Module overview
This module provides essential key skills training to MSc by Research students in Ocean and Earth Science in SOES.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand the scientific method, formulate research questions, hypotheses, aims and objectives
- Structure an academic literature review
- Write articles that communicate research effectively to non-specialist audiences
- Write a well-structured scientific report
- Work as a Team
- Understand the basis for planning research field or laboratory work to meet research objectives
- Use data processing software to analyse datasets
- Critically research, evaluate and synthesise the findings of peer-reviewed publications
Syllabus
Workshops and lecture sessions covering the material in this course take place through Semester 1. Self-study materials are also available in some cases. Sessions will cover the following areas:
Communication and research skills:
- Ethics and Academic Integrity,
- The Scientific Method,
oformulating hypotheses, aims and objectives
- Planning research field and lab work
orisk assessment
oplanning and costing research
odata collection methods and technologies
- Writing and presenting research findings
oCritical evaluation of research literature
oWriting an academic literature review
o Creating and presenting research seminars
oPreparing posters for presentation
oWriting a research proposal
oCommunicating research to wider audiences
IT and data analysis:
- Introduction to data processing and analysis
- Data presentation
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Communication and Research Skills: These sessions provide students with training and experience in writing research papers, critically assessing literature and preparing academic literature reviews, scoping research needs and presenting results in seminars, posters and communication with the wider public. Students will also participate in Semester 1 MSc boat week activities that will produce data sets for analysis within this module.
IT & Data Analysis: These sessions cover the fundamentals of data analysis, presentation and visualization and introductions to relevant data analysis and plotting software.
A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 130 |
| Teaching | 20 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Students in Southampton will be introduced to a range of either commercial or open-source software and platforms to support their studies, data analysis and literature searching..
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Boatwork Report (10%): Students will prepare a report based on the data they collect during the MSc field/boatwork week, presenting the motivation (hypothesis) for the study and methods, appropriate risk assessment, overview of data collected, analyses performed, and evaluation of hypothesis. Formatted as for field/cruise reports for larger research expeditions. Tests Learning Outcomes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8.
Literature Review (70%): Students are required to prepare a <6000 word academic literature review on a title related to the area of their project, set by the project supervisor. Tests Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Research Proposal (20%): A description of work planned during the research project and its significance, following a form that mimics those used by funding agencies. Tests Learning Outcomes 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8.
Popular science article (Formative exercise): Students are required to write a New Scientist-style news article about a recent paper in marine science, following training in how to communicate with non-specialist audiences. Tests Learning Outcome 1 and 7
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Article
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Anonymous peer review and feedback
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Fieldwork report | 10% |
| Literature review | 70% |
| Research proposal | 20% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External