| Title: | Research Practice & Ethics |
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| Long Title: | Research Practice & Ethics |
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| Field of Study: |
Computer Science
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| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2018/19 ( September 2018 ) |
| Module Coordinator: |
Sean McSweeney |
| Module Author: |
Donna OShea |
| Module Description: |
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the tools and techniques for doing research. In addition, students will examine the concept of research integrity and ethics applied to their field of study. On completion of this module students will develop a research proposal outlining the context of the topic, its research aims, objectives, methodologies, work plan, ethical considerations etc. This proposal will then be developed further in an implementation phase. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| LO1 |
Develop a research proposal defining the project aims, objectives and research methodology that will be applied to the research project. |
| LO2 |
Review the current state of the art in the topic related to the proposed research outlining the contribution the research will make to the general field. |
| LO3 |
Evaluate the main research integrity and ethical considerations that need to be considered in the proposed project. |
| LO4 |
Develop a project schedule and plan that considers the identified research integrity and ethical considerations. |
| LO5 |
Communicate effectively the idea and contribution of the proposed research project. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
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| No requirements listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
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Research Methods and Methodologies
Definitions. Knowledge kinds and interrelationships. Empirical Research. Basic Research. Applied Research. Practical Research. Action Research. Parameters of research. Kinds of research: qualitative, descriptive and experimental. Applying research methodologies to computing, software and software development. Case studies and examples.
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Research and Research Strategies
Constitution of research papers. Standards. Search strategies including: web, library, inter-library loan, databases such as IEEE and ACM, search engines. Literature review and systematic literature review.
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Research Planning
Issues within a research project that relate specifically to computing/software projects including: problem definition, software planning, specification and system definition, choosing environments for development, timing issues relating to the software process, prototyping, iteration, risk evaluation, slippage, performance issues, evaluations and conclusions.
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Research Documentation
Documentation appropriate to research and the programme specifications. This includes research proposal documentation, report documentation, research paper formats and citation formats.
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Ethics for Computer Scientists
Ethics in Information & communication technology. Ethics, privacy and information security. Computer Ethics. Cyber ethics. Social, regulation and legal issues. Ethical design. Impact of IoT on ethics - environment monitoring and data collection. Impact of AI on ethics. Posthuman era, machine ethics, unintended consequences. Case studies - Facebook Mood Manipulation Experiments, Internet of Things, Google Maps.
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Research Ethics & integrity
Human subjects - ethical, legal, social and political issues. Research ethics committee in CIT. Categories of research ethics - questionnaires/surveys for adults versus children. Consent.
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Course Work | 100.00% |
| Course Work |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Essay |
The student will propose an initial research topic and will define some initial context behind the idea. In addition, the student will define some preliminary research aims and objectives. The student will then be expected to present their idea with the aim of effectively communicating the broad research topic and context. |
1,2 |
40.0 |
Week 9 |
| Other |
The student will develop the research proposal detailing fully the idea and relevant state of the art, aims, objective, methodologies, work plan schedule and ethical issues that need to be considered. The student may also be required to present their proposal. |
1,2,3,4,5 |
60.0 |
Sem End |
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.
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The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Practical to develop individual proposal. |
1.0 |
Every Week |
1.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Independent Study. |
4.0 |
Every Week |
4.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
| Workload: Part Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Practical to develop individual proposal. |
1.0 |
Every Week |
1.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Independent Study. |
4.0 |
Every Week |
4.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
Module Resources
| Recommended Book Resources |
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- Martyn Denscombe 2014, The Good Research Guide, 5 Ed., Open University Press, McGraw-Hill Education [ISBN: 9780335264704]
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
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- Steven J. Taylor, Robert Bogdan, Marjorie DeVault 2016, Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods: A Guidebook and Resource, 4 Ed., Wiley [ISBN: 9781118767214]
- Prabhat Pandey, Meenu Mishra Pandey 2015, Research Methodology: Tools and Techniques, 1 Ed., Bridge Center [ISBN: 9786069350270]
- James D. Lester 2014, Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 15 Ed., Pearson [ISBN: 9780321952950]
- K. Schwalbe 2011, Information Technology Project Management, 6 Ed., Cengage Learning [ISBN: 9781111221751]
- Dennis Lock 2007, Project management, Gower Aldershot [ISBN: 978-0566087721]
- Nick Bostrom 2016, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, OUP Oxford [ISBN: 9780198739838]
| | Recommended Article/Paper Resources |
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- Shaw, M. 2003, Writing Good Software Engineering Research Papers, Proceeding of the 25th International Conference on Software Engineering: IEEE Computer Society, 726-736
- Nick Bostrom, Eliezer Yudkowsky 2014, The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, The Cambridge handbook of artificial intelligence, 316-3
- Francine Berman and Vinton G. Cerf 2017, Social and Ethical Behavior in the Internet of Things, Communications of the ACM, 60(2)
| | Supplementary Article/Paper Resources |
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- Nick Bostrom 2009, The Future of Humanity, New Waves in Philosophy of Technology
| | Other Resources |
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- Website: APA reference style: Tightening up you
citations.
- Website: Henrichsen, L. et al. 2007, Taming the Research Beast
- Website: The Atlantic 2014, Everything We Know About Facebook's
Secret Mood Manipulation Experiment
- Website: Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard UniversityEthics and Governance of Artificial
Intelligence
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Module Delivered in
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