Module Code - Title:
AH4126
-
RESEARCH AND ITS ROLE IN COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING
Year Last Offered:
N/A
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand why a rigorous and systematic approach to research is necessary to enable them to engage with and solve 'real world' problems. The module will also equip students with fundamental research skills that can be applied in a variety of settings and contexts, exploring the centrality of evidence, how to plan a research project, collecting and analysing data and ensuring that it translates into meaningful impacts.
Syllabus:
This module will introduce students to a number of key elements in the research process
- Fundamental research skills including problem framing and designing research questions, designing a research project, literature (academic and practitioner) literature searching, data collection and data analysis techniques
- Using digital tools to enable research, including the role of AI
- Research planning and time management
- Power, equality and ethics in the research process and in multi-dimensional research teams.
- The role, relevance and complications of participatory research
- Managing research impact and communicating research findings
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of fundamental research principles and concepts, including ethical considerations
- Exhibit capacity to design and plan a research project, including data collection and analysis
- Frame research questions and hypotheses that are clear, focused, and relevant to the research problem
- Interpret research findings within existing academic and practitioner literature
- Analyse the differences in approaches to research in academic and non academic contexts
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Display enthusiasm for research and its role in solving complex problems
- Recognise the importance of ethics and equality in the research process
- Value the relevance and benefits of collaborative research processes.
- Appreciate the broader impact of research on society, policy, and decision-making
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module will be taught using a combination of lecture and lab based sessions. Lectures will be used to introduce students to research fundamentals, while lab sessions will be used to introduce students to literature searching, qualititative data analysis using NVivo and bibliographical software such as EndNote. Students will also be introduced to and encouraged to utilise the range of Glucksman Library resources.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Wilkinson David and Dokter Dennis (2023)
The Researcher's Toolkit: The Complete Guide to Practitioner Research
, Routledge
Bammer Gabriele (2013)
Disciplining Interdisciplinarity: Integration and Implementation Sciences for Researching Complex Real-World Problems
, ANU Press
O'Leary, Zina (2005)
Researching Real-World Problems - A guide to Methods of Enquiry
, Sage
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
chris.g.mcinerney@ul.ie