment is marked on a PASS / FAIL basis. More information on this and
your requirements are detailed in this document. Please read all the information in
this resource carefully.
2. Learning outcomes
On completion of this assignment, you will have experience of:
• Defining a research problem based on reading relevant literature.
• Identifying and defining research questions which address the research problem.
• Setting objectives and defining deliverables which address the research questions,
and producing a project plan.
• Selecting appropriate research method(s) for undertaking the research.
• Identifying risks and associated contingencies for the successful delivery of a research
project.
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CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23
3. Word count
Your proposal must be 3000 words long +/- 10% and you must provide the word count on
the assessment front cover. Your assessment front cover, figures, tables and references
do not count within this 3000 words +/- 10%.
4. References
You must use a referencing style fully and consistently for both in-text citations and your
reference list. Please review the helpful and detailed information on the Library website
about referencing, including details and examples of different referencing styles and
formats: https://guides.lib.strath.ac.uk/referencing_guide/home
The most common referencing styles you are likely to use in CIS disciplines are Harvard,
Vancouver, IEEE or Chicago. Regardless of which style you adopt, you must use it
consistently and correctly throughout your proposal.
5. Submission Process
This is an individual assignment.
Your assignment must be submitted electronically as one single Word file to the CS57
Module MyPlace submission link, using the file name: surname_CS957, e.g.
Smith_CS957.
There is no requirement to submit a physical copy.
Submission via MyPlace will also run your assignment through Turnitin. You can submit a
draft copy before submitting the final version.
However, it is your responsibility to press SUMBIT on MyPlace to send the final
version of your proposal document for marking. Any submissions left at DRAFT
status will not be marked.
The assessment will be subject to the University’s plagiarism policy. Please familiarise
yourself on the student information booklet on plagiarism here:
https://www.strath.ac.uk/plagiarism/ and the academic dishonesty guidance here:
https://www.strath.ac.uk/sees/studentpolicies/policies/appealscomplaintsdiscipline/acade
micdishonestyguidance/
6. Submission Deadline
Thursday 30th March 2023 4pm UK time, submitted through MyPlace only.
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CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23
7. Assessment Template
You are required to prepare a structured proposal for a three-month research project.
Your proposal must follow the layout and structure of the provided template.
The marking criteria is based on your ability to demonstrate the expected competencies in
each proposal section.
The marking criteria have been specified according to the proposal template – so if you
follow the template and address the competencies, the greater your chances of achieving
an overall pass for this assessment.
You must include a front cover to your proposal with the following information stated:
research project title, name, student ID, MSc Programme, date of submission, word count.
Your proposal content must be presented in the specified order. Sections and pages must
be numbered. You can use sub-headings to help organise your material under each
section if required.
1. Introduction and Literature Review
2. Research aim, objectives and research questions
3. Research Methods
4. Research plan and deliverables
You will also be marked on the overall presentation of your proposal (section 5 in the
marking criteria below).
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CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23
8. Marking criteria
Your research proposal assessments will be marked against a set of specified criteria.
Important: You are required to demonstrate at least two of the expected
competencies in each proposal section outlined below to achieve an overall pass
for that section of the proposal.
Important: You need to pass at least four of the five proposal sections to pass the
CS957 Research Methods assessment overall.
Proposal
Section
Expected Competencies Demonstrat
ed Yes / No
1. Introduction
and Literature
review:
There is an introduction which sets the scene for
the research proposal and puts the research in
context.
Yes / No
There is a description and critical discussion of
research context relevant to the chosen research
context.
Yes / No
There are clear links from the conclusions of
literature review to the research questions
presented in Section 2.
Yes / No
1. Section 1 overall outcome:
Pass
Fail
2. Research
aim, objectives
and research
questions
An appropriate research aim has been specified. Yes / No
Appropriate research objectives have been
specified.
Yes / No
Appropriate research questions have been
specified.
Yes / No
2. Section 2 overall outcome:
Pass
Fail
3. Research
methods
The research methodology that will be used to
undertake the research has been described and
justified and is appropriate.
Yes / No
The research methods that will be used to
undertake the research have been described and
justified and are appropriate.
Yes / No
The data analysis approaches that will be used
within the project have been described and
justified and are appropriate.
Yes / No
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CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23
3. Section 3 overall outcome:
Pass
Fail
4. Research
plan and
deliverables
A timeline for the research activities of the three-
month research project is illustrated via a tabled
time-plan or Gantt chart.
Yes / No
There is a risk analysis for successful completion
of the project and appropriate contingency plans
are described.
Yes / No
Appropriate ethical considerations for the project
are specified.
Yes / No
Deliverables for the three-month research project
are specified and are appropriate.
Yes / No
4. Section 4 overall outcome:
Pass
Fail
5. Overall
presentation
The proposal is professionally presented and
follows the layout of the specified template.
Yes / No
The proposal demonstrates an ability to follow
referencing best practices throughout with in-text
citations used to support its content.
Yes / No
The proposal has an appropriately organised and
structured reference list.
Yes / No
The proposal meets the specified brief of 3000
words +/- 10% (Excluding cover pages, images,
tables, figures and references within the
reference list).
Yes / No
5. Section 5 overall outcome:
Pass
Fail
Overall assessment outcome
(minimum 4 of out of 5 sections passed):
Pass
Fail
Markers, please also provide a maximum of 3 feedback comments to the
student on their proposal:
1.
2.
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CS957 Assignment specification 2022-23