7400BEPG Research Methods Semester 2 _ 2024-2025

Assignment: Research Proposal (100% of overall module)

AS1 Deadline Feedback Percentage of

Coursework
Mark

Research To be submitted by Friday 11th 15 working days after 100%

Proposal April 2025 (Week 29) submission

Assignment Brief

Assignment scope

This assignment will allow you to showcase the research methods knowledge and skills you have
developed throughout this module by submitting an academic research proposal that can be taken
forward to your final year research project. Successful proposals will demonstrate an ability to
appraise, compare and interpret key methodological issues to develop and propose a research
project. Your final proposal will have to explain and justify the choices you have made for each stage
of the research process. Proposals must evidence robust and well- considered academic and ethical
reasoning.

Please note: your developed research proposal will be used for your MSc dissertation.

Research Proposal’s components

Your proposal must be structured under the following proposal components:

I) Background and rationale of research: provide a clear and concise introduction to the
research title, by: Introducing the research topic by utilising the seminal literary sources.
Based on the initial background to the research topic, proposing a suitable research
question or problem that establishes your research position on the topic.
II) Research aim and objectives: propose a clear and concise research aim that
encapsulates the overall desired outcome of the project. Your research aim should be one
sentence. You must then reinforce your research aim by setting out 4-6 research
objectives that identify how you will operationally achieve your research aim. Objectives
should be developed in a logical order that would support to achieve overall aim of the
project.
III) Critical analysis of literature: 1. explain how you propose to write and structure a critical
analysis of literature, to understand the critical areas for inquiry within the given research
topic; 2. you must also include details of how you propose to identify appropriate sources
 of information, including consideration of what sources are deemed most credible,
relevant, and pertinent to the given research topic; 3. outline a summary of relevant
literature (at least selected 7 items) to your topic and critically evaluate by creating some
valid arguments, which should be supported by appropriate references. Please highlight
some gaps in the existing literature and justify the need of your primary research.
IV) Research design: explain your proposed research approach and methodology, also
outline and explain a clear, feasible and justified methods for your project, including the
specific methods of data collection appropriate to the proposed research design, including
sampling strategy and intended methods of data analysis.
V) Research plan provided using Gantt Chart template. Determine by when each
objective/proposed research activity will be achieved.
VI) Research ethics: Perform a short yet informative risk assessment in relation to ethical
considerations in the proposed research title. Your risk assessment should ideally contain:
1. Identification of current risks; 2. alternative course of actions; 3. Pdf. file of certificate,
which evidence your completed training on research ethics, see the link to the training:
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/ris/research-ethics-and-governance/research-ethics/research-
ethics-training
VII) Reference list: produce a comprehensive reference list to LJMU Harvard standard. This
must be one consolidated list that includes all sources referenced in your proposal, sorted
by Surname/organisation in alphabetical order.
VIII) Presentation and structure: marks will be awarded for the overall professional
presentation of the proposal in accordance with the submission requirements including
appropriate structure, readability, language, and word Count.

What is the word count?

The word count of your proposal should be approx. 2,500+-10% words; this excludes front matter
(title and content page), references and appendices. Appendices should be kept to a minimum and
should not be used to place material that should be in the main body of the report.
MARKING CRITERIA LEARNING WEIGHTING
OUTCOMES
PART 1
1.0 BACKGROUND AND RATIONAL OF RESEARCH LO1-3 20%

• State your working research topic.

• Present a background statement that justifies the
significance and relevance of the proposed research
project and your motivation.
• Research Question, Aim and Objectives

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW LO1 20%

• Systematic and critical review of academic literature
and context

PART 2 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
• Justification and explanation of research approach
(quantitative, qualitative, or mixed)
• Justification and explanation of methods for data
collection (surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.)
• Justification and explanation of sampling techniques LO2 20%
(Random sample, convenience, purposeful, snowball,
etc.)
• Justification and explanation of data analysis methods
(descriptive, inferential narrative, thematic, content)

4.0 PLAN LO3 5%

• Gantt chart for your final research project with brief
commentary.

PART 3 – YOUR ROLE AS THE RESEARCHER

5.0 ETHICS LO4 15%
• Discuss actions taken to ensure that your research
is ‘ethical’ and that you will fully comply with LJMU's
Research Ethics Policy.

6.0 Presentation Quality of Work LO1 10%

7.0 References LO1 10%

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

You should submit a single word-processed document saved in PDF format using the following
formatting specification:
• Front cover to include module title & code, your student ID and the total word count (appendix 1)
• Headings and sub-headings in bold and appropriately numbered

REFERENCING, FEEDBACK AND DEADLINES

REFERENCING
In your assignments, you should ensure that you cite and reference all your sources, conforming to
the Harvard Cite Them Right style. If you have doubts about how to use this, the LJMU study
support web pages provide on-line tutorials. You should include references to all cited sources in
a single “References” section at the end of the assignment.

FEEDBACK
All feedback and marks provided are un-moderated and subject to change during the internal and
external moderation process. You will receive your feedback and mark within 15 working days from
your submission date.

REFERRAL/DEFERRAL
Students experience unexpected events in the days leading up to a deadline. These events include
laptop or PC failures, hard drive corruption, and forgetting to make backup copies of assignments.
None of these reasons warrant an extension to a deadline. Therefore, it is important to plan your
work in a way that allows time to handle these unexpected events. Additionally, it's advisable to
verify the holiday hours of libraries.
However, if you believe your circumstances justify an extension to the deadline, then you should
send an e-mail to the module leader as soon as you are aware of the problem and before the
deadline. If your request is refused, then you may use the Extenuating Circumstances process to
ask the Board of Examiners to “defer” your assessment until a later date. Requests for extensions
received after the deadline will be refused and you will be advised to seek a deferral.
If you achieve less than 50% overall, you will fail the assessment of learning on the module and you
will be “referred” in the module by the next Board of Examiners for the programme. You will be
required to submit a new assignment (your “referral” attempt). This may be either on a new topic or
on a provided case study. If you are “deferred”, a new deadline will be communicated to you following
the meeting of the Board of Examiners.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

“Academic Misconduct is deemed to cover cheating, attempts to cheat, plagiarism, collusion and
any other attempts to gain an unfair advantage in assessment It is the responsibility of the student
to be aware that academic misconduct, in any form, constitutes a serious offence. Penalties can
range from the reduction of module marks to exclusion from the University. It is the responsibility of
the student to take reasonable precautions to guard against unauthorised access by others to his/her
work, both before and after assessment”. If you are found guilty, you may be expelled from the
University with no award.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand what constitutes Academic
Misconduct and to ensure that you do not break the rules. If you are unclear about what is
required, please ask.

Personal Circumstances
If something serious happens that means that you will not be able to complete this assignment, you
need to contact the module leader as soon as possible. There are several things that can be done
to help, such as extensions, waivers, and alternative assessments, but we can only arrange this if
you tell us. To ensure that the system is not abused, you will need to provide some evidence of the
problem.
More guidance is available at the LJMU’s Guidance Policy and Process.

LEVEL 7 MARKING CRITERIA

Marking Criteria (General) In marking individual assignments, grading is likely to equate to the
following criteria. There may be occasions where weaknesses against one criterion are offset by
strengths against another.
You should be able to:
• Use appropriate format and present items in a logical structure
• Use Harvard referencing in text and bibliography
• Show a high level of writing skills with error free spelling

Grade Features of Assignment

>70% • Responds to the question directly and fully.

Distinction • Demonstrates exceptional understanding and knowledge of a wide range of
theoretical models and applies them appropriately.
• Offers an original or innovative argument or perspective.
• Appreciates the holistic nature of Cyber security implications.
• Is highly adept and in deploying concepts.
• Is written with flair, style and technical precision using the Harvard
referencing system correctly

60% - 69% • Responds directly to the research question.

Merit • Has a clear and convincing argument
• Is aware of issues involved in the research question.
• Blends conceptual awareness with reference to texts or appropriate
examples.
• Is coherently organised.
• Contains discussion and analysis rather than description or narration.
• Applies appropriate methodology.
• Is properly referenced.
• Is fluently written
50% - 59% • Contains the main points and arguments but those are not fully developed
Average or articulated, or the organisation is not coherent.
• Attempts the application of appropriate methodology.
• Is thorough enough but does not show much evidence of engagement with
concepts or material beyond what is fundamentally required or what has
been given in lectures and tutorials and lab activities.
• Work in this classification is considered good work, though not as inventive
or wide-ranging as work in the Merit Class

40% - 49% • Descriptive rather than analytic work

Borderline • Does not attempt the application of models.
Fail
• Covers the basics but without real argument or conceptual insight.
• Generalised rather than specific attention to the research question.
• Adequate but modest writing and presentation, referencing practice is
inconsistent

35% - 39% • Does not cover adequate ground in response to the research question.
Fail • Is muddled in organisation.
• Is poorly written and organised, does not use a referencing system.
• Has some grasp of what is demanded, but does not indicate understanding
of the issue involved

<35% • The student does not know the material or understand the demands of the
Significant research question.
Fail • Some attempt to answer the question may mean some marks can be given
Appendix 1

Module Name: Research Methods

Module Code:7400BEPG 202425
Module Leader: Prof Dr Vida Maliene

Student ID:
Submission Date:
Total Word:

School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment

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