Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Students who take this module will have the opportunity to develop their research skills (as well as a range of generic skills, including presentation and communication skills, leadership, teamwork, time management, project management and working with external partners) through active involvement in a real research project that is designed to address a genuine gap in the knowledge/understanding of policy-makers/practitioners interested in Newcastle and the North-East of England. The student researchers will have the opportunity to broaden and deepen their understanding of effective research practice. Throughout the module, students will be asked to critically reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses as researchers (as well as their generic skills) and they will be encouraged to contribute to the research project in ways that will allow them both to demonstrate their existing strengths and improve their skills in areas where they are less strong.

Outline Of Syllabus

The following topics and tasks will be covered across the two semesters:

Overview of the module
Meet the partner organisations
Team allocation and identifying a research question
Reviewing the literature
Research design
Ethics in research
Ethical approval
Planning data collection and analysis
Data collection
Data analysis
Drafting report
Prepare report for presentation Week 21: Present report at workshop Week 22: Review of workshop
Prepare portfolio

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will come away from this module having gained extensive knowledge of an area of policy research relevant to the Northeast of England. They will also have gained knowledge of the policy landscape in the Northeast of England.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will be able to conduct policy-relevant research. In addition, the module will enhance their teamwork skills, including giving constructive feedback to other students and working towards a common goal. Students will learn to present their work to community organisations through both a written report and oral presentation. They will have a chance to reflect on the employability skills gained through their interaction with community groups and working on a policy relevant project.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will engage directly with practitioners and policy-makers to identify potential research questions. Students will then select a preferred project and be placed on a student research team for the duration of the academic year. Students will be required to attend one weekly 2-hour workshop and one weekly 1-hour workshop covering group project tasks and skills teaching. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their learning and skills development throughout the module. Findings will be presented directly to practitioners in a half day workshop (conference) at the end of the academic year.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Given this module constitutes a significant component of the final year of study, it is important to ensure that a significant portion of the assessment is based on individual performance and attainment. As a result, the students will primarily be assessed on an individual research portfolio. This portfolio will be highly structured with 4-6 individual pieces of work addressing different aspects of the research process broadly, the student’s research project specifically, and self-reflective exercises regarding skill attainment, The individual research portfolio gives students the opportunity to develop their personal research and reflective skills while also moving towards an overall group goal.

The work done in the individual research portfolios provides the research teams with the resources to formulate a policy report and presentation given on behalf of their partner organisation. This aspect of the assessment emphasises the importance of teamwork and offers the students the opportunity to showcase their achievements.

General Notes

N/A