DA7015 - Student Selected Investigation

You will learn through lectures, individual or group tutorials and independent learning. The lectures will cover perspectives and research methods to produce a thesis in the discipline of architecture and related fields. You will be guided by staff within the department of architecture and built environment. You are expected to arrange tutorials once each month throughout the process of producing the thesis and to maintain and submit a brief summary of actions arising from each tutorial.

Support will include feedback from tutorials by individual supervisors and the module tutor. In addition you are supported by eLeaning Portal for relevant references and guidelines for independent research.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

KU 1. You will exhibit a systematic and conceptual understanding of a specialist area of the discipline which allows a critical evaluation of contemporary influences on design, and original insights into current issues and problems.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

IPSA 1. You will be able to exhibit skills of independent learning through research and advanced scholarship to critically evaluate current issues and alternative approaches.

IPSA 2. You will develop skills to integrate sources of information, make sound judgements and propose innovative solutions to complex problems.

IPSA 3. You will develop skills to evaluate, propose and use appropriate visual, verbal and written communication methods and appropriate media to represent the testing, analysis, critical appraisal and resolution of complex problems.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

PVA 1. You will develop critical way of formulating ideas to relate local and global issues in different societies within the systematic framework of academic research.

PVA 2. You will understand the way you approach cultural, social, political issues that are controversial or morally sensitive through the legitimate process of research.

A formative assessment will be by two means:

1. submission of tutorial records
2. submission of a draft investigation or work-in-progress

Formative feedback will be given via email or tutoring.

Summative assessment (100%) will be a final submission of the completed investigation, in an appropriate format as agreed with the supervisor / module tutor.

Student Selected Investigations which take the form of a written, extended essay, will have a word count of 7,000 words +/-10% and students are encouraged to incorporate visual material (images, drawings, graphs, tables etc.) to successfully communicate concepts, analysis, synthesis etc.

Student Selected Investigations which take the form of Practice-based outcomes should be supported by a brief, synoptic exposition. This work should be supported by a bibliography of referenced texts.

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This module provides an opportunity to demonstrate and apply scholarship and inquiry to a self-selected area of interest in architecture or related, wider cultural context. You will be required to identify and justify a research imperative; identify, evaluate and apply relevant methods of research and inquiry to data collection; employ analytic skills to systematically evaluate the data and to draw conclusions; communicate the investigation in a professional and appropriate manner. This module draws upon the content and principles of the first year KA6016 Architectural Research Methods module.