GVMRP: Research Project

Module code: GVMRP

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Professor Maria Shahgedanova, email: m.shahgedanova@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to provide training in the skills required to devise, carry out and report a natural/ social science-based project.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. constructively criticise the research of others
2. formulate research questions and hypotheses
3. design a research campaign and collect data to test those hypotheses
4. maintain a logically organised record of research activities
5. prepare a logically structured paper documenting their project.

Module content

The project, which may be in any appropriate area of Environmental Management, is intended to provide training in the skills required to devise, carry out and report a natural/ social science-based project. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The lecture / seminar sessions are at the beginning of the Semester 2. An introduction to the module is provided in January. A critique of a previous MSc project is carried out by students in pairs / small groups in January and a potential project list is released. Supervisors are formally identified. Students give a 5 minute presentation on their proposed project topic in mid-February and submit a draft project proposal in March. Formative feedback is provided by supervisors on project ideas. By mid-March, project plans are firmly established by submission of a project proposal to the module convenor stating the project title, aims of the project, project supervisor, methods to be used, estimated number of samples and a timetable for the work. This project plan is discussed first with the project supervisor in order to make sure it is realistic. A 2,200 word literature review on the topic is produced and submitted in May. Projects will be submitted at the end of August and a 15 minute presentation on the project given to the Department in September. 

Study hours

At least 7 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

(i) 5-minute presentation about the project

(ii) 2-page project proposal

Reassessment

Additional costs