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MSc Research Phase
Handbook
2019/20
School of the Built Environment
This Handbook applies to all Students who are undertaking their
dissertation during the academic year 2019/20, including students
who commenced the Research Phase prior to January 2020
Revisions
v1 – 27th November 2019
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Table of Contents
Section Page No.
1.0 Introduction 3
1.1 Research Phase Overview 3
1.2 Supervisor Appointment and Role 3
1.3 Additional Research Methods Support 3
1.4 FTDL Student Research Methods Support 4
1.5 Timings (including Submission Dates) 4
1.6 Personal Mitigating Circumstances Procedure 5
2.0 The Research Proposal 6
2.1 Research Proposal Assignment Brief 6
2.2 Developing your Research Proposal 10
2.3 Ethical Research 19
3.0 Dissertation 22
3.1 Dissertation Brief 22
3.2 Development of your Dissertation 23
3.3 Dissertation Assessment Criteria and Grade Descriptors 25
3.4 Dissertation Submission Requirements 26
3.5 Dissertation Feedback Arrangements 26
3.6 Dissertation Assessment Criteria and Grade Descriptors 27
3.7 Dissertation Technical Regulations 29
4.0 Important Information relating to Assessed Work 31
5.0 What happens if I fail? 34
5.1 Failing the Research Proposal 34
5.2 Failing the Dissertation 34
6.0 Awards and Classifications 35
6.1 Pass, Merit, Distinction 35
6.2 Graduation and Certificates 35
Appendices
Appendix A Research Proposal Feedback Pro‐forma 36
Appendix B Dissertation Feedback Pro‐forma 38
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Research Phase Overview
The “Research Phase” of your programme is the final 60 credits of the programme.
For full time (“FT”) students the Research Phase is one trimester long, and for part time (“PT”) or distance learning
(“DL”) students the Research Phase is two trimesters long.
Completion of the first assessment, the Research Proposal, will help you to refine a research focus and to make a
justified selection of your chosen research pathway. The second assessment, the Dissertation, is where you
additionally record and implement your research plan and produce your final work.
1.2 Supervisor Appointment and Role
The Research Methods team will allocate a member of SoBE academic staff to act as your Supervisor. So far as
possible, the allocation process aligns the interests and expertise of available staff with the general topic areas
indicated by the programme on which you are enrolled. Though we will do our best, there is no guarantee that a
perfect alignment of Supervisor expertise with student interest will be achieved, however, all Supervisors are able
to provide support in relation to research approach and execution. Allocation of Supervisors is a non – negotiable
process.
The role of the Supervisor is to act as a sounding board for your initial ideas, to assist with the design and
preliminary approval of an ethical research process and then to provide guidance and support throughout the
process (both Research Proposal and Dissertation).
Students are responsible for selecting their own research topic, though you may seek guidance from your
Supervisor. The chosen research topic must be relevant to your MSc programme.
Students are required to maintain regular contact with their Supervisor between the start of the module and the
submission of their assessed work. It is the student’s responsibility to approach the Supervisor to schedule regular
and mutually manageable opportunities for discussion and input. Students must plan ahead and schedule in
appropriate time for supervisors to provide input and support.
1.3 Additional Research Methods Support
In addition to allocating you a Supervisor, the Research Methods team provide a series of lectures and sessions
where we give guidance regarding what is required of you to succeed in the Research Phase, most particularly
focused on development of your Research Proposal. This provides an opportunity for you to take the first steps
towards identifying and refining your research idea, which you need then to develop with your Supervisor.
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As we recognise that the Research Phase is very different from what you may be used to in the previous modules,
and also because, particularly for FT students, the deadlines for completing the Research Phase are very tight, it is
important that you attend the research methods classes.
We provide support to FT students on campus, and to DL students using Collaborate Ultra (which will additionally
be recorded as an archive). PT students are expected to attend the campus‐based sessions with the full time
students.
1.4 FT DL Student Research Methods Support
The online Research Methods support is timetabled at a speed which fits with part‐time DL students. Accordingly
students following DL programmes at FT speed (e.g. Sri Lankan QS or PM, or REPM FTDL) are expected to engage
with the Research Methods support sessions alongside earlier modules. i.e. FTDL students who commence their
programme in September 2019 will follow the Trimester 2 DL sessions, but their Research Phase will only
commence in June 2020. January 2020 FTDL starters will follow Trimester 3 DL sessions (from June 2020), but their
Research Phase will only commence in February 2021. In addition, we will accommodate Research Proposal
presentation sessions once you have progressed and started the Dissertation module.
1.5 Timings
When does my research phase start?
The research phase formally commences once you have “progressed” in line with the Academic Regulations for
Taught Programmes applicable to you. This will usually mean when you have attempted all your previous modules
(120 Credits) and have acquired at least 90 credits. If you do end up in a situation where you have only acquired 90
Credits, you may be offered the chance to defer commencement of the research phase until you have retrieved
your failed module.
The Dissertation module may not be commenced in Trimester 1
Research methods support sessions are provided in Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 only. These tie in with the
programme structures of all MSc programmes in the School, none of which specify progression to the research
phase in Trimester 1. Accordingly, students who only acquire the requisite 120 or 90 credits following Summer
resits may not commence the Dissertation module until the following January (Trimester 2).
This may have Visa implications for FT students. The School’s position is that overseas on‐campus students doing a
resit should ordinarily return to their home country and will therefore not be eligible for extended Visas. This is
because:
All teaching is delivered in the initial research phase;
SoBE students are provided with comprehensive online access to materials;
SoBE students do not generally require the use of laboratory or other facilities which are
only accessible by being physically in the UK;
Any supervisory activity which is desired can be carried out via technological means.
If a student considers that despite the above, an extension to a Visa is appropriate, they will need to make a case
for why there are exceptional circumstances to remain in the UK. Such a case will require evidence and it is
suggested that students consult with AskUs at University House.
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Assessment Deadlines
The assessments in the research phase are designed to run sequentially, so you should complete the Research
Proposal first, followed by the Dissertation, you will then receive feedback and guidance on your research direction,
before investing (potentially wasted) effort into your Dissertation. The expected progress for a FT student is that
you will submit your Research Proposal in the middle of the Trimester in which you start the Research Phase, and
your Dissertation at the end of that Trimester, whereas a PT/DL student would be expected to submit their
Research Proposal at the end of the Trimester in which they start the Research Phase, and the Dissertation at the
end of the following trimester. This sequence is set out below:
2019/20 Research Phase – Assignment Hand In Dates
Cohort
Research Proposal
Dissertation
FT & FTDL ‐ Start Research Jan 2020 2nd March 2020 4th May 2020
PT/DL ‐ Start Research Jan 2020 4th May 2020 7th September 2020
FT & FTDL ‐ Start Research June 2020 6th July 2020 7th September 2020
PT/DL ‐ Start Research June 2020 7th September 2020 11th January 2021
All work will be marked at the Assessment point. Research Proposals will be marked within 15 working days of the
assessment point and feedback provided. Dissertations will be marked in time for the Board of Examiners meeting
immediately following the assessment point, and feedback will be released after the relevant Board of Examiners
meeting (not within 15 working days). Penalties apply for late submission of work – see Section 3.7 & 4.
Legacy Students (progressed to the Research Phase prior to January 2019)
You will need to work to your end date which has been already provided to you. Research Proposal submission
opportunities are available on any of the above research proposal submission dates, provided that you do not
submit beyond your formal end date.
1.6 Personal Mitigating Circumstances Procedure
Where a student’s ability to undertake or submit an assessment is seriously affected by personal mitigating
circumstances (PMC) the student may submit a request that their PMC be taken into consideration is respect of late
submission of assessed coursework (up to 7 consecutive days late), non‐submission of coursework, or non‐
attendance at scheduled assessment events. You will be required to submit a completed PMC Form with relevant
evidence within 10 days of the assessment point. It is important that you fully read and understand the procedure
and seek appropriate advice:
http://www.salford.ac.uk/about‐us/corporate‐information/governance/policies‐and‐
procedures/academic‐governance
Guidance notes on Personal Mitigating Circumstances:
https://www.salford.ac.uk/askus/academic‐support/pmc
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2.0 The Research Proposal
2.1 Research Proposal Assignment Brief
Assignment Title: Research Proposal
Submission Deadline: Refer to Section 1.5 and paragraphs 11 and 12 of Section 3.7
This assessment constitutes 25% of the marks for the 60 Credit Dissertation
The stated Aims of this element of the module are to provide opportunity for students to:
Engage in good research planning at postgraduate level;
Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion the student will be able to:
Develop and refine effective research aim and objectives on the basis of a detailed analysis and review of
alternative research strategies and research techniques, applying appropriate selection criteria to reach a
justified and justifiable selection of research approach
Key Skills and other attributes
On completion the student will have had the opportunity to:
Demonstrate what makes good, ethically conducted, research;
Use a variety of techniques and/or sources to investigate research issues;
Critically analyse information in a variety of manners and develop justifiable, evidence based conclusions;
Demonstrate high level written communication skills;
Assignment Task
You should submit to Turnitin a SINGLE word compatible document which incorporates both of the following
elements:
A. A research proposal of approximately 3,000 words which provides an overview of a piece of research which
you would wish to undertake for your dissertation. The requirements as to structure and content are set
out below in Section 2.2 ‘Developing Your Research Proposal’
Assessment criteria
Your proposal will be assessed against the criteria set out in the table below. You will note that these criteria are
organised into groups, and a mark weighting is applied. Evidently, if your Research Proposal fails to address one (or
more) of the groups of criteria, you will receive no marks for the group(s) you have missed. This can have a very
serious impact on the overall mark you receive, so make sure you address every criterion in your submission. This
should be straightforward; simply ensure that your proposal follows the structure set out in Section 2.2
‘Developing Your Research Proposal’.
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Working title Is the working title relatively short and simple?
20%
Aim / research
question / hypothesis
Is the aim (or research question) sufficiently narrow, unambiguous, and does
it encapsulate the coverage of the proposed study? Is the topic
appropriately related to the programme of study? If a hypothesis is provided
(optional), is it written as a conjectural statement of the relationship between
two or more variables, and are these variables capable of being measured?
Objectives Do the objectives appropriately cover all aspects suggested by the aim of the
research? Are the objectives written as statements of intended outcomes
from the research? Are the objectives SMART? – specific (and focused),
measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (fit within the timescale for the
research)?
Justification Is there sufficient justification of the need for the research?
20%
Review of the focal
literature
What are the focal literature and key texts that should be reviewed in the
dissertation (bearing in mind the aim and objectives of the research)? Is
there sufficient demonstration of a critical review (analysing and evaluating
the literature) of the focal literature rather than merely describing the
literature? Has an appropriate range of sources been cited, including
research journal articles?
Research Strategy Is there a discussion as to which strategy(s) will be adopted, and has the
chosen strategy been justified? Is there sufficient detail of the
implementation of the strategy in relation to the proposed research? For
example, if case studies are to be used – how many and why? Which case
studies and why? How will access to information be achieved? Is there
sufficient evidence of reading of research methods texts?
25%
Practical
Implementation
Is the chosen technique(s) appropriately justified? Is there an understanding
of potential problems that may arise in administering the technique(s), and
are there realistic strategies to minimise the impact of any potential
problems? Is there sufficient evidence of reading of research methods texts?
Is there an appropriate discussion of the range of data that will be generated
from the research techniques? Is there an appropriate discussion of how this
data will be analysed? Is there sufficient evidence of reading of research
methods texts in to understand and justify how to analyse data?
25%
Ethical considerations Have ethical implications of the research been appropriately considered?
10%
References Is the Research Proposal presented using the University approved method of
referencing? Is further work required on referencing technique?
Presentation Is the level of spelling and grammar appropriate for masters level work?
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Grade descriptors
Submissions will be assessed in the context of the Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes set out above, with the following criteria being taken into
consideration:
Grade Descriptors
0%
to
9%
10%
to
19%
20%
to
29%
30%
to
39%
40%
to 49%
50%
to 59%
60%
to
69%
70%
to
79%
80%
to
89%
90%
to
100%
…
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