Assignment: Research Report

Introduction to Research Methods (MF)
2022-04-14T04:27:46Z

Due: Dec 10, 2021 by 17:00

Format: Research Report

Length: 6,000 words

Weighting: 40%

Each student will undertake a small-scale, original research project. The topic may be of the student’s own choosing, although academic staff will provide guidance to ensure that topics are suitable and achievable within the time and with the resources available. You will have to agree to follow Sheridan’s undergraduate research ethics protocols in all stages of the research process and demonstrate ethical behaviour, personal integrity and respect for others in a research environment. Students can undertake the research project individually or in small teams. Each student must submit their own written report covering the following points:

Assignment Cover Page (having the title of the research project, your name, your student number and submission date)

Contents Page

Abstract

Introduction (including the research question(s), aim, objectives and justification of the study)

Literature review

Methodology (including participants, sampling methods, ethical considerations data collection instruments and data analysis method)

Research findings

Summary and conclusion (including key findings, recommendations, implications that could be drawn from your findings, limitations of the study and suggestions for further research)

Personal Reflection (what you have learnt through undertaking this assignment)

References

All pages must be numbered and the document has to be prepared with 12 font size and single space format.

ULOs assessed: A, B, C, D, F

Assessment Type | Research Report Rubric

Criteria /Grade

High Distinction

(80-100%)

Distinction

(70-79%)

Credit

(60-69%)

Pass

(50-59%)

Fail

(0-49%)

Research Literacy | Evidences a pronounced grasp of research methods and demonstrates pronounced ability to justify selection | Evidences a strong grasp of research methods and demonstrates ability to justify selection | Evidences a sound grasp of the main research methods and demonstrates some ability to justify selection | Evidences basic grasp of the main research methods and attempts to justify selection | Has not grasped or justified the main research methods
Engagement with a Range of Scholarly Viewpoints | Shows very strong evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows strong evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows awareness of relevant scholarly viewpoints | No evidence of awareness and or engagement with scholarly viewpoints
Methodology | Topic is thoroughly investigated; highly appropriate method employed with high level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is very well investigated; appropriate method employed with a very well-developed level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is well investigated; appropriate method employed with a well-developed level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is investigated; adequate method employed with an acceptable level of research ethics evidenced | Investigation incomplete; method inappropriate and research ethics lacking
Data Collection | Shows sound ability to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Shows ability to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Evidences engagement with of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Attempts to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Has not made use of either quantitative or qualitative data collection instruments
Data Analysis & Findings | Shows promise in task of analysing and interpreting a wide range of data | Shows promise in task of analysing and interpreting data | Evidences analysis and interpretation of data | Demonstrates awareness of data analysis and/or interpretation | Has made no attempt to analyse or interpret data
Organisation and Coherence | Demonstrates excellent ability to organise very logical arguments and structure | Demonstrates sound ability to organise very logical arguments and structure | Demonstrates ability to organise logical arguments and structure but some paragraphs lack internal coherence. | Attempts to organise logical arguments and structure | No defined organisation structure and lacks transitions and coherence.
Language conventions | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (80% or more of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (70-79% of the time | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (60-69% of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (50-59% of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (less than 50% of the time)
APA conventions | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 80% or more of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 70-79% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 60-69% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 50-59% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) less than 50% of the time

Format: Research Report

Length: 6,000 words

Weighting: 40%

Each student will undertake a small-scale, original research project. The topic may be of the student’s own choosing, although academic staff will provide guidance to ensure that topics are suitable and achievable within the time and with the resources available. You will have to agree to follow Sheridan’s undergraduate research ethics protocols in all stages of the research process and demonstrate ethical behaviour, personal integrity and respect for others in a research environment. Students can undertake the research project individually or in small teams. Each student must submit their own written report covering the following points:

Assignment Cover Page (having the title of the research project, your name, your student number and submission date)

Contents Page

Abstract

Introduction (including the research question(s), aim, objectives and justification of the study)

Literature review

Methodology (including participants, sampling methods, ethical considerations data collection instruments and data analysis method)

Research findings

Summary and conclusion (including key findings, recommendations, implications that could be drawn from your findings, limitations of the study and suggestions for further research)

Personal Reflection (what you have learnt through undertaking this assignment)

References

All pages must be numbered and the document has to be prepared with 12 font size and single space format.

ULOs assessed: A, B, C, D, F

Assessment Type | Research Report Rubric

Criteria /Grade

High Distinction

(80-100%)

Distinction

(70-79%)

Credit

(60-69%)

Pass

(50-59%)

Fail

(0-49%)

Research Literacy | Evidences a pronounced grasp of research methods and demonstrates pronounced ability to justify selection | Evidences a strong grasp of research methods and demonstrates ability to justify selection | Evidences a sound grasp of the main research methods and demonstrates some ability to justify selection | Evidences basic grasp of the main research methods and attempts to justify selection | Has not grasped or justified the main research methods
Engagement with a Range of Scholarly Viewpoints | Shows very strong evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows strong evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows evidence of engagement with a range of scholarly viewpoints | Shows awareness of relevant scholarly viewpoints | No evidence of awareness and or engagement with scholarly viewpoints
Methodology | Topic is thoroughly investigated; highly appropriate method employed with high level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is very well investigated; appropriate method employed with a very well-developed level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is well investigated; appropriate method employed with a well-developed level of research ethics evidenced | Topic is investigated; adequate method employed with an acceptable level of research ethics evidenced | Investigation incomplete; method inappropriate and research ethics lacking
Data Collection | Shows sound ability to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Shows ability to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Evidences engagement with of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Attempts to make use of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments | Has not made use of either quantitative or qualitative data collection instruments
Data Analysis & Findings | Shows promise in task of analysing and interpreting a wide range of data | Shows promise in task of analysing and interpreting data | Evidences analysis and interpretation of data | Demonstrates awareness of data analysis and/or interpretation | Has made no attempt to analyse or interpret data
Organisation and Coherence | Demonstrates excellent ability to organise very logical arguments and structure | Demonstrates sound ability to organise very logical arguments and structure | Demonstrates ability to organise logical arguments and structure but some paragraphs lack internal coherence. | Attempts to organise logical arguments and structure | No defined organisation structure and lacks transitions and coherence.
Language conventions | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (80% or more of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (70-79% of the time | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (60-69% of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (50-59% of the time) | Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, paragraph construction, and presentation (less than 50% of the time)
APA conventions | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 80% or more of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 70-79% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 60-69% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) 50-59% of the time | Uses correct APA headings and referencing (in-text & final page) less than 50% of the time