Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05
This course provides the opportunity to carry out an independent, open-ended, piece of research work. This will be in an area of geoscience (geology, physical geography, archaeology) or in related subjects where a wide range of tools commonly used by geoscientists can be utilized. The project can use data that was collected during fieldwork during the preceding summer; it can be a laboratory-based study using materials already available; it can be a ‘desktop’ study utilizing digital information or any combination of these approaches. The student will be expected to develop: presentation skills; experience of reading and thinking about a specialist topic in depth; critical analysis skills of your own and other people’s scientific work and project management skills. This will help prepare for future careers beyond university. It is anticipated that this course will form the background for Geoscience Project B.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course provides an introduction to the conduct of research in geosciences at an advanced level. It is intended to familiarise you with various research strategies and techniques that can be used to support work on your Geoscience Project B. The diverse research skills that you acquire should also provide a firm foundation for independent work once you leave university.
By the end of the course you should have a firm understanding of what makes a good piece of research, appreciate the diversity of research undertaken by Geoscientists and be familiar with the concepts that underpin a range of practical research techniques.
Drawing on your critical understanding of the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of alternative research strategies you should be able to select approaches to different research questions (notably your choice of research topic), and use these to build an effective argument out of your research.
You will improve your understanding of the research process and the different strategies associated with different types of research problem. As you acquire skills and experience, you should become more confident in your ability to tackle original, independent research. This is something that should be useful to you when you leave university.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 17 | Feedback Weeks | 20 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be given both online (MyAberdeen) and during supervision meetings. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Understand the Geoscience problem that is to be investigated. |
| Factual | Apply | Apply analytical techniques by executing laboratory analyses and implementing data acquired to geoscience problems. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse data and select/organise the appropriate techniques to answer the research question(s). |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate data and assess its applicability to answer the research question(s). |
| Reflection | Create | Create a scientific report which describes in detail the research undertaken, the results and their interpretation. |
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