LWMRLM: Research Methods for LLM Students

Module code: LWMRLM

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Aleardo Zanghellini, email: a.zanghellini@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LWMRRM (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to assist students in formulating a suitable research question for their dissertation and in identifying an appropriate methodological approach to their research. It aims to impart relevant knowledge and to assist students in developing the skills necessary to plan and execute their research programme within the time and resources available. The module aims to foster the practical, generic and personal transferable skills necessary to conduct independent research. The module also aims for students to gain insight into the wider context of academic legal research, by helping them appreciate: a) what makes Law a distinctive discipline and what makes academic legal research a distinctive form of legal writing; and b) what the main different methodological approaches to legal research are, and what the main different genres of academic legal writing are. Finally, the module also aims to provide practical assistance for students in developing skills in using the internet, electronic library resources, and other documentary sources for undertaking research. Students will benefit by acquiring knowledge and skills conducive to success in designing and completing their dissertation as well as, more generally, other legal research projects. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Formulate appropriate research questions and research aims;
2. Select the research methods appropriate to the collection and analysis of data or evidence relating to the research question;
3. Embark upon the preparatory work necessary for their dissertations, including by demonstrating knowledge in their area of proposed research and an ability to critically engage with the  existing literature;
4. Understand a range of legal theories and relevant research methods, theoretical frameworks, and genres of academic legal writing.

Module content

• The process of research design and execution
• The nature of Law (as a discipline) and of legal writing
• Methodological approaches to legal research

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered primarily through a series of weekly seminars. The seminars explore a variety of issues related to the process of research design and execution, the nature of law and legal writing, and a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to legal research. Sessions will be held in which students’ tentative dissertation questions will be workshopped. This is to assist students in formulating focused and feasible questions for their dissertations. 

Study hours

At least 22 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.

During the scheduled workshops, students will be expected to come prepared to discuss their tentative dissertation topics/questions. Instructor and peer feedback will be provided, with concrete suggestions on ways in which the questions may be sharpened or otherwise improved. This will directly benefit students in preparing their first written coursework assessment, where they are expected to submit a research plan stating, among other things, their dissertation research question.  

Reassessment

Additional costs