Advanced Research Methods
- Arts
- 800 level
- 2 credit units
- 156 pages
- 12 units
This course is designed for Master of Arts students of English, providing a comprehensive guide to research methods in English studies. It introduces students to the fundamental aspects of research methodology, including the nature of academic research, research processes, and the development of research proposals. The course also covers data collection methods, ethical considerations, and the importance of avoiding plagiarism, equipping students with the skills to conduct independent research.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, research
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ENG811, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ENG811 · UNIT 1: THE NATURE OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Any researcher that is worth his or her salt must be well-trained in the overall procedures and activities of research in order to cope with varying demands of different stages of research.
What you should be able to do
- Conduct independent research in English studies
- Identify appropriate research methods for specific topics
- Organize and structure research projects effectively
- Understand and apply ethical principles in research
- Avoid plagiarism and properly cite sources
What it prepares you for
- Researcher
- Academic Writer
- Editor
- Content Analyst
- Research Consultant
- Education
- Publishing
- Journalism
- Research Institutions
- Academia
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 4: Research Ethics
Understanding the nuances of ethical considerations in research requires careful attention to detail and awareness of potential biases.
- Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 5: Plagiarism
Identifying and avoiding plagiarism requires meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of citation styles.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 73 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 1: The Nature of Academic Research · 4 hours
Define research, explain its characteristics, and understand the qualities of a good researcher.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3..
Unit 2: Research Process in English Studies · 3 hours
Discuss the scientific nature of research in English Studies and its characteristics.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 2Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 3: Research Proposals · 4 hours
Understand the meaning and types of research proposals.. Draft a thesis proposal and identify key questions for grant proposals.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
Unit 4: Research Questions and Hypothesis · 3 hours
Learn to formulate research questions and hypotheses.. Understand the functions of hypotheses in research.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 3Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 5: Research Report · 5 hours
Understand the meaning of a research report and its importance.. Identify the key components of a research report.. Complete Tutor-Marked Assignments..
- Week 4Module 2: Research Data
Unit 1: Literature Review · 5 hours
Define literature review and understand its aims.. Identify different types of literature review.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 5Module 2: Research Data
Unit 2: The Citation Styles · 5 hours
Learn different citation styles and their relevance.. Understand what to cite and how to cite using MLA.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 6Module 2: Research Data
Unit 3: Internet Research · 4 hours
Understand how to conduct research using the internet.. Identify the problems associated with internet research.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
Unit 4: The Use of Library in Research · 3 hours
Understand the importance of the library in research.. Learn how books are arranged in the library.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 7Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 1: Methods of Data Collection · 5 hours
Define data collection and understand different methods.. Learn about observation methods, its advantages and disadvantages.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 8Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 2: Population Sampling · 5 hours
Understand the meaning of population and sampling.. Learn about probability and non-probability sampling techniques.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 9Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 3: Case Study · 5 hours
Understand the meaning of case study and its phases.. Learn about different types of case studies.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 10Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 4: Research Ethics · 5 hours
Understand the meaning of ethics and its relevance to research.. Learn about the history of research ethics.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 11Module 3: Research Field and Research Ethics
Unit 5: Plagiarism · 5 hours
Understand the meaning of plagiarism and its types.. Learn about the consequences of plagiarism and how to avoid it.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 3.1 and 3.2..
- Week 12Final Revision
Final Revision · 6 hours
Review all modules and units.. Focus on key concepts and methodologies.. Prepare for tutor-marked assignments..
- Week 13Assignment Finalization
Assignment Finalization · 6 hours
Complete and submit all tutor-marked assignments.. Practice essay questions and review key readings.. Consolidate understanding of research methods..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 research design concepts
- Practice identifying different types of research methods from Unit 6 weekly
- Review ethical guidelines from Unit 12 and apply them to sample research scenarios
- Summarize key points from each unit at the end of the week
- Practice writing research proposals based on different topics from Units 2-4
- Focus on understanding the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods covered in Module 3
- Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked assignments
- Create flashcards for key terms and definitions from each unit
- Allocate specific time slots for studying each unit during the week
- Join online study groups to discuss challenging concepts and share notes
Questions students ask about this course
What is ENG811 about?
This course is designed for Master of Arts students of English, providing a comprehensive guide to research methods in English studies. It introduces students to the fundamental aspects of research methodology, including the nature of academic research, research processes, and the development of research proposals. The course also covers data collection methods, ethical considerations, and the importance of avoiding plagiarism, equipping students with the skills to conduct independent research.
How many units does ENG811 have?
ENG811, Advanced Research Methods, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 156 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ENG811?
ENG811 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ENG811 hard?
ENG811 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and research work.
How long does ENG811 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.
How is ENG811 assessed?
ENG811 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What can I do with ENG811?
Researcher, Academic Writer, Editor, Content Analyst and Research Consultant.