The aim is to assist in the identification and planning of the Research and Development Project for the MSc based on a tangible business or society need by presenting and exploring a set of advanced topics in Artificial Intelligence. The second half of the module will see participants develop a project specification document on which the work based project will be based.

TOPIC SEMINARS: This will take the form of an intensive series of workshops, seminars and lectures by participants, their host organisations, industry and academic experts, both nationally and internationally. PROJECT SPECIFICATION 1. Research and research skills, choosing a thesis topic, developing a research question. 2. Literature reviews, conceptual frameworks and theoretical frameworks: functions and distinctions. 3. Finding information and staying current, initiating a literature review, how to read literature effectively, performing a systematic literature review. 4. Research Methods, Research Onion, Common Methods in Biases in Behavioural Research, Epistemology and Ontology in Social Science Research, Objectivity in Educational Research, Understanding 21st Century Qualitative Research, Qualitative vs. Quantitative, Skills Needed For Mixed Methods Research, Methods for the Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research in Systematic Reviews. 5. Ethics issues in research, Thesis proposal templates.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: 1. Explain the primary issues and decision stages involved in the completion of a research and development dissertation. 2. Conduct analysis of relevant topics, the primary and secondary literature; 3. Identify a research gap and identify a set of research questions/problems for further exploration.; 4. Choose a methodology appropriate to the research; 5. Demonstrate a set of research skills including developing research question, sourcing information, analysis, interpretation, and project management.

On successful completion of this modules students will be able to: 1. Develop and/or demonstrate motivation. 2. Develop and/or demonstrate competencies in time management and project management. 3. Reflect on personal learning outcomes resulting from a self-directed inquiry involving implementation of research from initial investigation to concept selection. 4. Identify and discuss any significant ethical issues such as privacy, confidentiality, ownership, transparency and identity.

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Students will be engage with practitioners in the topics seminars and be taught research skills and methodologies through a series of online session with the Thesis Coordinator. The applied research project supports the development of the following graduate attributes: KNOWLEDGEABLE: Students develop knowledge of research methods and how to identify a research gap. PROACTIVE: Students make active use of data and research to identify a research question, and in doing so develop confidence in managing a large, lengthy project they designed themselves with guidance from a supervisor. CREATIVE: Students develop their own research question, which requires them to integrate existing knowledge in a new way. RESPONSIBLE: Students manage their own thesis proposal, including submitting their research question and method to external scrutiny for ethical considerations. ARTICULATE: Students develop the ability to communicate challenging, academic concepts in a written document.