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BASC1002 Interdisciplinary Research Methods

This page provides information about BASC1002. This module is available only to students in UCL's BASc programme. For more information, contact the module organiser, Dr Brian Balmer.

timetable | syllabus | Moodle | video

Description

Data collection is the heart of research. It’s easy to be misled by the overwhelming amount of information available today. However, quantity and quality are not the same, and finding reliable, relevant information requires skill. Translating information into data requires other skills. 

This module focuses on data within the context of interdisciplinary research: data accumulation, sorting, assessing, and combining to create meaning. We’ll direct our attention towards specific real-world problems. 

We’ll use a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary tools to construct relevant data sets. We’ll investigate ways to think critically about quality and relevance. We’ll also apply our data to propose solutions that might just change the world.

Assessment

1. 10% coursework 1 (1000 words)
2. 40% coursework 2 (2400 words)
3. 40% coursework 3 (1800 words equivalent)
4. 10% coursework 4 (5 minutes)

Aims

This module focuses on data within the context of interdisciplinary research: data accumulation, sorting, assessing, and combining to create meaning. Primary aims include:

• develop specific research and problem-solving skills
• develop an attitude towards research in which reflection on methods, quality, and relevance are center-stage
• refine group work, project management, and time management skills
• relate knowledge developed in the classroom to real-world problems

Objectives

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• complete a planned programme of work
• demonstrate a variety of specific research skills to produce coherent data sets relevant to assigned problems
• consider data sets for relevance and quality
• apply data sets to problem solving
• produce research reports both as an individual and within the context of teams, working to tight deadlines and using a mixture of media
• produce a reflective self and peer assessment
• relate interdisciplinary project work to theoretical concepts in interdisciplinary studies

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UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS)
0207 679 1328 office | +44 207 679 1328 international
sts@ucl.ac.uk | www.ucl.ac.uk/sts | @stsucl
postal address:  Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT | United Kingdom
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