Book & Paper Conservation MPhil
Research Management HISTART5055
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course introduces students to core research methods and skills for academic and professional contexts, provides a foundation for the dissertation. It introduces key topics such as project management and experimental design, the critical reading and reviewing of literature, qualitative and quantitative research methods and presentation of research data.
Timetable
2 hours per week (lecture/ seminar) for 10 weeks, plus one 1 hour tutorial, one external visit (4 hours)
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Research Project Plan (1500 words) - 30%
■ Literature Review (3500 words) - 70%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There is no alternative to the research project, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)
■ There is no alternative to the literature review, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Introduce research tools and management strategies for self-directed research
■ Develop critical evaluation skills to formulate strong and focussed research questions and to select appropriate research methods
■ Foster an appreciation of the professional publication landscape
■ Develop critical research skills from reading to reviewing, to contextualise and evidence research
■ Promote the value of critical engagement with specialist literature as a means of gaining specialist knowledge.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Plan a research project within a set of realistic constraints.
■ Justify the selection of research methodologies for different types of study.
■ Critically evaluate a body of literature relating to a specialist skill, conservation technique or material
■ Discriminate between conservation publications in terms of content, focus and stylistic requirement.